WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao's Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Sithree van Heydoorn, has intervened in a dispute involving local Little League baseball organizations, appointing a three-member committee to investigate disagreements over the interpretation of league regulations and recommend a solution within two weeks.
The minister held a meeting on Saturday, October 31, with Little League District Administrator Urny Floran and representatives of Liga Pabou and Otrobanda Pioneers. The meeting was organized amid concerns that disagreements between the organizations could negatively affect young baseball players.
The minister during the meeting
According to the minister, the purpose of bringing the parties together was to hear their respective positions and better understand the circumstances that led to conflicting interpretations of Little League rules.
During the meeting, representatives of the organizations presented their concerns, while Van Heydoorn asked several questions to clarify the issues.
Following the discussions, the minister proposed establishing an independent three-member committee to review the dispute and recommend a way forward.
The committee consists of attorney Hubert "Berti" Braam, SOAB Senior Manager Cindy Jozefa Dorego, and Curtley "G-no" Valerian, a sportsman and lecturer at ICUC.
The committee will meet with the parties again, examine the relevant documents and review the regulations of the international Little League organization.
Its findings and recommendations are expected within two weeks and are intended to provide a basis for resolving the disagreement.
Van Heydoorn emphasized that the interests of the young baseball players must remain the highest priority throughout the process.
While the committee conducts its review, the minister is calling on the three organizations involved, as well as parents, to refrain from any actions that could further escalate the situation.
The minister stressed the importance of allowing sound judgment to prevail and preventing organizational disagreements from affecting children who participate in baseball.
The intervention comes as Curaçao continues to enjoy international recognition for its achievements in youth baseball, including major Little League titles won by local teams.
Van Heydoorn believes protecting the development of young athletes and maintaining a healthy sporting environment are responsibilities shared by administrators, coaches, parents and the wider community.
The committee's recommendations are expected by mid-November. The ministry has not yet announced whether the organizations have agreed to any temporary arrangements while the review is underway.
For now, the minister's message is that disagreements over regulations should be resolved through dialogue and a careful examination of the rules, without allowing young players to become victims of the dispute.