To use the words of my friend who recently passed away, …, “there is never a dull moment on this rock”, I have to say I totally agree. Indeed, there is never a dull moment on this island.
A few weeks ago, there was a meeting in parliament about public health and the new coronavirus were both sides of the isle praised our health care professionals, especially Dr. Izzy Gerstenbluth, a world-renowned epidemiologist. Both coalition and opposition agreed that we are in good hands. There was even the question, what if something happens to Dr. Gerstenbluth. That’s when we all found at that there are more professionals with those types of skills needed to watch our borders and to help us just in case this virus reaches our island.
These members of parliament were confident that we are in good hands with these professionals.
Today, everything changed! Yes, it did!
The Ministry of Public Health yesterday announced that the cruise ship Braemer will dock in our harbor today. Possibly there are 4 or more people on the ship who could be infected with the coronavirus. Our professionals, those that were hailed during the parliament meeting, explained that there is no risk because no one will get off board. Only two to three medial specialists will go on board to take samples for the laboratory tests here and in the Netherlands. These specialists again explained that there are no risks of infection. The explanation was clear, well at least to me and many others I have spoken with.
But today suddenly it was all panic. And of course, some of our MPs are ready to play politics. They criticize the government for allowing this ship to dock in our harbors. They criticize the same medical experts they hailed a few weeks ago. Suddenly those experts “don’t know what they are doing!” It was an entire charade on the radio. One opposition MP attacking the government and the epidemiologist. Excuse me Mr. MP, who is the expert here? Why do you have to cause panic in the community? I mean if this was something political, I would understand. But it is not. All we in Curaçao are doing is to help that ship and those passengers with the laboratory test and other supplies. No one got out of that ship. No one will be infected, just like our professionals told us. And we trust them, that is why we invested in them to become professionals and to serve us. They are not politicians.
Coronavirus is a serious issue. And as a concerned citizen I follow carefully every information from credible sources and from our professionals. I know they are not perfect but one thing I can tell you, they know a lot more than I do and especially a lot more than you Mr. MP.
