WILLEMSTAD – Fundashon Marshe has completed project plans for upgrades and major maintenance at several of Curaçao’s best-known public markets, but implementation is currently on hold because of financial pressure in 2026.
The projects form part of a broader restructuring of the foundation, which manages Plasa Bieu, Barquitos, Plasa di Arte, Marshe di Otrobanda including Plaza Snack, Awasa and Marshe Rondo.
Over the past 18 months, each location has been analyzed and project files have been prepared in accordance with Fundashon Marshe’s management agreement with the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO).
One of the planned investments concerns Plasa di Arte. The proposal calls for an upgrade of facilities used by vendors, including new sanitary facilities, lockers and a security post.
A separate project file has been completed for major maintenance at Plasa Bieu, one of Willemstad’s best-known food markets and an important attraction for both residents and visitors.
For Marshe di Otrobanda, Fundashon Marshe has prepared a project focused on protecting the foundation’s cultural property and heritage in the historic district. According to the foundation, the project will need to begin on time and with adequate financing if it is to succeed.
Because the markets also function as tourism and cultural locations within Willemstad, Fundashon Marshe said coordination is taking place with the Curaçao Tourist Board.
The completed project files are now with the responsible minister for financing and implementation. However, the foundation said that strong financial pressure during 2026 has led to the projects being temporarily put on hold.
The investment plans come as Fundashon Marshe emerges from an extensive internal recovery process that began after interim director Ing. Remy J.D. Ricardo took office in January 2025.
At the time, the organization was dealing with a leadership vacuum, administrative backlogs and unresolved personnel matters. The situation became more difficult after a fire at its temporary office in April 2025 destroyed a substantial portion of the financial administration.
Since then, the foundation says it has reconstructed and digitized its administration, completed financial statements for 2022 through 2025 and resolved outstanding employment matters.
Attention is now increasingly shifting from internal recovery toward modernization of the markets and services offered to vendors.
Fundashon Marshe is preparing to launch new branding and introduce an entrepreneur portal for tenants. SENTOO will become the foundation’s principal payment method, a move intended to improve control over its finances while making it easier for entrepreneurs to conduct business with the organization.
The opening of Marshe Rondo is being presented as the first visible milestone of this new phase. The location accounts for the largest part of Fundashon Marshe’s customer base and, according to the foundation, demonstrates that the organization is ready to move from internal recovery toward further development of Curaçao’s public markets.