When two politicians enter into a public conflict, our first reaction is often to choose sides.
One group will defend Charles Cooper. Another group will defend Javier Silvania.
But by doing so, we risk missing the most important lesson of what is actually happening.
Cooper and Silvania are not the problem. However, their public dispute has made the problem more visible.
In the past, political conflicts in Curaçao were mainly between government and opposition. That is a normal part of democracy. Different political parties represent different views about the future of the country.
What we are witnessing today is something different.
When similar conflicts become visible within the same political movement, we can no longer describe them simply as political differences. They indicate that the challenge is much deeper.
This is not about individuals.
It is not about one political party.
It concerns a pattern.
And ultimately, it is patterns that determine the development of a society.
Anyone who looks honestly at Curaçao can see that the same pattern appears in many other areas.
Government ministries do not always operate with the same long-term vision. Government, the private sector and education often pursue similar goals, but each works separately instead of together.
Social organizations frequently work toward the same objectives but without sufficient coordination.
Projects often stop when political leadership changes. New policies are introduced before previous policies have had the opportunity to prove their value.
As a result, we constantly respond to incidents instead of addressing the underlying causes.
In my view, this is Curaçao’s greatest challenge.
It is not a lack of talent.
It is not a lack of dedication.
It is a fragmented collective consciousness.
This does not mean everyone should think the same way. On the contrary, a healthy society develops through different opinions and perspectives.
But a collective consciousness means something different.
It means the ability of a society to maintain the same long-term direction despite differences.
That is exactly where we often lose each other.
Therefore, I believe the solution cannot be found in one place.
We cannot solve this only with a new government.
Not with one strong minister.
Not with economic measures alone.
And not only by reforming education.
If the problem is systemic, then the solution must also be systemic.
In an earlier article, I wrote about the concept of a Humanist School. Not as a new school, but as a new vision for education.
A place where young people do not only acquire knowledge, but also learn how to work together, take responsibility, think critically, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, resolve conflicts and understand that their personal development is connected to the development of Curaçao.
But even that is not enough.
If we educate a new generation and then place them into institutions that continue rewarding the same outdated patterns, they will eventually adapt to that system.
That is why I also proposed the creation of a Curaçao Development Authority (CDA).
Not a new ministry.
Not a political organization.
But an independent platform where government, education, the private sector, science, social organizations and our diaspora jointly assume responsibility for Curaçao’s long-term development.
The Humanist School and the Curaçao Development Authority are not separate ideas.
They complement each other.
The Humanist School develops people.
The Curaçao Development Authority develops institutions.
But even that forms only part of the solution.
A healthy collective consciousness emerges only when different systems within our society begin moving in the same direction.
Education develops citizens who think independently and take responsibility.
Government builds reliable institutions.
The private sector creates opportunities so more people can participate in economic growth.
The media should not only report conflicts but also highlight solutions and cooperation.
Sports and culture unite people beyond political and social differences.
Churches and neighborhood organizations strengthen values, responsibility and mutual support.
And our diaspora should not only be seen as Curaçaoans living abroad.
They are a strategic resource.
They bring knowledge, experience, investment and international connections that can contribute to the development of our island.
When all these forces begin moving in the same direction, progress becomes possible.
Trust grows.
Cooperation grows.
Institutions become stronger.
And slowly, a healthy collective consciousness begins to develop.
Perhaps that is why we should stop asking who won the conflict between Cooper and Silvania.
The answer will not determine Curaçao’s future.
The real question we should ask is:
What kind of society do we want to build so that these patterns become less permanent?
That, in my opinion, is where the real task lies.
Not replacing individuals.
But developing people.
Not winning arguments.
But strengthening institutions.
Not constantly chasing the next crisis.
But working systematically toward a Curaçao where education, government, the economy and culture reinforce one another.
Because ultimately, the well-being of a country does not depend on the quality of one politician.
It is determined by the quality of the collective consciousness that connects all of its institutions.
Perhaps that is the greatest challenge Curaçao faces today.
And perhaps the current conflict is not the end of a discussion.
Perhaps it is the beginning of a conversation we should have started long ago.
Orlando Meulens
Columnist