On August 30, 2014 a large number of stakeholders participated in a validation conference on Media Development in Curaçao organized by the Curaçao National Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO.

The objective of this meeting was to get feedback from the various stakeholders (journalists, media workers and more) on the findings of the assessment of Media Development in Curaçao. An investigation which was based on UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators. The conference focused on giving a presentation of the findings and afterwards the floor was open for discussion.

The morning was officially opened by the Secretary General Marva Browne and the Minister/Chairperson of the National Commission Hon. Irene A. Dick who in her opening statement quoted the following by Malcolm X:

“THE MEDIA’S THE MOST POWERFUL ENTITY ON EARTH. THEY HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THE INNOCENT GUILTY AND TO MAKE THE GUILTY INNOCENT, AND THAT’S POWER. BECAUSE THEY CONTROL THE MINDS OF THE MASSES”.

Saorla McCabe MDI Coordinator , UNESCO in a  video presentation elaborated on the MDI framework and the experience and impact world wide.

Towards the ending of the morning a Panel Discussion was held and final recommendations of the MDI assessment were made to ensure effective follow-up of the MDI assessment.

The investigation was conducted using the following five MDI Indicators:

**A system of regulation conducive to freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity of the media (MDI Category 1)
**Plurality and diversity of media, a level economic playing field and transparency of ownership (MDI Category 2)
**Media as a platform for democratic discourse” (MDI Category 3)
**Professional capacity building and supporting institutions that underpins freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity (MDI Category 4)
**Infrastructural capacity is sufficient to support independent and pluralistic media” (MDI Category 5)