WILLEMSTAD – On March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) hosted a conference at the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort under the theme “Partner for a Resilient Curaçao.” During the event, the ministry officially presented its new subsidy policy and accompanying Program of Requirements (PvE) to organizations that receive government funding.
The conference was the result of months of close collaboration between ministry officials and Sira Consulting from the Netherlands. Minister of SOAW, Charetti America, emphasized in her opening remarks that subsidized institutions are essential partners in building a resilient Curaçao.
According to the minister, the new policy serves as the foundation for closer cooperation—described as a “marriage”—between the government and subsidy recipients. The main objective is to ensure that available resources are used more efficiently and effectively, while maintaining both financial discipline and quality standards in care and social services.
During the conference, participating foundations had the opportunity to engage with the ministry’s three core sectors. Each sector presented its specific expectations and quality criteria as part of the Program of Requirements.
The Social Development sector outlined standards related to social care services, while the Labor sector explained criteria linked to the labor market. The Family and Youth sector focused on requirements aimed at supporting families and young people.
Project leader Landeline Concepcion highlighted that the new policy is centered on improving the quality of care and ensuring a sustainable future. The ministry’s broader goals include strengthening families and youth, promoting equal opportunities in the labor market, ensuring dignity for the elderly, fostering social cohesion and self-reliance, and maintaining a strong social safety net.
In addition to these presentations, Peter Bex and Arthur Izeboud of Sira Consulting provided a technical explanation of how the policy and the Program of Requirements were developed.
The minister acknowledged the challenges posed by limited resources and the heavy workload within the social and care sectors. She stressed that expectations must remain realistic and aligned with the island’s realities and the capacity of organizations. “There is no point in demanding gold standards if we are only offering modest resources,” she noted, underscoring the importance of ongoing dialogue to develop feasible plans.
In closing, the minister called on all partners to focus on their shared commitment to Curaçao and the well-being of its people, emphasizing that the island’s residents deserve collective efforts to achieve these ambitions. She also expressed appreciation to ministry staff, partner organizations, and all contributors involved in reaching this milestone.
The conference concluded with an interactive town hall-style question-and-answer session, followed by closing remarks from the acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of SOAW.