Curaçao Precious issue 4

Alfredo Cordero: “Every country has its own sovereignty and culture but we are still one…”

Gerritdina van Petersen: “Poor education makes me question the vision of equality in the Kingdom….”

Gregory Bakhuis:“As a Trans-Atlantic Kingdom we can distinguish ourselves from the rest of the world”.

Lucia Martis: “It is of utmost importance to remain united as we are still part of one Kingdom”.

Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao Volume 1 – Issue 4 – March 2015

KINGDOM EDITION

KINGDOM EDITION

Curaçao Precious Curaçao Precious

Content:Colophon:

Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of CuraçaoWagenaarweg 132597 LM The Hague+31 (0)70 [email protected]

Editorial: Communication and Information Department | Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao

Design & Production: Ben Coëlho www.bemaco.nl

Photography: Paco Núñez Caïnva Isenia Picture cover: Caïnva Isenia

SHARIZELLE SCHOOP “I believe that our past has made us who we are and I’m of the opinion that we can be proud of this”. 4

GREGORY BAKHUIS “As a Trans-Atlantic Kingdom we can distinguish ourselves from the rest of the world”. 6

LUCIA MARTIS “It is of utmost importance to remain united as we are still part of one Kingdom”. 8

JOHAN OLDENBOOM “The Statute is the all-important manuscript that exemplifies the unity of the Kingdom – the basis of everything”. 10

GERRITDINA VAN PETERSEN “Poor education makes me question the vision of equality in the Kingdom….” 12

ALFREDO CORDERO “Every country has its own sovereignty and culture but we are still one”. 14

All rights reserved. The magazine may not be published, broadcasted etc.,in whole or part, without the express written consent of the Cabinet of theMinister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao.

A WORD FROM THE MINISTER

PLENIPOTENTIARY

The general theme of this

edition of Curaçao Precious:

The Kingdom of the Netherlands.

As a politician and a Curaçaoan,

the diversity of the Kingdom of

the Netherlands never cease to

amaze me: several countries, several

official languages, several people,

several climates, yet one Charter.

When it comes to diversity,

Curaçao epitomizes our Kingdom.

Therefore, in this edition of Curaçao

Precious we will be reading the

opinion of people who were born

in Curaçao, in a different country

within the Kingdom or in a

country outside the Kingdom.

I wish you much enjoyment in reading

the fourth issue of Curaçao Precious!

Marvelyne F. Wiels

Minister Plenipotentiary

of Curaçao to the Netherlands

Blue SapphiresThere are multiple reasons why the sapphire has been chosen as the gem to embody the preciousness, the uniqueness and the invaluable personification of our cherished island nation. Although there are many colour variations of this gemstone, the most valued and best-known hue of the sapphire is blue. It is an acknowledged fact that the sapphire has become synonymous with the colour blue.Throughout the ages the characteristics of this coveted gem have been both recognized and admired. The sapphire is rare, indescribably beautiful and more expensive than the clear diamond and the other big two coloured gemstones, the ruby and the emerald. This could explain why the sapphire reigns supreme. The colour blue is also omnipresent in the clear daytime sky of Curaçao and the Caribbean. The different variations of blue that characterize the azure and pristine water of our sea are legendary since they provide a colourful background for photographs and movie clips by both amateurs and professionals. In addition, blue is also the principal colour in the flag of Curaçao, a blue, much like the vibrant and lively blue of a fine sapphire. By the way, the other two colours featured in the flag of Curaçao are yellow and white – the flag was officially introduced on July 2nd 1984.Considering the abovementioned, it is easy to conclude why sapphires were selected to exemplify Curaçao Precious...

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4 5Curaçao Precious Curaçao Precious

“To me the Kingdom represents a sea of infinite possibilities”

As of December 2014 the Char-ter for the Kingdom of the Neth-erlands has existed for 60 year. How did this affect you?“The Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a broad concept and as a community we are affected by this from different angles. This differs per person. I don’t believe that every person within the Caribbean community in the Netherlands pays tribute to this as they see this as an obvious matter – but thanks to the Charter we possess the Dutch nationality from birth including all the respective possibilities. In my actual job I experience what non-European students have to go through and have to arrange prior to being admitted on to an educational course. This excludes all the anxiety these students still have to undergo with the local government authorities. This is in contrast to students from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom that are directly admissible – this saves time and money. Only after I moved to the Netherlands, did I become aware of all of this”.

What does our King-dom mean to you?“To me the Kingdom represents a sea of infinite possibilities, either in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, in the Netherlands but also internationally. We have the luxury, without too much hassle, to be mobile either for holidays, educational purposes or business trips. Such is not the case for all countries and their inhabitants. The nationality of some people is to their disadvantage whilst this says nothing about a human being”.

What are the benefits of our Kingdom in your opinion? “In my opinion the biggest advantage is the fact that youngsters are almost always directly permissible to an educational course of their choice in the Netherlands on completion of their secondary school education. In addition to this they can make use of several financial concessions that the Dutch government offers during their studies. Therefore I find it a real

pity when students fool around and do not complete their education, as there are plenty of people originating from other nations longing to go to university but are unable to do so”.

Are there disadvantages to being part of a Kingdom in your opinion?“Some people still associate the Kingdom with the history of slave trading. These people are of the opinion that we are still a colony of the Netherlands whilst this is not the case. This remains a sensitive issue and everybody experiences this differently. I believe that our past has made us who we are and I’m of the opinion that we can be proud of this”.

What are your wishes with re-gard to the Kingdom?“Currently not all the countries in the Kingdom are treated as equal participants and not all countries within the Kingdom get the chance to

show all the skills they possess. When given the chance to show our skills we should therefore make use of this opportunity. On 10th October 2010 we took one step in this direction. I furthermore hope that if it should come to the point that the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom cease to be part of the Kingdom, we could at least maintain the good bonds with the Netherlands. It would be a pity to completely dispose of this age-old relationship”.

What is your contribution as a human being and as a pro-fessional to the Kingdom?“As a human being my role is to make sure that I make proper use of the possibilities the Kingdom offers without encouraging abuse of the system. This way future generations can also take full advantage of these opportunities. As a professional I always make use of the various educational and job opportunities in the Netherlands in order to contribute to the development of the Netherlands and my beloved native island. The keyword is awareness – this applies to small and simple things such as possessing Dutch citizenship but also the various opportunities attached to this. If people become more aware of the fact that the advantages of being a Kingdom clearly overshadow the disadvantages, then this will automatically lead to more positive energy”.

“I believe that our past has made us who we are and I’m of the opinion that we can be proud of this”.

Full names: Sharizelle ‘Shari’ Schoop.Date and place of birth: Curaçao, 14 March 1985.Position: Logistics Planner at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and member of the Platform Antillean and Aruban students in Rotterdam (PAAR).

Pict

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Caï

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As of December 2014 the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands has existed for 60 years. How did this affect you?“On 15 December 2014, the Open University in cooperation with the University of Tilburg organized a symposium on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Four experts in the area of constitutional law, under the lead of professor Ernst Hirsch Ballin, were asked to give their view on this commemoration. I had the honor to contribute to this event in the light of the guarantee function of the Kingdom and the respective supervision from The Hague on Curacao, Sint Maarten and

Aruba. It was an interesting afternoon. The Rolzaal in the Inner Court (Binnenhof ) in The Hague was completely full. Among those present were many dignitaries, including Minister Plasterk of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, several members of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Second Chamber of Aruba and the Vice President of the Council of State. In addition to this, there were also many lawyers, policy officers, professors, established scientists and interested members of the elder generation in the audience. Many interesting questions and remarks were made especially by this last group. One was able to sense emotions based on pride but also on frustration and old sore”.

“I would love to see us jointly conquering the world”

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What does our King-dom mean to you?“The Kingdom of the Netherlands is in many aspects an extraordinary union of which I’m very proud. From interesting family ties that have come into existence throughout the centuries, to unique constitutional relationships that are laid down in the Charter. I see myself as an example of these historical family ties: my father was born in Curaçao, my mother in Aruba and I myself came into the world in the Netherlands. Furthermore, I also have family links in St. Maarten and Bonaire. The legal and political relationships in the Kingdom are even more interesting. The Charter is a fascinating document worthy of study – in the Preamble one is already able to sense the historical alliance and the peculiar character of this alliance. In my eyes this text is timeless and I look with admiration to the compilers and all involved in its establishment back in those days. From the person who wrote the famous radio broadcast of the late Queen Wilhelmina to the valuable input of the then Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez”.

What are the benefits of our Kingdom in your opinion?“Being constitutionally connected within the Kingdom of the Netherlands has endless benefits for everyone. Geographically we might be situated on two continents, but the connection between our people is important. Citizenship of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a suitcase full of hidden treasures. All of us have different roots and still we have many common values – we actually possess the best of many worlds”.

What are the disadvantag-es of being part of a King-dom in your opinion?“I do not see disadvantages, there are only chances and development opportunities. Within the Kingdom we tend to sometimes see each other as a burden. For over 150 years there have been disputes on financial issues, interference with each other’s internal affairs or incomprehension based on differences of culture and mentality. In my opinion this negative energy stems from mutual incomprehension. I don’t think this will ever completely disappear, but if we all realize that we speak at least three common languages in the Kingdom, we would be able to listen much better to one another. If we consequently make the step to our common interests: being economic growth, the wellbeing of all citizens in the Kingdom and the sustainable use of our natural resources, we could achieve a lot together”.

What are your wishes with regard to the Kingdom? “I would love to see us jointly conquering the world. By this I mean that we should make use of our people and knowledge as export products. By way of example I mention the team that won the Baseball World Championships two years ago. If you look at the composition of that team and its technical staff, you have to recognize that together we can achieve a lot with our Kingdom relationships. My ultimate goal is to make everyone see that it is actually profitable to invest in education and research. If we shift the focus of the so called hub-function of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom,

from the trade in goods to the export of knowledge, as a Trans-Atlantic Kingdom we can distinguish ourselves from the rest of the world. The opportunities are endless. Build infrastructures that attract students, scholars, innovative young entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world. Sharing knowledge is the key”.

What is your contribution as a human being and as a pro-fessional to the Kingdom?“I’m constantly seeking connections between different people and ideas. Opportunities arise in the heads of human beings, all they need to do is just intercept them. As a professional I try to share, to inform and to look for common grounds when it comes to cooperation within the Kingdom. I’m an advocate for laying down clear agreements, delivering on those agreements and dealing respectfully with one another. I hope to make a positive contribution to the future of the Kingdom by placing the emphasis on the chances that we have at our disposal to jointly create a sound prosperous future. This might sound idealistic, but it is more practical than it might appear to be the case at first sight. All one has to do is keep your eyes, ears and mind open....”.

“As a Trans-Atlantic Kingdom we can

distinguish ourselves from the rest of the world”.

Full names: Gregory Aubrich Haëzer Bakhuis.Date and place of birth: Apeldoorn (the Netherlands), 28 October 1981.Position: PhD Candidate at the Erasmus University Rotterdam.


As of December 2014 the Charter for

the Kingdom of the Netherlands has

existed for 60 years. How did this

affect you?

“I honestly have to say that I wasn’t

aware of this. I received an invitation to

participate in a respective celebration

which I humbly accepted. The

foundation I represent, however,

epitomizes our Kingdom. ProFor stands

for ‘Bureau of Community Development

within the Dutch Kingdom’. The

foundation has been operating since

1994 from the borough of Amsterdam-

Zuidoost. 173 different cultures living

in a small area leads to enrichment

but also to challenges. Through

theater, training, workshops and

coaching, ProFor remains in contact

with hundreds of people on a yearly

basis. Our focus is on those segments

where there is little interaction with

society and where there is talk of

large backlogs. We reach our goals by

working with contributors who have

been in similar situations but who have

caught up in this context. These people

serve as bridges between their own

ethnic group and Dutch society and as

a result bring both parties together”.

What does our Kingdom mean to

you?

“To me the Kingdom is an institute

which is very rich in history and

information. This brings me back to

my childhood. In school one had

to learn about history of the (then)

Netherlands Antilles and Aruba –

Suriname did also make part of this

autonomous country. The Dutch

Kingdom has had black periods –

slavery is an infamous example of this.

While walking along the Amsterdam

canals one can still sense this”.

What are the benefits of our

Kingdom in your opinion?

“To me the Kingdom represents several

communities and their respective

religions living peacefully side by side”.

Are there disadvantages to being

part of a Kingdom in your opinion?

“The fact that many youngsters,

both in the Netherlands as in the

Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, know

so little of this constellation is pitiful.

This shall be incorporated in a more

predominant way in history lessons”.

What are your wishes with regard to

the Kingdom?

“Many things have changed in the

Kingdom in the past 60 years. In 1975

Suriname became an independent

republic, in 1986 Aruba seceded

from the Netherlands Antilles and

in 2010 the Netherlands Antilles

was dissolved. It is of utmost

importance, however, to remain

united as we are still one Kingdom”.

What is your contribution as a

human being and as a professional

to our Kingdom?

“Approximately 2 years ago the

Dutch government introduced a

law which makes care based on

ethnicity redundant. Regardless

of all these budget, ProFor is still

one of the few organizations in the

Netherlands still operating effectively

for the benefit of all Dutchmen with

a Caribbean background. Though I

say so myself, this is something to

be applauded and we will continue

our efforts to help our Caribbean

countrymen who are in need! ”.

Full names: Lucia Elizabeth Martis.Date and place of birth: Curaçao, 12 August 1956.Position: Founder ProFor Foundation.

“To me the Kingdom represents several communities and their respective religions living peacefully side by side”

“It is of utmost importance to remain united as we are still part of one Kingdom”.

Pict

ure:

Pac

o N

úñez


As of December 2014 the

Charter for the Kingdom of the

Netherlands has existed for 60

year. How did this affect you?

“I was indirectly affected by this.

Previously I was employed as a policy

advisor by the Police Force in

Rotterdam. In this function I was

entrusted with the portfolio concerning

Caribbean Dutchman in Rotterdam.

Due to the large influx of inhabitants in

this city originating from the Caribbean

part of the Kingdom, the local police

force has appointed community police

officers that can identify themselves

with this target group – i.e. knowledge

and understanding of the local

language and culture amongst other

things. In my capacity as a member of

the monitoring committee of the

Ministry of Security and Justice I had

access to the evaluation study of the

equipment of the police force on the

islands of Bonaire, Statia and Saba. Both

functions have interfaces with the

Kingdom as I was working for the

benefit of all inhabitants of the

Kingdom. The Charter is the all-

important manuscript that exemplifies

the unity of the Kingdom – the basis of

everything”.

What does our Kingdom mean

to you?

“To me the Kingdom stands for

unconditional respect regardless of the

size of a nation, skin-color or language.

Respect is of utmost importance within

the Kingdom as every single person is a

citizen of the Kingdom”.

What are the benefits of our

Kingdom in your opinion?

“In my opinion, benefits are obtained

when everyone benefits. There are

plenty of wholesome benefits. On

the one hand the Caribbean part

of the Kingdom is a springboard to

Latin America – on the other hand

the Netherlands is a springboard to

Europe. In this light, we can benefit

from each other in the area of sport,

science, technology and culture”.

Are there disadvantages to being

part of the Kingdom in your opinion?

“In my opinion there is one very large

disadvantage: the large geographical

distance between our countries. It’s

particularly unfortunate that this

distance is also found back in our

systems – we don’t know each other”.

What are your wishes with regard to

the Kingdom?

“I have several wishes. Firstly I wish

for the inhabitants of our countries

to start respecting one another.

Respect starts by getting to know

each other. How wonderful would it

be if Papiamentu could be taught at

schools in the Netherlands and that

pupils, by means of excursions, could

get to know the many countries within

the Kingdom. How nice would it be

if King Willem-Alexander could start

addressing himself to all his ‘subjects’

in the official 4 languages of the

Kingdom. In addition to this, my wish is

that inhabitants of the Kingdom could

start moving easily and most of all in

a cheaper way within the Kingdom”.

What is your contribution as a

human being and as a professional

to the Kingdom?

“By talking about the matter I

contribute to the notion which is to

safeguard the fact we should all make

sure that it remains pleasant to live

in our Kingdom. As a professional

I strive to get into several ancillary

positions in order to contribute to the

Kingdom – considering my background

I believe that in these positions I

can make a better difference”.

“Respect starts by getting to know each other”

Picture: Paco Núñez

Full names: Johan Frederik Willem Oldenboom.

Date and place of birth: Curaçao, 20 January 1981.

Position: Scientific staff member and lecturer at

the University of Curaçao (UoC).

“The Charter is the all-important manuscript that exemplifies the unity of the Kingdom –

the basis of everything”.


As of December 2014 the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands has existed for 60 years. How did this affect you?

“Because of this interview I started reading up on this

subject. One of the objectives of the Charter is equality

within the Kingdom. Based on what I have seen, heard

and experienced in my life I sadly have to conclude that

this is not the case. I give you the following example:

My late father, George J. van Petersen, a Dutchman by birth,

was able to choose in the 50’s to serve as in the military in

the Dutch East Indies or the Dutch West Indies. I’m pleased

that he chose the West Indies and that he eventually

ended up in Curaçao. My father worked in the military at

the government palace. This is where he met my mother

who was working as a civil servant here. They fell in love

and wanted to get married. Consequently everything was

triggered from above to boycott this relationship. Even

so, my parents got married and remained happily married

for 54 years until the death of my father. My father got

a job at Royal Dutch Shell. In this function he was told

by his countrymen that, as he was married to a woman

of color, he could not get a bonus or premium…

Despite all of this we were brought up with a love for

the island and for our fellow Curaçaoans. My father fell

in love with the island and the inhabitants the moment

he arrived here. He spoke the language fluently and he

instilled his love for the island to us. I was taught to go

to the local shops to support the ‘ordinary’ businessman

and to reach out to those in need. Still I sometimes

wonder what the motives of the people who tried to

frustrate the marriage between my parents could have

been and why my father was not given a promotion in

his job just for being married to a black woman”…

What does our Kingdom mean to you?

“To me the Kingdom is its people. My focus is on

the youngsters in the Kingdom – that is youngsters

that are in need. Based on my upbringing I get a

plenty of energy while helping people. Through

my foundation I’m devoted to this cause”.

Are there disadvantages to being part of a Kingdom in your opinion?

“Poor education. Through my foundation I come across

plenty of youngsters that have to make use of outdated

textbooks in Dutch, a language they logically do not grasp.

They are overloaded with homework which is drilled into

their systems. These kids get frustrated and appear to be

dumb. I have got news: no child is dumb. Place any Dutch

child in Curaçao and make them take a lesson in Papiamentu.

It is likely that they will face difficulty, but this is irrespective of

their level of intelligence. When it comes to similar situations

I question the vision of equality in the Kingdom….”.

What is your contribution as a human being and as a professional to the Kingdom?

“Our foundation works with passionate people that work

with a purpose in mind and in a preventive way. Our

priorities are amongst others: reading, communication,

character building, self-confidence and restoration and

amplification of family relationships. We are constantly

looking for renewal and to get the best out of the youngsters.

It is a big challenge to find the funds and people who

are similarly passionate and committed to improve the

chances of these youngsters and of everyone in their close

surroundings. We will proceed with our action as long as

this is possible. Personally I’m currently following a study

in didactics and pedagogy in order to develop myself and

mostly to acquire more skills in order to support these

youngsters. This is my contribution to the Kingdom….”.

Picture: Caïnva Isenia

“To me the Kingdom is its people”

Full names: Gerritdina Marie van Petersen.Date and place of birth: Curaçao, 11 March 1958.Position: Founder Foundation F.E.L.I.S. Curaçao.

“Poor education makes me question the vision of equality in the

Kingdom….”


As of December 2014 the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands has existed for 60 years. How did this affect you?“In my field of study, I’m obliged to know rather a lot about the Charter. For over 60 years we have been in partnership with the Netherlands and others countries within the Kingdom. I believe that this is a very special relationship. I was born in Venezuela, but I can barely recall my years in Venezuela. When I was 1 year old my mother made the decision to emigrate to Curaçao. My family is half Venezuelan and half Curaçaoan. I may have been born in Venezuela, but I’m a true “Yu di Kòrsou!”

What does our Kingdom mean to you?“Unity and working together is important wherever you go. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is an example of this. Every country has its own sovereignty and culture but we are still one… I sometimes have my doubts as to whether we are united. We might be living in 4 different countries but we should not forget that we all have the same passport. I always compare the Kingdom with a supranational organization. You have a central government entrusted with the Kingdom and you have several countries in this constellation. The opportunities as a Dutchman are endless, that’s why I have chosen to study in the Netherlands in order to develop myself and to eventually return to Curaçao to contribute to the development of my nation”.

What are the benefits of our Kingdom in your opinion?“The benefits are that we are able to work together, that we have a parliamentary system and that we have the opportunity to choose our representatives directly and via a democratic system of rules. Matters such as division of power, independent judges and fundamental rights are also of the utmost importance. In addition to this one has free access to the rest of the European Union. In other words, many benefits and possibilities for growth within the Kingdom”.

What are the disadvantages of being part of a Kingdom in your opinion?“Cultural differences may lead to misunderstandings in decision making. Many people in the Netherlands are of the opinion that Curaçaoans are lazy. It’s not better or worse, it’s

just different. It is unfair to implicitly use the term Curaçaoans when referring to negative situations and to use the term Dutchman while talking about positive situations. Aren’t we all Dutchman? It is important for us to realize that positive discrimination is discrimination as well. We should learn to embrace the various differences that exist in the Kingdom”.

What are your wishes with regard to the Kingdom? “My wishes with regard to the Kingdom is good cooperation. We should consider the fact that our Kingdom consists of several cultures. Every nation should evaluate itself and try to come up with a solution to improve on our relationships. This doesn’t mean that there are many things going wrong, but there is surely room for improvement. I’m of the opinion that, regardless of having a freedom of expression, we should rule out discriminatory expressions. When we realize that discrimination is harmful for the relations within the Kingdom, scope will be created for positive cooperation. Debate stimulates positivism but insults are counterproductive”.

What is your contribution as a human be-ing and as a professional to the Kingdom?“As a young professional I would like to improve on the cooperation between the various countries in the Kingdom. I was born in Venezuela but raised in Curaçao. People like to categorize and stereotype, but to make a difference one should have a strong foundation on which to stand to uphold one´s rights. This is difficult but not impossible. That’s the way things should be: one Kingdom and one Charter”.

“We should learn to embrace the various differences that exist in the Kingdom”

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hive

“Every country has its own sovereignty and culture

but we are still one…”

Full names: Alfredo ‘Aldjo’ Jose Rodriguez Cordero.Date and place of birth: Valencia (Venezuela), 28 December 1991.Position: Student (Bachelor of Social Legal Services) at the InHolland University in Rotterdam.

Curaçao Precious

0 1,000 km

65

4

VenezuelaColombia

1 2 3

Dominican Republic

Puerto Rico

CuraçaoArubaNetherlands

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Sint Maarten

Sint EustatiusBonaire

3 Special municipalities(Caribbean Netherlands)

Saba

Caribbean part of the Kingdom

Netherlands

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba have a separate status within the Netherlands. They are called Caribbean Netherlands. Together with the countries of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten they form the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises four countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

Caribbean part of the Kingdom

1 Aruba2 Curaçao3 Bonaire

4 Sint Maarten5 Saba6 Sint Eustatius

Source: Government of the Netherlands.

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Curaçao Precious issue 4