Curaçao Justice Minister Oversees Independent Gaming Authority

A statement by 2BAYS director Newton — that a refinery will never again operate on the Isla site in Curaçao — is being described as a watershed moment in the island's long debate over the future of the former Shell refinery grounds. According to the opinion piece in Nu.cw, this declaration effectively closes a chapter that has been contested since at least 2011, when Greentown Curaçao began advocating for an alternative, sustainable development vision for the site. With the refinery option now formally off the table, attention shifts to what will actually replace it and who will shape that plan. The Isla refinery has been a central and divisive issue for decades, touching on employment, environmental health, and Curaçao's economic identity. The author argues that the harder and more consequential battle — determining the development blueprint for one of the island's largest and most strategically located parcels of land — is only now beginning. Stakeholders including community groups, developers, and government will need to align on a vision that balances economic opportunity with environmental remediation. The piece frames this transition as both a challenge and a rare opportunity for Curaçao to redefine its industrial future.

Curaçao's Social-Economic Council (SER) received a detailed briefing on a proposed national ordinance aimed at revising the destination prescriptions — essentially zoning regulations — for the Koraal Tabak area. The briefing took place during SER's preparatory meeting on Friday, August 28. Government-appointed experts, designated by the responsible minister, delivered the explanation to council members. Koraal Tabak is a notable coastal and industrial zone on Curaçao, making any changes to its zoning designations a matter of significant public and economic interest. The SER, as an independent advisory body, plays a key role in evaluating such policy proposals before they advance through the legislative process. This briefing marks an early step in what could be a broader regulatory review of land use in the area. No final decisions or recommendations have been issued at this stage.

Curaçao Governor Mauritsz de Kort received a delegation from the National Slavery Museum (NSM) on Monday for a formal meeting at the governor's residence. The discussion centered on the development of the museum and the role Curaçao is expected to play in the broader initiative. The National Slavery Museum is a significant cultural project aimed at preserving and presenting the history of slavery in the Dutch Kingdom, including the transatlantic slave trade that deeply affected the Caribbean islands. Curaçao, as a former hub of the Dutch West India Company's slave trade, holds particular historical relevance to the museum's mission. The meeting signals continued engagement between Curaçao's leadership and the Netherlands on shared colonial and cultural heritage. No specific decisions or outcomes from the meeting were immediately announced.