What I have started noticing lately in Curaçao is that some politicians seem to place enormous focus on appearance. Stylish clothing, carefully staged photos, strong postures, public appearances that look prepared down to the smallest detail. And naturally, there is nothing wrong with that. A leader also represents his country. But somewhere along the way, it begins to feel strange when the packaging becomes more visible than the actual substance.
With our prime minister, I see this becoming increasingly evident. Not so much in what he says, but precisely in what he does not say. Major issues in society are often approached cautiously. Visions remain vague. Depth is regularly missing. Public appearances increasingly seem more about controlling an image than leading the people in a clear direction.
And that is exactly where there is a sensitive point for many former colonies.
Colonialism was never only about power or economics. It was also about perception. About how you were accepted by those governing you. How “civilized,” “proper,” or “presidential” you appeared within the model of the colonizer. That psychological legacy continues through generations. You see it in language, education, hierarchy, but also in political leadership.
And that is how a dangerous pattern can emerge. The leader invests more and more energy into how he “comes across” to the outside world, while the people are waiting for direction, vision, and honesty. Popularity begins to seem more important than confronting difficult decisions. People learn how to look like leaders, but less about how to actually provide leadership.
And this is not merely a personal issue involving one politician. It is a structural problem in young democracies still struggling with their mental independence.
Because true leadership does not begin with polished appearances. It begins with transparency. With explaining where the country truly stands. With having the courage to name painful realities. With showing vision, even when that creates resistance. A people do not have to agree with their leader all the time, but they do need to feel there is direction.
Too much focus on image eventually works against you. People begin to feel that something is missing behind the decoration. And cynicism grows. Not because people are against good presentation, but because they are hungry for authenticity.
Curaçao does not lack charm. It does not lack talent. It does not lack appearance. What the island needs are leaders who invest less energy into how they are perceived and more into how the country can truly move forward.
Because history teaches us a hard lesson: a country is not built with polished photos and neat videos, but with vision.
By Orlando Meulens