KRALENDIJK - The executive board of Bonaire has established an independent commission tasked with developing a broadly supported future vision for the island toward 2050. The commission is headed by Frits Goedgedrag, former Island governor of Bonaire.
The executive board determined that Bonaire faces important choices regarding future developments. The island must now develop the right policies to reverse undesirable trends and guarantee prosperous development for the population.
The vision document must provide direction for decision-making on spatial planning, economy, nature, culture, and society. The vision must clarify what Bonaire wants to preserve, where it wants to grow, and how economy, culture, and nature can remain in balance.
Additionally, the vision must serve as a guideline for future legislation, policy development, and investments at both local and national levels. It must also be transparent about the implementation strategy, priorities, and governance.
Besides chairman Frits Goedgedrag, who is among other things former attorney general and former governor of the Netherlands Antilles and Curaçao, the commission consists of four other members. These are Joanne Balentien-Nicastia (Chief Financial Officer WEB Bonaire), Paul Comenencia (member of the Council of State), Giordano Molina (Chief Operating Officer Bonaire International Airport), and Koert van Buiren (director Economic Bureau Amsterdam).
The secretariat will be managed by Economic Bureau Amsterdam, which has experience with financial and socio-economic research on Bonaire and the other islands of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
For its work, the commission wants to draw from current research on Bonaire’s developments. It also seeks to connect with recognized forms of cooperation and dialogue forums on the island.
In August, commission representatives will seek contact with organizations and individuals who can contribute to the development of the future vision. The commission aims to deliver the vision document to the executive board, stakeholders, and civil society organizations by January 2026 at the latest.
