JGD's Reaction on Column in Luchtvaartnieuws
26 August 2006 | By Jacob Gelt Dekker

According to Schoppenhauer, the truth goes through three stages;
1. denial
2. ridicule
3. acceptance

In Curacao we should add,
4. intimidation and boycotts.

Herewith a few remarks from my side. ( see also www.jacobgeltdekker.com )


1. Reactions were almost none to the content of the column, mostly on the presentation. It was assumed that millions in the international world read the column. The truth is: Luchtvaartnieuws, where the column was published, is a small Dutch language web site with about the same number of readers as Amigoe, or even less. It was the noise of Curacao's reaction and consequence intimidation, vandalism and boycott that brought my column but even more the reaction of a few politicians to the front page of the international press. It generated a sad conclusion:
"Curacao's politicians do not allow freedom-of- speech or press. It is becoming more and more a fascist dictatorial society."

2. I wrote the column about one month before it was published. It passed the editor and chief editor of the publisher. Publication in its present form and at that vary moment was totally beyond my control, but I have no reason to regret or criticize it.

3. Most politicians who reacted so violently, clearly did not read or understand the column as becomes clear from their reactions. Examples: De Haseth: " GD claims that tourism is in great decline." Not true: I wrote: "crime, poor education, poor work ethics, and bad governance form an obstacle to growth of the tourism industry." Example: Charles Cooper cs.: ".GD claims, we are all dumb, lazy and steal." Not true: I wrote: "The hard working people who keep our economy going, year after year, in spite of all, deserve our greatest respect."

I have no respect for the 7000 ( see Rede Sosial report) young men and women who refuse to take part in our regular economy and devote their time to crime. In addition, we have 12.000 criminal Antillean youth in Holland ( hangjeugd) who ruin the reputation of Curacao as vacation destination and 1.400 Antilleans in Dutch prisons, for the cruelest and ruthless crimes imaginable. Prime minister Ys did everything to prevent their forced return to Curacao, but nobody was ready to address the shocking facts of this dismal group of the society and do something about it.

4.The translation in the Papiamento newspapers was less than accurate. In addition, quoting a few lines, or even words, here and there, distorted the article totally.

Criminals behind the scenes and populist politicians thrive on chaos, hate and poverty; that is how they make their fortunes. Racism, Macamba-hate, anti-Semitism and pure Caribbean Fascism were well voiced. Their reaction was anticipated in my article. Sorry to say, I was right.

5. The sad event of a priest's murder which shocked the nation, underlines my statements once more. We live with a large part of the society, that is ruthless, has no values and threatens the future development of our welfare and well being in the Antilles.

Note: The killing of a man of a sneky, about one month ago, was just as horrible; his name did not even appear in the newspapers. Is the life of a priest worth so much more?

6. The solution lies with the people, as I often stated before. Only repairing the social fabric, taking care of our children, can heal our society. Denial does not do anything, neither expensive trips on taxpayers money of our political leaders to China, Holland, Dubai and Turkey.

Churches, associations of any kind and parents are " our brothers' keepers"; not only in prayer on Sunday, but all week and with hard work. Yes, we have to take responsibility for the neglected and the drop-outs, every day of our and their lives.

Often, I called for a mentor system and was applauded, but whenever I asked people to come forward, everybody was suddenly busy with something else. I will still continue to work with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization for an establishment in Curacao.

Political Leaders, like Cooper and Godett, understood at least that social fabric responsibility and were with their people, all the time. Unfortunately, Godett turned out to be a criminal himself and became a horrible role model.

Our leaders need to be with our people, not behind quasi important desks. They are as leaders, the role models of our society, they are to be the fathers and mothers of the youth and guide the way.

The fate of the islands, of our welfare and well being, is in the hands of the people, everyone, not in the hands of stuffy arrogant parasite politicians, who play royalty in their poorly delineated little kingdoms.

Best from Cambodia,

Jacob Gelt Dekker