2020
September 19, 2024
Curaçao in 2024: A Missed Vision for the Future
In 1997, we drafted a vision for Curaçao, projecting towards 2020 (Arthur Andersen, 1997). This was long before the well-known "Curaçao 3.0" vision, written in 2013. When 2020 arrived, the implementation of the 2020; Creating Our Caribbean Future vision was evaluated. The bottom line was simple: Curaçao did not ride the wave of the internet revolution.
In 1997, we predicted many trends that are now part of everyday life: flexible working arrangements, working from home, remote work, a borderless world, digital nomads, and smart homes. All these once-futuristic concepts are now the norm globally. However, the 1997 document also recognized a key challenge for Curaçao as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS)—a heightened resistance to change. The island's ability to adapt was and continues to be, notably slow.
Now, as we reflect on 2024, looking not just back to 2013’s Curaçao 3.0 but even further to 1997, the conclusion is clear: Curaçao remains passive and hesitant to embrace change. If decisions are made, they often result in stagnation rather than progress. We can confidently assert that, like many SIDS, Curaçao struggles to make bold choices and proactively shape its future. This is not unique to Curaçao; it is an inherent characteristic of many Small Island Developing States.
The question remains as the world moves forward: when will Curaçao catch up? Some SIDS like Barbados, Aruba, and Singapore perform better.
Miguel Goede
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