Analysis after analysis, without concrete results, is what we see in Curaçao almost every day, coming from every corner of society, while the island continues to struggle to achieve lasting progress.
Let us start by speaking honestly: we must recognize that Curaçao is small. It has 444 square kilometers. Fewer than 160,000 inhabitants. No gold, silver, aluminum, oil, or other major natural resources.
With a territory and population this small, our only true wealth is our people. This means that if we do not unite all constructive forces, if we do not work toward a shared vision, we will not succeed.
A small country needs unity. But that is not what we currently have.
Our past weighs heavily on us. Two hundred years of transatlantic slavery. Colonialism since 1634. These wounds continue to affect us, even today in 2026. What is the result? A lack of identity. A lack of self-worth. A lack of common sense. And above all: anger, hatred, and a desire for revenge.
Instead of healing these wounds, we continue to open them wider every day.
Politics in Curaçao has become like a battle driven by revenge.
We are not seeking compromise. We are not joining forces. Instead, we continue to look at who belongs to which political party and who said something in the past that offended someone.
The evidence? Governments spend millions of guilders on experts to prepare crucial reports. Reports that clearly explain what needs to happen in education, healthcare, and the economy. But when a new government takes office, everything is often pushed aside because it was considered “the ideas of the previous government.” In the end, this becomes nothing more than a waste of scarce taxpayer money.
The same happens with valuable advice from capable professionals. Their recommendations are ignored simply because they do not belong to the “family and friends” circle.
We exclude our own talented people. And in a small community where every talent is worth its weight in gold, that is a deadly mistake.
The question is simple:
What kind of healthy development can we expect under these circumstances?
Every day we hear calls for “leaders.” But what kind of leaders?
Curaçao does not need more leaders filled with anger and frustrations from the past. Curaçao needs intelligent leaders. Leaders free from hatred. Leaders who choose cooperation instead of revenge.
This is the only path that can save us in the years ahead. If we do not choose this road, we will end up with an island where the gap between the poor and the wealthy becomes so wide that it will bring our society down.
Conclusion: Let Us Choose Plan B
We must make a choice now: a better Curaçao. A Curaçao based on mutual respect. A Curaçao built on the willingness to cooperate for the only thing that truly matters: creating a society where all of us can experience the best moments of our lives.
If we continue with division, conflict, anger, and cheap politics, we will lead ourselves toward a life without value.
But if we choose unity, we can create a fair and acceptable standard of living for everyone.
Erwin Raphaëla
Journalist and Columnist