Date:

To: All Curacao Island Council Members
Curacao Island Council
Ansinghstraat 1		Fax: 461-6440
Curacao, Netherlands Antilles

Re: Carmabi funding cut is inacceptable!!

Dear Island Council Member,

I recently was informed of the staggering and disproportionate
70% cut in funding for the Carmabi Foundation for the year
2006 and as also scheduled for 2007. I point out that Carmabi
was founded by the government and the first stone was laid by
His Royal Highness Prins Bernhard more than 50 years ago.
Throughout the years Carmabi has played a leading role in the
sustainable development of Curacao, which is a policy
direction presently well-anchored in the island’s various
strategic policy documents.

Cutting 70% off the budget of this already underfunded
institute serves nothing more than to undermine the chosen
strategic policy direction. Strong institutions form the
essential infrastructure of a nation, and institutional
capacity builiding ranks among the top challenges for small
island nations such as Curacao. Therefore, restoring your
support for Carmabi is essential. 

The unique and often endemic natural heritage of Curacao
provides many economic and other opportunities to future
generations but requires structural support for a research and
management institute such as Carmabi. This support was already
structurally low before the implemented funding cut when one
considers the magnitude of tasks expected from the
organization. However, a cut of 70% is totally inacceptable,
especially considering the scientific productivity and
excellence, and the spotless financial integrity that
characterizes this organization for more than five decades.

I have visited Carmabi several times and point out that it has
always been a productive venue for my scientific research
endeavors. The combined and cumulative annual research output
at Carmabi represents a great intellectual wealth for Curacao
and the Netherlands Antilles at almost no cost. But this area
of global excellence and contribution to science will largely
disappear without government’s continuing structural support
to the institute.

Support to the Carmabi Foundation, as one of the rare and most
productive academic institutions of higher learning in the
Netherlands Antilles, is essential and is something the
government could and should take pride in, and exploit to help
showcase the small global speck we know as the island of Curacao.

I understand that in recent months Carmabi, upon request by
government, has prepared a bridge financing plan and
highlighted its key role in the future sustainable economic
development of Curacao. 

I fully support Carmabi at these times and ask you to do your
utmost to fully restore all funding back to Carmabi. In my
modest opinion, not doing so would constitute a pitiful
visionary mistake for which the future generations of Curacao
will pay a high price.

Yours truly,