SBO School Eligia Martier Ignores Government Heat Policy

The Princess Wilhelmina Fund (PWF) on Curaçao is taking steps to make its services more accessible to cancer patients who may not know the organization exists or how to reach it. Approximately 200 cancer patients register with the PWF each year, yet awareness of the fund remains limited across the island. The PWF provides financial and practical support to cancer patients, helping them navigate the challenges that come with a serious illness. The organization is now actively working to lower the threshold for seeking help, aiming to reduce the hesitation or lack of information that prevents eligible patients from applying. This effort is particularly significant in a small island community where healthcare resources can be limited and patients may face both medical and financial hardship. The fund's outreach push reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that no cancer patient on Curaçao goes without support simply due to a lack of awareness.

Curaçao does not have an exact figure for how many Venezuelans are currently living on the island, highlighting a significant gap in the territory's demographic data. The lack of reliable statistics makes it difficult for authorities and policymakers to assess the true scale of Venezuelan migration to Curaçao, which has accelerated in recent years due to Venezuela's ongoing political and economic crisis. Without accurate numbers, the government faces challenges in planning for social services, housing, healthcare, and labor market needs. The situation reflects a broader regional challenge, as many Caribbean islands have struggled to formally track and document Venezuelan migrants who arrive through irregular channels. The absence of official data also complicates efforts to address integration, legal status, and humanitarian support for this population. Advocacy groups and researchers have long called for a more systematic approach to counting and registering Venezuelan residents on the island.

The Dutch naval vessel HNLMS Pelikaan departed Curaçao on Tuesday, bound for Venezuela to deliver humanitarian aid to regions affected by severe earthquakes at the end of June. The mission focuses on providing drinking water to communities hit hard by the disaster. The Pelikaan, a support and transport ship operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy, is regularly stationed in the Caribbean and plays a key role in regional disaster relief operations. The late-June earthquakes caused significant damage across parts of Venezuela, leaving affected populations in urgent need of clean water and other essentials. The Netherlands, through its Caribbean military presence, has positioned itself as a key responder to humanitarian crises in the wider region. This deployment underscores the strategic role Curaçao plays as a logistical hub for Dutch naval and humanitarian operations in the Caribbean and South America.