THE HAGUE – Significant progress has been made in Curaçao's reform program, but the results remain vulnerable and could be undermined without continued political commitment, administrative leadership and public support, according to an independent evaluation presented at IPKO.
Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz, chairwoman of the Evaluation Committee for the Mutual Arrangement for Cooperation on Reforms, said the review found that reforms in Curaçao have produced concrete results but are not yet fully secured.
The committee examined the effectiveness of reform cooperation between Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands, as well as the role played by the Temporary Work Organization (TWO), which was established to support the implementation of reforms.
According to the evaluation, one of the most important conclusions is that progress depends heavily on factors such as government capacity, continuity in leadership, political commitment, public support and strong administrative direction.
While the committee acknowledged that the reform process got off to a difficult start because financial assistance was linked to reform requirements, it concluded that cooperation has gradually improved over time.
The report highlighted the positive role played by TWO, noting that the organization has provided more than technical expertise. The cooperation has also helped strengthen trust and working relationships between Dutch experts and senior civil servants in Curaçao.
Despite these gains, the committee warned that there remains a structural imbalance between the ambitions of the reform agenda and the government's ability to implement all planned changes simultaneously.
Many reforms are still being carried out and have not yet reached the stage where they can be considered permanently secured, the report stated.
The committee also emphasized that Curaçao's situation differs significantly from that of Aruba and Sint Maarten. Factors such as institutional capacity, political circumstances and available resources vary from country to country.
For that reason, the committee rejected a one-size-fits-all approach to Kingdom reforms. Van der Sluijs-Plantz summarized the finding by stating that "CAS does not exist," referring to the tendency to group Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten together despite their differing realities.
The evaluation found that maintaining momentum will require continued focus, realistic priorities and sustained commitment from political leaders and public institutions.
According to the committee, reforms can only achieve lasting success if they are fully embedded within government structures and supported by both public servants and the broader population.
The findings were presented during discussions on Kingdom cooperation at IPKO, where parliamentarians from Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands are examining the future of reform cooperation and governance within the Kingdom.