WILLEMSTAD – A new government for Curaçao officially took office this week as the Pisas III Cabinet was sworn in during a formal ceremony at the Governor’s Palace at Fort Amsterdam. Her Excellency Governor Lucille George-Wout administered the oath of office to the ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary, officially concluding the term of the Pisas II Cabinet.
Following the ceremony, the newly appointed cabinet members convened their first Council of Ministers meeting, signaling the start of a new governing period under the continued leadership of Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas. In addition to his role as Prime Minister, Pisas will oversee General Affairs, including foreign relations, Kingdom affairs, the environment, nature, and the energy sector, which includes 2Bays, Aqualectra, and Curoil.
The full lineup of the Pisas III Cabinet includes:
Javier Silvania – Minister of Finance and Public Health
Charles Cooper – Minister of Traffic, Transport, and Urban Planning
Sithree van Heydoorn – Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports
Shalten Hato – Minister of Justice
Charetti America-Francisca – Minister of Social Development, Labor, and Welfare
Roderick Middelhof – Minister of Economic Development
Kimberly Lew-Jen-Tai – Minister of Governance, Planning, and Public Service
Carlson Manuel – Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague
All cabinet members are affiliated with the Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK), which holds a parliamentary majority. The cabinet features a combination of experience and fresh perspectives: five of the ministers and the Minister Plenipotentiary served in the previous cabinet, one was until recently President of Parliament, and two newcomers are described as well-prepared and dynamic.
In a statement following the installation, the Pisas III Cabinet expressed deep appreciation for the trust placed in them by the people of Curaçao and committed to advancing sustainable development in line with the 2025–2029 Government Program titled “Rumbo pa 2030! A New Commitment to Country Curaçao.”
Among the top priorities for the new government are addressing the socio-economic impacts of an aging population, including the strain on public finances, healthcare, and social systems. The cabinet aims to make Curaçao more appealing to its youth—whether to stay, return after studying abroad, or establish themselves professionally on the island.
The administration will also focus on combating poverty, diversifying the economy, and improving the quality and sustainability of the healthcare sector. Additionally, a comprehensive nation-building initiative will be launched, involving multiple ministries, to improve quality of life and safety in local neighborhoods and family homes.
The Pisas III Cabinet has positioned itself to drive forward meaningful and lasting change, with a vision for a more prosperous and socially just Curaçao by 2030.
