The disappearing act of Plan B refinery Curaçao
The Multidisciplinary Project Team (MDPT) was installed by Decree on 29th November 2013 to be in charge of modernizing the oil refinery in Curaçao. This Decree also created a sub-committee to lead Plan...
View ArticleDysfunctional union Curaçao & St. Maarten
On 16 February 2018, the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Monetary Union (ECCU) convenes for the 90th time. The ECCU was born in 1983 to assist members with their financial and economic...
View Article#MeToo Curaçao
As we reflect on Women’s Day this year, men and women can be grateful of the many strides we’ve made on women’s rights. Long gone are the days that Friar (Frater) Radulphus on behalf of the Church...
View ArticleMore than oil; why Venezuela matters
Late Venezuelan President Chávez said in 2012 that his country had finally regained its independence from the evil Yankee empire when it signed a total of 8 oil cooperation agreements with Russia. He...
View ArticleGovernment places the economic cart before the horse
You know there’s something terribly wrong when your country starts facing the real possibility of capital flight. This is a process that usually takes place quietly as people export their savings to...
View ArticleGZE is gone, questions linger
Debt-ridden Guangdong Zhenrong Energy (GZE) faces the possibility of completely disappearing from the map or getting absorbed by another Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE). This, as a result of a...
View ArticleRosaria: ‘Myanmar moving on with refinery without GZE: lessons for Curaçao’
Since visiting Myanmar late 2016, I’ve written extensively about the failure of Guangdong Zhenrong Engergy (GZE) to deliver on promises made to this Asian country to build a refinery as part of China’s...
View ArticleOur democracy is under stress
On 15 September 2018, we celebrate for the 10th time the United Nations (UN) International Day of Democracy. Democracy is showing greater strain than at any time in decades according to the UN...
View ArticleI stand with you LGBTQ
The sixth edition of Curaçao Pride will be celebrated from September 27-30, 2018. It’s a 5-day long event filled with activities catering to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)...
View ArticleReferendum yes, but not without a referendum law
It’s amazing how some Dutch Members of Parliament (MP) keep busy these days. Some can be found promoting cartoons that insult the Prophet Muhammad. Others dream up proposals for the introduction of two...
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