Dear Editor,
Many many years ago my father at one time told me that when those who justifiably have something to say remain silent, it only projects power, not justice. So as long as you don’t shout you do not need the courage not to bow.
I am not sure if what I am writing coincides with the ombudsman’s report, but I am sure that several of the points and/or topics that the Ombudsman highlighted have been written to you either by me or someone else in the past. So my question is “what should one expect with 12 cabinets in 14 years?” The word “irresponsible” comes to mind. And I will take it a step further and ask, whose fault is it?
At one time when I worked on Aruba there was a lieutenant governor who was not pleased about the fact that people would complain about some policemen saying “nos ta manda” (we run things). Which as it was at that time “the truth”. We literally maintained law and order on the island. We did not make the laws, but we made sure that they were upheld. Gradually politicians, I must add, who did not (and still do not) know how to handle luxury of governing, started to contribute to the demise of the friendliness of the island. But I will again have to repeat myself. What should we expect when we permit persons, of which no minimum education is required, to run a country?
There is a saying in Dutch: “van een kikker kun je geen veren plukken.” So I am not surprised when I see a headline like “Ombudsman’s report exposes deepening governance failures.” Would it be mischievous of me if I declare that “at all cost” was the motivation behind the forming this government?
Russell A. Simmons
