Bonaire's 2026 Budget Deemed Insufficiently Realistic by Financial Watchdog

Fundashon E Hende, a Curaçao-based foundation, has announced it will appeal a court ruling issued on August 17, 2026, in which it lost a case concerning the buying and selling of social housing ('kasnan di pueblo'). The foundation stated that, together with its expert advisors, it has reached the conclusion that the case warrants further legal scrutiny at a higher level. The appeal will be brought before the Korte Superior, Curaçao's appellate court. The case centers on social housing transactions, a significant issue in Curaçao where affordable housing access remains a community concern. By pursuing the appeal, Fundashon E Hende signals it believes the lower court's decision was incorrect or incomplete. The outcome of the appeal could have broader implications for how social housing sales and purchases are regulated or contested on the island. No timeline for the appellate proceedings has been publicly announced.

Gibi Bacilio, president of the Association for the Promotion of Historical Awareness (APKI), is reflecting on 40 years of work advocating for greater historical consciousness in Curaçao. Speaking in Willemstad, Bacilio acknowledges that the island has made meaningful progress in recognizing historical figures like Tula and in the broader fight against the legacy of slavery. However, he argues that the deeper emancipation of the Curaçaoan people remains unrealized. For Bacilio, true emancipation is inseparable from independence — a statement that carries both cultural and political weight on the island. His remarks come as Curaçao continues to grapple with its colonial history and its current status as a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. APKI has long pushed for stronger public education and awareness around the island's slave history. Bacilio's four-decade perspective offers a sobering assessment of how far Curaçao has — and has not — come.

The Roman Catholic Central School Board (RKCS) in Curaçao is calling for a national plan to tackle the ongoing teacher shortage affecting the island's education system. The organization argues that working in education must be made more attractive to draw and retain qualified teachers. The RKCS believes a coordinated, island-wide approach is necessary rather than individual schools attempting to address the problem in isolation. Teacher shortages in Curaçao have been a persistent issue, putting pressure on school administrators and affecting the quality of education for students. The call reflects broader concerns across the Caribbean about declining interest in the teaching profession, often linked to relatively low salaries and challenging working conditions. Without intervention, the shortage risks worsening over time as experienced educators retire and fewer young people enter the field.