The Governor's decision not to sign the decree that would pave the way for ministers and members of Curaçao Parliament to receive substantial financial bonuses deserves support.
The reason is straightforward: if the decree is unlawful, it cannot be approved. But there is another important factor that politicians cannot afford to ignore: the enormous public dissatisfaction this proposal has generated throughout our community.
Governor Mauritzs de Kort
At a time when Curaçao is facing serious social and economic challenges, when workers in various sectors feel neglected, and when even sanitation workers and pharmacists have reached the point of protesting and taking industrial action, it is unacceptable for the country's political leaders to place their own financial interests ahead of those of the people they were elected to serve.
Politicians, Wake Up!
The people did not elect you to look after yourselves. They elected you to serve Curaçao and its citizens.
If ministers and parliamentarians believe they deserve better financial compensation, they must also recognize that nurses, sanitation workers, teachers, pharmacists, and countless others who contribute to our country's development deserve fair treatment and recognition.
There is nothing wrong with discussing fair compensation for public officials. But there is something fundamentally wrong with prioritizing additional financial benefits for politicians while ordinary workers continue struggling to have their legitimate concerns addressed.
Solidarity is not merely an attractive word to include in political speeches. Real solidarity is demonstrated through decisions, through the sacrifices leaders are willing to make, and through the way they treat the people who have placed their trust in them.
It cannot be acceptable to apply one standard to ordinary citizens, who are repeatedly told to tighten their belts, and another to politicians who expect generous financial bonuses.
Two Standards, One Country
The contradiction is impossible to ignore.
How can political leaders ask the population to show patience and understanding when government finances are under pressure, while simultaneously pursuing additional financial benefits for themselves?
How can workers be told that their demands require further study, negotiations, and financial assessments, while politicians appear eager to secure their own compensation?
These are questions that deserve answers.
The people of Curaçao are watching. They see what is happening, they understand the priorities being demonstrated, and they are increasingly frustrated by a political culture in which ordinary citizens are expected to make sacrifices while those in positions of power seek additional privileges.
Leadership should never be about taking advantage of public office. It should be about accepting responsibility, demonstrating restraint, and setting an example.
The Governor's refusal to sign the decree is therefore significant. Beyond the legal questions involved, it sends an important message about the need for accountability and respect for the principles governing public administration.
Public Service Must Come Before Personal Gain
Curaçao needs politicians with courage, integrity, and a genuine understanding of the communities they represent.
We need leaders who recognize that the struggles of nurses, teachers, sanitation workers, pharmacists, and other employees are not distant political issues. They are the daily realities of the very people who keep this country functioning.
A government cannot credibly speak about social justice while appearing indifferent to the financial pressures experienced by its citizens.
Nor can political representatives expect public trust when their decisions create the impression that personal financial interests come before the public good.
The responsibility of elected officials extends far beyond passing legislation and attending meetings. It includes demonstrating through their own conduct that they understand the sacrifices being made throughout society.
If there is room in the public budget to improve compensation, the discussion must be transparent, fair, and based on clear priorities that consider the needs of the entire community.
Politicians must remember that public office is a responsibility entrusted to them by the people, not an opportunity to secure personal advantages.
The Time to Demonstrate Solidarity Is Now
The people of Curaçao deserve more than promises, speeches, and expressions of concern.
They deserve political leaders who practice the principles they publicly defend.
Solidarity must be visible in government decisions, in the fair treatment of workers, and in the willingness of those in power to place the national interest above their own.
The public should not always be expected to pay the price while political leaders seek additional benefits.
Serve the people. Do not profit at their expense.
And above all, remember that the time to demonstrate solidarity is now, not when the next election approaches.
Make the argument more balancedReduce repetition and sharpen the conclusion
Henri Isenia
Columnist