Rottumhuys Caribbean Seeks Interior Design Talent in Curaçao

The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) issued a warning in early July that unlicensed lotteries are still operating on the island, highlighting concerns about unfair competition in the gambling sector. The CGA oversees the licensing of online gaming operators based in Curaçao, a jurisdiction that has long served as a hub for international online gambling companies. Unlike the Netherlands, which has a tightly controlled and relatively limited licensing framework under its Remote Gambling Act, Curaçao operates on a much larger scale, issuing licenses to a significantly higher number of online gaming operators worldwide. The presence of unlicensed lottery operations undermines the regulated market and creates an uneven playing field for licensed businesses. The CGA's warning signals an ongoing challenge for the island's gaming authority to enforce compliance and crack down on operators circumventing the licensing system. This distinction in regulatory approach between Curaçao and the Netherlands is increasingly relevant as both jurisdictions face scrutiny over consumer protection and market integrity in online gambling.

Former Aqualectra director Anthon Casperson is warning that Curaçao's community will continue to face energy instability until there is a broader understanding of a critical limitation in renewable energy. Casperson states that alternative electricity production sources — such as wind turbines, solar systems, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) — cannot be counted as reliable production capacity in the way that traditional power generation can. The distinction is important because reliable capacity refers to power that can be consistently dispatched on demand, regardless of weather or time of day. Renewable sources, by their intermittent nature, do not guarantee output at any given moment, making grid stability a concern if they are treated as equivalent to conventional power plants. Casperson's remarks highlight an ongoing debate on the island about how to responsibly transition to cleaner energy while maintaining a stable and dependable electricity supply. His comments suggest that policymakers and the public may be overestimating what renewable installations can deliver in terms of grid reliability. The warning carries significant weight given his experience leading Aqualectra, Curaçao's main utility provider.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe has significantly increased its imports of Russian natural gas in recent months, raising questions about the continent's energy independence commitments. The surge is driven by a combination of factors including lower prices for Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) compared to alternatives, reduced supply from other sources, and the practical reality that some European buyers never fully severed ties with Russian energy suppliers. While the EU has made substantial progress in diversifying away from Russian pipeline gas since 2022, LNG exports from Russia have continued largely uninterrupted due to gaps in sanctions frameworks. Critics argue the increased imports undermine European solidarity with Ukraine and contradict stated energy security goals. The trend highlights the tension between short-term economic pressures and long-term strategic energy policy across the continent. This article, published by Nu.cw in August 2026, provides context for Caribbean readers on a global energy story with broad economic implications.