WILLEMSTAD - On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the Council of Ministers of Curaçao received a visit from the Independent Evaluation Commission for Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.
Since 2021, based on the Mutual Agreement on Cooperation for Reforms, the three autonomous countries within the Kingdom have been implementing a wide range of public sector reforms with the support of the Netherlands.
These reforms are being carried out through country packages, one for each nation — Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten — and are divided into thematic areas such as financial and tax management, government organization, economic development, social security, healthcare, education, and justice.
In Curaçao, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, who also serves as Minister of General Affairs, is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the reforms across ministries and departments. He is assisted by the National Reform Commission (NHC) of the Government of Curaçao, chaired by Mr. Caryl Monte.
According to the Mutual Agreement, on September 1, 2025, the governments of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, together with the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), formally established the Independent Evaluation Commission.
The Commission’s mandate is to prepare an evaluation report on the implementation of the Mutual Agreement in each of the three countries, taking into account local practices and circumstances.
The Commission is composed of:
Ms. Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz (Chair)
Mr. Angel Bermudez (Representative of Aruba)
Mr. Francis de Lanoy (Representative of Curaçao)
Mr. Cees Slager (Representative of the Netherlands)
Mr. Franklyn Richards (Representative of Sint Maarten)
On October 29, the Commission met with both the National Reform Commission (NHC) and the Council of Ministers of Curaçao to discuss its mission and the ongoing evaluation process.
The final evaluation report will be submitted to the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, as well as to the Dutch Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, before March 1, 2026.
The findings and conclusions of the report will serve as an important foundation for future decisions by the governments of the three countries — including whether to continue, modify, or conclude the Mutual Agreement — and will help shape the future structure and content of cooperation within the Kingdom.
