Janssen de Jong Caribbean

Where Cultures Build Together

Inside the company that’s proving diversity, sustainability, and local partnerships are the foundation for infrastructure excellence in the Caribbean.

At the heart of Bonaire’s infrastructure development is BWM (Bonairiaanse Wegenbouw Maatschappij), a key player in the Janssen de Jong Caribbean family. With a workforce of 30 dedicated employees, the company has established itself as a versatile contractor capable of handling projects across multiple sectors, from government infrastructure to private developments.

“The general purpose of our company is to execute infrastructural projects consisting of mainly asphalt, but we also do concrete works and paver works,” explains Martijn Zwiers, Tender/Project Manager at BWM. “It can be utilities, underground utilities, it can be sport facilities like football fields, artificial turf. While asphalt is our core business, because of the island’s such a small economy, we have to be able to execute all types of projects.”

This adaptability has proven crucial in maintaining continuity, with government contracts forming the backbone of their business. However, the company’s services to the community extend beyond public sector projects. “We work with private businesses as well. Even homeowners can come to us if they want to have their driveway paved,” Zwiers shares. “We don’t turn down any job. We always consider every job, however small or big it is.” This inclusive approach has paid dividends, particularly in recent months. “The last six months, we have been working a lot for private businesses making parking lots, driveways, stuff like that.”

As part of the larger Janssen de Jong Caribbean organization, BWM benefits from a robust support network spanning multiple islands. This connection provides crucial advantages in terms of resources, expertise, and financial stability, while maintaining the agility of a local operation. The company’s presence in Bonaire represents a perfect balance between international backing and local market understanding, enabling them to deliver consistent quality across projects of varying scales and complexity.

From Dutch Roots to Caribbean Growth

The story of Janssen de Jong Caribbean begins with a single ambitious project that would set the stage for decades of development. “The company in Holland is approximately 80 years old, and approximately 70 years ago, they were bidding on a project in Haiti for an airfield,” Zwiers recounts. “They got the job and that was their first presence in the Caribbean. The job in Haiti was quite successful. They wanted to expand more in the Caribbean, and they found the best way to do that is to base a company in Curaçao.”

This initial success led to a systematic expansion across the Dutch Caribbean islands. BWM was founded in 1963, marking a significant milestone in the company’s regional growth. Today, Janssen de Jong Caribbean operates through a network of sister companies across six different islands, including Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, and St. Martin, each specializing in construction, infrastructure, or production services.

The organization’s growth strategy has been two-pronged, combining organic expansion with strategic acquisitions. This approach has enabled them to build a comprehensive presence across the region while maintaining strong ties to their Dutch parent company, which focuses primarily on housing and commercial building construction in the Netherlands.

Innovation and Sustainability

At the forefront of Janssen de Jong Caribbean’s recent innovations is a new asphalt plant in Bonaire that represents a significant leap forward in environmental responsibility and operational efficiency. “The new asphalt plant ensures we can produce our asphalt more efficiently, more quickly, and with less use of fossil fuels,” Zwiers explains. The facility’s capabilities extend beyond mere production efficiency, incorporating forward-thinking features that position the company at the cutting edge of sustainable construction practices in the region.

One of the plant’s most innovative aspects is its recycling capability, a first for the Dutch Caribbean. “When we do a project, we mill, we break up an old road and then we can reuse those materials. We can break them, we can crush them, and we can use them back in our asphalt mixes,” Zwiers details. This circular approach to construction materials, while common in Europe, is a significant advancement for the Caribbean region.

The plant’s design also anticipates future energy transitions. “It has the ability for us to connect to gas, so we can work with natural gas instead of diesel fuel,” Zwiers notes. While natural gas infrastructure isn’t currently available on the island, this forward-thinking feature shows the company’s focus on long-term sustainability. “The option is already there. It’s on the plant, it’s already there. So maybe in a few years when natural gas becomes available here on the island, we are already prepared for that.”

Meeting Regional Challenges

In Bonaire’s unique island environment, construction companies face distinct challenges that require innovative solutions and adaptive strategies. For Janssen de Jong Caribbean, these challenges center around two critical areas: maintaining a skilled workforce on a small island and meeting evolving sustainability expectations.

“Sustainability is becoming a key priority,” Zwiers explains. “People find it very important nowadays. How do you treat the environment? They make it part of the project or they give importance to how a contractor deals with the environment, good care of the environment, but also its people, its workforce.”

The challenge of finding and retaining skilled labor proves particularly complex on an island with just 25,000 inhabitants. “Bonaire is such a small island. The local trade schools teach more general studies. They cannot do such specific studies because simply put, there are not enough students,” Zwiers notes. This limitation creates a continuous cycle of talent management challenges, as many young people leave the island for education. “A lot of the students, they go abroad, they study abroad, maybe they come back, maybe they don’t.”

To bridge this gap, the company has developed a multi-faceted approach to workforce development. They rely significantly on skilled workers from neighboring regions, particularly Latin America and other Caribbean countries. However, this solution brings its own complexities. “We rely a lot on immigrants from Latin American countries but then you have the difficulties with the work permits that have to be renewed every year.”

For those already within the organization, the company emphasizes ongoing professional development and creating a supportive work environment. This approach helps maintain stability in their workforce while building long-term capabilities. The focus extends beyond finding workers to creating an environment where skilled professionals want to stay and grow with the company.

Supply Chain Mastery and Market Agility

Operating in the Caribbean demands exceptional supply chain management and adaptability. For Janssen de Jong Caribbean, the post-pandemic landscape has reshaped their approach to materials procurement and project planning, while reinforcing the advantages of a unique organizational structure.

“After Covid, we faced significant challenges with material supply as construction material prices went up, lead times went up, and freight charges went up,” Zwiers reflects. While the situation has improved, it’s established a new baseline for operations. “It’s leveling out, but it’s staying on that level. It’s not going back down anymore. It’s a new reality we have to live with.”

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.

“The local government is exploring options to create neighborhoods that are more inclusive and environmentally integrated,” Zwiers explains. “Traditionally, when creating a new neighborhood on the island, they would clear all vegetation and start from scratch. Now the mindset is changing—they’re only clearing plots that will be built on, preserving as much existing vegetation as possible.”

This environmental consciousness extends to a broader reimagining of community design. The traditional approach of separating public and private housing is giving way to a more integrated vision. “In the past, they created segregated neighborhoods—public housing in one area, and private, free-market housing at much higher prices in another,” Zwiers notes. The results of this segregation are now being recognized and addressed.

The new developments will incorporate mixed housing alongside essential amenities. “They’re shifting toward mixed neighborhoods with facilities like small shops, supermarkets, and pharmacies,” Zwiers shares. “They want more inclusion within the neighborhood—it’s a fundamental change in mindset.”

Within their own operations, the company has implemented comprehensive initiatives to align with these evolving standards. “We run internal campaigns focusing on sustainable practices—from using reusable coffee cups to reducing waste and paper use on project sites,” Zwiers explains. “We emphasize a professional image through clean uniforms and proper site maintenance. On a small island like this, preserving our environment is crucial, so we regularly reinforce these practices with our team.”

The Power of Local Partnerships

In Bonaire’s close-knit economy, success hinges on building and maintaining strong relationships across the business community. For Janssen de Jong Caribbean, these connections span from government contracts to supplier partnerships, creating a network that enhances their ability to deliver consistently excellent results.

“Bonaire is a small economy, so we have to work very closely with our suppliers and even our competitors,” Zwiers explains. “Sometimes our competitors become our suppliers, or we become theirs—that’s just how closely we work together.”

Among their key partnerships is CBKF (Caribbean Blokken en Klinkers Fabriek), the local concrete plant that provides essential materials and services. “They are our primary supplier for ready-mix concrete delivery here on the island,” Zwiers notes. “We rely on them not just for concrete, but also for products like blocks and pavers.”

The relationship goes beyond basic material supply. “They provide everything from raw aggregates and stone sand to transportation services with their trucks and heavy equipment,” Zwiers adds. “We can always count on them when we need them—they’ve proven to be an invaluable partner over the years.”

Government relationships also play a crucial role in the company’s operations. With nearly three-quarters of their work coming from government contracts, maintaining strong ties with public sector entities is essential. These relationships have evolved beyond traditional client-contractor dynamics into collaborative partnerships that help shape the island’s development.

Looking Ahead: Growth, Development, and Cultural Integration

The future of Janssen de Jong Caribbean holds exciting prospects, with significant projects on the horizon and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening their market position. “We know some big projects are on the way. The new developments, the new neighborhoods, the government will be developing in the coming period. We are looking forward to that,” Zwiers explains. “There will also be some projects we are following very closely for improving fuel provision to the island like diesel, gasoline, and kerosene for airplanes.”

The company’s proactive approach to workforce development remains a key focus. “Even if we don’t have many projects at the moment, when we see someone who is crucial to our organization, we contract them because we know that in the future when we need them, they’ll already be there,” Zwiers notes. “We want to strengthen our people, the people we already have. We give them courses and training so they can raise their level and be ready for what is coming in the future.”

This forward-thinking approach also embraces the rich cultural diversity that characterizes the Caribbean workforce. Drawing from his personal journey of moving from the Netherlands to the Caribbean eleven years ago, Zwiers has gained valuable insights into the importance of cultural integration and mutual respect in business success.

“I very quickly learned not to have any prejudices about people when you come to live in another culture. I came into another culture—a Caribbean culture, a Latin American culture. It is such a mixed culture here on the island,” Zwiers reflects. His final observation captures the essence of their success in this diverse environment: “It’s so great to see how all these cultures and languages work together and make beautiful things, beautiful projects and products. When you’re open to working with everybody, that’s when the magic happens.”

AT A GLANCE

Janssen de Jong Caribbean

What: Leading Caribbean and Latin American retail and financial services provider

Where: Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, and more)

Website: www.jajo-caribbean.com