We all understand that the most important document that foreigners must present anywhere, whether it is to process a new permit or to renew an existing one, is the passport. Unfortunately, this document, easy to obtain for citizens of any other country, has in recent years become a nightmare for Venezuelans living abroad.
It is not my intention to dwell here on the reasons that make it almost impossible to obtain, or renew, a passport outside of Venezuela. We all know the causes. They go through a lack of respect for human rights, ineffectiveness, political retaliation, and simple corruption.
What I really want to talk about in this space is about the handling of this reality by the countries that receive our migrants, especially in Curaçao, the island where I have resided for almost two decades.
It must be understood that the Consulate of Venezuela in Curaçao, in practical terms, does not exist. Dozens of Venezuelans who weekly go to the closed offices in Scharlooweg, or who try to call the phone numbers published on the official site of that diplomatic headquarters, or who try to get a simple email answered. Nobody talks about this reality publicly for fear that their passports, which today cannot be renewed, will end up being permanently blocked.
However, for those same Venezuelans to obtain or renew a local permit, they need to present, at the island’s immigration offices, either a valid passport or, failing that, a letter signed by the Consul of the Nicolás Maduro regime on the island, in which it is stated that the person formally started the process of renewing their document.
That is, a letter in which the Venezuelan regime admits that the fault that the bearer does not have a valid passport is not his or hers, but the regime itself.
To give us an idea of the situation, let us imagine that you are Venezuelan, that you live in Curaçao, and that you need to renew your passport. The first thing to do is try to pay $100 online to the issuing body. To do this, you should try to connect to the SAIME website at different times for several days, as the page mysteriously “goes down” when the user connects from outside Venezuela. Not many manage to overcome this first obstacle.
Now, if you need to renew your permit to stay on the island, you have to go to the consulate in Scharlooweg every day to see if someone is working by chance. Unsuccessful, you should look to social media for alternative methods of contact. Call disconnected phones and write emails.
If you are extremely lucky, you managed to start your renewal online, and you manage to contact the consulate, they will probably ask you to pay an additional $ 50 for the letter requesting immigration, despite the fact that their website explicitly says that this process is free.
If you are less fortunate, like most of the people I know, and cannot be taken care of, your options are reduced to travel to Venezuela through Colombia, or Panama, or the Dominican Republic, get your passport there, and pray to the saints so that you can return safely to the island.
Can’t you do anything from Curaçao to avoid all this?
Why does the government of Curaçao not give us a hand by omitting the requirement of a letter issued by a government that not only is guilty of generating the collapse in the identification of people, but at least on paper, is not recognized, neither by the local government nor by the Dutch?
Countries such as Canada, the United States and several of the South American nations that belong to the so-called Lima Group have chosen to consider our passports that have expired up to five years as valid.
Isn’t it convenient for Curaçao to do everything possible to ensure that Venezuelans who pay their taxes today continue to do so?
Why not put aside that consular letter that, in the best of cases, is only serving to finance authorities that are not doing their job?
It can be understood that when granting new permits a meticulous verification of the beneficiary is carried out, however, by requiring migrants already legally established a bureaucratic document, issued by them who do not comply with renewing passports, not only the innocent workers, but also to Curaçao’s finances, which could stop receiving significant taxes in a time of great need.
Alfredo Limongi
Curaçao
By Alex Rosaria
The US presidential elections evoke a natural fascination here in the Caribbean. Not only because we share the same hemisphere, but especially how we consume US television and its cultural exports. Mr. Biden, the Democratic nominee, and Mr. Trump, the (presumptive) Republican nominee, have different approaches to US relations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). True, since 1990s the Caribbean has lost much of its strategic significance to Washington. Yet, our region urgently needs a new chapter in its relations with the US.
Mr. Trump’s “America First” policy has seen the US abandon multilateral alliances and other wide-ranging agendas to engage with our region; we’ve further drifted apart. Mr. Trump skipped the 2018 Summit of the Americas and during a 2019 meeting with Caribbean leaders, he didn’t consider pressing problems facing the Caribbean such as climate change and HIV. He only discussed the Venezuelan crisis and China’s involvement in the Caribbean. His actions regarding LAC are highly influenced by Florida politics that embraces his macho talks and sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba. Mr. Trump, now a Floridian, knows he must win Florida in order to win the presidency. Given his “promise made, promise kept” motto, it’s unlikely we’ll see policy change if reelected. A victory will likely embolden him.
That Mrs. Kamala Harris, the Vice President nominee’s father hails from Jamaica brings hope, but certainly isn’t enough. The region needs to trust Washington again after a period of disengagement and unfulfilled promises. There needs to be strong cooperation and engagement. Not only promises as Mr. Obama did during the 5th Summit of the Americas in 2009. Mr. Biden will also have to show human consideration unlike the decision to deport Haitian refugees back to Haiti where deadly diseases ravaged after the 2010 earthquake. Most important perhaps is the realization that the US hasn’t always sought partnership, but often resorted to dictate its own terms. A new chapter of engagement between the US and the Caribbean based on mutual respect, common interests and shared values is needed. This new partnership will hinge on a core of issues.
Climate change: Perhaps the greatest challenge for the Caribbean (including Curaçao). For these islands it’s important that the US rejoins the Paris Agreement on Climate. Without the US on board collective efforts to reduce emissions will be undercut. The islands cannot afford this especially considering the yearly damage already inflicted by natural storms. If the US remains on the side-lines, this will empower China to assume leadership.
Pandemics: The COVID-19 has made it very clear that we require a regional coordinated response to bolster the response to future health challenges and public health emergencies.
China factor: US disengagement in the Caribbean has strengthened China’s hand. Payback maybe for the increased US role in South China Sea and Taiwan. China also woos several Caribbean nations to vote with Beijing on major issues in the UN to further boost its global influence. Both US candidates want to contain China in LAC, but will the winner present policy that can compete with China?
Venezuelan crisis: Both candidates need the Florida vote and have assumed a very similar stance on Venezuela. They support Mr. Guaido, sanctions, temporary protective status for Venezuelans in the US. and regime change. LAC clearly need political stability and a plan to manage the mass exodus of Venezuelans into their countries (including Curaçao).
Corresponding banks: Indigenous banks in the Caribbean (including Curaçao) have seen the restrictions of correspondent banking relationship by international banks making it almost impossible for banks to operate. There needs to be a solution for this situation.
Trade: How will Biden’s “Made in America” and Trump’s “America First” relate to trade with the Caribbean especially given the uncertain future of the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Will the US opt for free trade relations with the region as it has done with the Dominican Republic?
It’s clear that the US isn’t the only option anymore in the Caribbean. US disengagement has empowered China to fill the power vacuum left behind. Not long after the US president is inaugurated in 2021, the 9th Summit of the Americas will take place. It should by then be clear what the US intentions are in this area.
~ Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia and the Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He is from Curaçao and has an MBA from University of Iowa (USA). ~
Dear Editor,
Last week I followed the convention of the Democratic Party in the US. While listening to the message of Michelle Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, what struck me were the similarities with the situation we have here in Statia.
They, like DP Statia, also try to encourage people to go out and vote in order to restore the democracy. They, like DP Statia, also are taking notice of the damage that has been caused to their democratic system, in their case by a president who believes he is above the law and has the right, when he feels like, to put the law aside.
And that is the crux of the matter. We did not end up in Statia in the situation we are in to today with the intervention by the national government because state-secretary Knops or the parliament acted undemocratically as some politicians want us to believe. The intervention on Statia took place because it was the former coalition government that acted against our ruling democratic principles, put the law aside, unlawfully spent government funds, signed contracts without the legal authority to do so. They, not the national government, are fully responsible for the intervention and that your democratic right to vote has been temporarily postponed.
Fortunately, in our democratic system the possibility exists that the higher government can intervene when a lower government ignores the laws and disregards our democratic values.
The DP has worked hard and advocated from early that Statia needs to return to a local democratic government as soon as possible. We believe in the importance of democratic representation in government by the people of Statia. We were kind of disappointed when the new law for restoring government in Statia came about. Particularly the four-step approach and the period of four, maybe five years this law may be in effect. Why so long, we were wondering?
The answer came when particularly the PLP, after their more than two years of hibernation, picked up with the same rhetoric as when they were in government. No soul-searching has taken place. They are planning to govern, if they get the chance, the same way as they did before the intervention. They plan to continue their aggressive and confrontational approach that led to the intervention in February 2018. They will continue, if they get the chance, their unlawful way of running our island. I can guarantee that, if the voters give them a chance to return to government, the restoration of fully local democratic government will be something that will happen in the far distant future.
The limited authority the Island Council will have in the first phases should not be a deterrent to go out and vote. Most important is the return of representation, your representation in our Island Council.
So, if you believe in our democratic system and if you believe in local representation, then you should not stay away, but go out and cast your vote in October. It is a constitutional right your forefathers and -mothers fought for. And not even so long ago, only since 1949, 71 years ago, general voting right exists for men and women on our islands. But when I ask you to vote, I ask you to vote for a party or politicians who stand for democratic principles, who stand for rule of law, who stand for stability, who stand for good governance.
The responsibility lies by you the voter. It is up to you how long the intervention will last. Your vote is therefore extremely important. Therefore, go out and make use of your democratic right to vote!
Koos Sneek
Democratic Party St. Eustatius
Dear Editor,
In a previous essay, the “Development from within the Caribbean” was suggested that up to five territories could be the founders of such an initiative. Which territories, is the first question that comes up. The willing and able to proactively and wholeheartedly and who are committed and competent to take on a pioneer’s role!
Does that mean the ones with the largest economies, the highest growth rate, or highest GDP, or the richest? In that case, one would tend to think of the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands, Jamaica or Bahamas. Yet, those are not necessarily the criteria. Each socio-economy is different, regardless whether economic characteristics and challenges do exist. Even countries like St. Lucia or Barbados could be one of the founding group. It all depends on what they potentially can offer each other in an inter-island development setting.
To put a team together one must look at the talent, resources, opportunities and especially the determination to reach the objectives. Goals and results count. If one would put a sport team together, one may also insist on mental maturity. It would bring me in the doghouse when trying to explain what the latter means in government politics. The last thing that is needed are summits that end in a PR campaign whereby PR to be standing for PRomises and PRopaganda and no implementation. The only PR that is acceptable is PRogress!
One cannot make a strong chain out of weak links. About 15 or 16 territories will be standing on the sideline and probably moaning, criticizing, or hoping, while the five founders will move ahead. That’s just the way it is; few are in the parade, a larger number is watching the parade, and there are some that don’t even realize that there is a parade. The ones on the sideline don’t have to stay there forever, but they have to perform and prove that they are worthy to join. One could call that creation of motivation. They may start following some of the benchmarks that are set by the founders. No one will be excluded from cooperating with the Founders, on the contrary; eventually they may be able to join the group if they subscribe to the standards developed by the founders.
The aim is not to create a Caribbean Economy Elite Club. The aim is to develop an initiative and movement to eventually create a much-needed new normal, a new socio-economic development from within in the Caribbean. That new normal sets the bar higher than usual and eliminates mediocracy. A likely major side effect will be that international investors will have an interest in the group of founding countries. Businesses and financiers are usually getting involved where there is growth and progress. That could be called the creation of an appetite. The developments will also help the much-needed diversification of the economies.
Each of the founders’ port or airport could become a transportation hub to connect with the rest of the Caribbean. The founders, as the movers of the group effort and activities, would work on improved direct connections between their territories when focusing their group development.
Once the founders have found each other and feel comfortable about jointly taking on the new challenges, the first step may be to inventorize what each’s strengths, talents, resources, and opportunities are, and then bring them into a group perspective. It has to be looked at where exchanges are useful and should be further pursued. What forms of cooperation can create new opportunities? Regulations could be adjusted and standardized between them for the purpose of being smoothened and eased for inter-island trade and transportation.
There has to be a shared vision of the use ocean resources and available minerals or raw materials. Agriculture including horticulture, and manufacturing of goods including creative products that may be exported. Tourism will not be ignored but it will need adjustments to develop more unique niche markets.
And who will be instrumental in all this? Probably it starts with one founder willing to take on the lead and discuss matters with other potential originators. It would be wise to select a panel of seven “wise men” who are impartial technocrats. Five of those could be appointed by the five founders. Two should be from outside the group and who have a more pan-regional or global view. This panel could be called a “council”. The founders must trust and have confidence in this council, and must be more than willing to follow its advice, or at least get into in-depth consultations. However, the council to a certain extent could make itself also available to other territories in the region, as such would help a future extension of the founding group.
Does the development from within the Caribbean mean that the region will be turned up-side down? Some things will remain the same, but overall new activities will be explored and cultivated. The image of the Caribbean for being known as one of the world’s top vacation destinations may be altered to one of the most flourishing subregions in the world that is attractive for many reasons. The well-being of its as many as 40 million residents on 28 territories will be the overall objective of the development from within. It is just that a different method and route is chosen than what was done before. And it could begin with just five founders, the “willing and able”.
Commander Bud Slabbaert
Dear Editor,
This topic might be one of the most important topics that I will ever write. Individual responsibility has to do with common sense and how much you value yourself. Many people are living, but they do not know their purpose in life. We did not come to this earth by accident or by evolution. That is an anti-Christ doctrine. We are put here for one purpose. But before I tell you the purpose, it is only logical and common sense to know who brought us here? The big question is always why, not who, when or what.
A human is a body that has life and has the ability to communicate systematically, using words, symbols, body gestures/posture, and facial expressions. A human has the sense to make his or her own decisions and bear the consequences of them. A human wears clothing, accessories and other necessities for human life. The individual person is in the process of making his or her life in what each one of us wants to be in the future, to ponder on the past, present, and future. The human understands that he or she is the most unique creature in this world of ours and that they are placed on this earth by a much more superior Creator. Now I will answer why.
Why were we placed here? It is written: God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” When you are in charge of something or rule it, you have dominion over it.
The next question is who gives you dominion over the other creatures in the world. That is our Creator, so common sense tells us that power or authority is granted by an entity more powerful or greater than us humans. In this case God, us humans are commanded to obey our Creator. Please understand me well, you have an independent mind to think freely because of God's grace, and you have the free will to make choices. But choices come with consequences, Authority given can also be taken away. Understand well, our source of life comes from the Creator. He said to his Son Jesus, let us make man in our image and likeness. Image in this case, to resemble God. The likeness is a spiritual attribute of the moral qualities of God. In other words, our lifestyle is intended to be and live in the manner God wants us to live. The conclusion is, your life here on earth is not for you to please yourself, you can make that choice which is surely wrong and result in consequences.
Your prime objective is to know God and to live pleasing to God, and that is why he established His everlasting commandments.
So, you see my friends, having an education is good, travelling the world is good, all opportunities are good but you were not put here for that. Those can be or are attributes, but not the purpose.
The question is: What does it profit a human to gain the whole world and lose his or her soul. If your purpose is to be pleasing to God, then you cannot endorse or support abortion, homosexuality, transgender, adultery, fornication, lying, or murder. Your goal in life is to please God; that is your purpose in life. Choices have consequences it is either eternal happiness or eternal torment. It is your individual responsibility to use your common sense. I hope this article is clear to all humans who read it.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
