Date:

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

Re: Carmabi budget cut

Dear Island Council Member,

It is with utter dismay and shock that I now hear of the 70% 
cut in funding for the Carmabi Foundation for the year 2006, 
and scheduled for 2007. This essentially amounts to a total 
shutdown for this important institute, that has played a 
leading role in nature conservation and delivered top 
performances for more than 50 years, notwithstanding all the 
the inherent and imposed limitations.

While I do appreciate the financial difficulties the Curacao 
government is facing, the funding cut of 70% is way beyond 
proportion and sheds serious doubts on the inherent quality 
of governance in Curacao.

Carmabi has played a key role in the sustainable economic 
development of your island and has an even more important 
role to play in the future. Before the announced funding cut, 
Island Government spending on nature was already exorbitantly 
low, but a properly funded research and management 
organization forms an essential part of the organizational 
infrastructure of a nation seeking sustainable development.  

The guest research conducted at Carmabi produces a scientific 
output valuing far in excess the island government's modest 
financial contribution to Carmabi. Without Carmabi to provide 
basic logistic support in terms of permits, facilities, 
logistical support, etc., Curacao will lose most of its guest 
research that provides the "raw material" for nature 
management, education, policy development, and eco-touristic 
product development, as well as international scientific 
visibility for the island.

Loss of the Carmabi Foundation will constitute a great loss 
to the island, as this institute forms part of the essential 
organizational infrastructure for the budding nation of 
Curacao. 

I hereby join with countless others who have expressed their 
consternation about the situation and urge you to do your 
utmost correct this situation by restoring funding for 
Carmabi for the year 2007 and, also retroactively for the 
year 2006. 

Yours truly,