More than a quarter century after our flag flew for the first time in the breeze on the Brion Square, Curaçao is too far from what our national symbol represents: one country, one people united in diversity with equal opportunity to lead happy lives. I know, some days it feels like it’s a lost race. Yet, our island is still on its feet. Sometimes striding, sometimes straying and sometimes stumbling. However, we cannot turn our backs on the cause, we cannot press pause. We must be the flag and embrace it with greater ownership for what it symbolizes. The march goes on, and someday, not just in our dreams, we’ll make it home.

Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has a MBA from the University of Iowa. (USA).