WILLEMSTAD – Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas praised Curaçao's historic FIFA World Cup campaign during his Flag Day speech, saying the national football team's achievements helped unite the country and sparked a renewed sense of national identity.
Speaking during the official Dia di Himno i Bandera ceremony at Brionplein, Pisas said one of the most unforgettable moments of the year was seeing Curaçao's flag displayed on football's biggest stage for the first time in history.
"I want to express, on behalf of the people of Curaçao, our deepest gratitude to our national team for the gift you have given our nation," he said.
According to the prime minister, the players accomplished far more than simply competing in a football tournament.
"You did more than play football," Pisas told the team. "You made an entire nation beat with one heart. You made us cry, celebrate, hope and, most importantly, believe—believe in our anthem and flag, believe in our people and believe in Curaçao."
Pisas described the team's performance as a defining moment for the country, saying it allowed Curaçaoans to see themselves differently.
He said the greatest achievement was not the football itself, but the sense of unity and national pride it created.
"We saw our children dreaming big. We saw the sacrifices made by previous generations. We saw our neighborhoods, our history and our future reflected in one flag," he said.
The prime minister noted that Curaçao's World Cup appearance showed the world that greatness is not measured by the size of a country but by its courage, resilience and determination.
"The world did not only learn where Curaçao is on the map," he said. "The world learned who we are."
Pisas said the wave of national pride generated during the tournament should not remain merely a memory or be confined to the football stadium.
Instead, he called on Curaçaoans to channel that same unity into improving education, healthcare, the economy, neighborhoods and the country's future.
"If we could unite around a sporting dream, then we can also unite around a national dream," he said.
The prime minister urged the public not to let the "blue wave" that swept across the island during the World Cup disappear after the tournament.
"Let it flow into our schools, our homes, our businesses, our neighborhoods and our government," he said. "Let it become a movement of love for our country."
Pisas concluded by saying that although Curaçao is a small country geographically, it has repeatedly shown that united people can accomplish extraordinary things.
"We are small in size, but not in spirit," he said. "Together, we can continue building this pearl of the Caribbean."