WILLEMSTAD – The government of Curaçao held a press conference yesterday in the light of the recent strikes held by several sectors on the island. “It could have been solved differently!” That was the most important message of seven ministers in response to the tense situation surrounding the strikes this week.

The ministers present were Armin Konket, Hensley Koeiman, Suzanne Camelia-Romer, Steven Martina, Quincy Girigorie, Zita Jesus-Leito and Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé. Absent were Eugene Rhuggenaath and Kenneth Gijsbertha because they are on Aruba for the three-country consultation.

The various ministers explain the strikes that were going on, after which they concluded that: the strike of Selikor was too heavy a means, which many people have suffered; that even before the initial cause indicated by the teachers’ union Sitek, the solution was already there and that the actions were not necessary; this management of the new hospital is always open for conversation and that the procession from Sehos to HNO and the media attention were unnecessary; that with better communication and only a phone call, actions could have been prevented by the police and that problems could have been solved at Brasami if someone had reported in time that the subsidy had not been transferred.

Thus, in other words, the strikes were really not necessary.