GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Democracy took center stage in Curaçao as the island not only delivered a historic election result but also earned the approval of Caribbean observers for how it carried out the process.
The small Dutch Caribbean nation captured regional attention on March 21, when citizens turned out in large numbers to vote in a general election that would end with Movementu Futuro Kòrsou (MFK) claiming an unprecedented solo majority — 55% of the total votes.
But while the headlines focused on the political upset, a quieter story was unfolding behind the scenes: that of a smooth, well-run election monitored by a Caribbean Community (Caricom) technical mission.
Deployed at the invitation of Dr. Richeline C Joe, president of Curaçao’s Supreme Election Council, the three-member Caricom team arrived not to interfere, but to observe. Their verdict? A calm, incident-free process that aligned with Curaçao’s official electoral procedures.
“There were no major areas of concern,” the team noted in a statement released days after the polls closed — a strong endorsement for the island’s electoral machinery.
The observers monitored everything from the opening of polling stations to the counting of ballots. While their presence was discreet, their role was vital: helping reinforce transparency and regional trust in democratic practices.
Now, with the election concluded and MFK preparing to govern without a coalition for the first time in Curaçao’s history, the Caricom team will turn its attention to compiling a detailed report. That document, to be submitted to the Caricom Secretary-General, is expected to offer recommendations aimed at further strengthening the democratic process in Curaçao — a nation that has proven itself capable of both political transformation and procedural integrity.
