The island’s location necessitates careful planning and strong supplier relationships, particularly given the market’s preference for European materials.“We always plan months ahead for materials that we need because the market here on the island is still very Dutch orientated. So, a lot of the projects require Dutch or European manufactured materials,” Zwiers explains.“We have good connections with suppliers and freight forwarders. We are used to it. It was just in the Covid period that we had to adjust a little.” This supply chain expertise combines with a unique organizational structure that gives Janssen de Jong Caribbean distinctive advantages in the market.“Our advantage is that we have a strong organization. We are a small local company with 30 employees, so we are versatile and can do many different projects,”Zwiers notes.“Behind the scenes, we’re part of a bigger organization that gives us advantages in finances, better rates on insurances, bonds, and guarantees.” This dual identity—local agility backed by international resources—allows the company to excel across project scales.“We are small and flexible, so we can react quickly to client needs, but we can rely on a bigger organization,” Zwiers says. “We can handle million-dollar projects without any problems, drawing on skills and knowledge from our other islands. Plus, when the economy has a slower year, we can weather those challenges without difficulty.” REIMAGINING COMMUNITIES A transformation is underway in Bonaire’s approach to neighborhood development, with Janssen de Jong Caribbean positioned to play a pivotal role in this evolution. The shift represents a fundamental change in how communities are planned and built on the island, moving away from traditional segregated developments toward more integrated, environmentally conscious neighborhoods. 22 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 12, ISSUE 01
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