By Alex Rosaria
The US recently announced across-the-board indictments of Venezuelan President Maduro and some of his inner circle on federal drug-trafficking and is sending Navy ships to beef up counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea. Does this mean an invasion is imminent? Highly unlikely.
This anti-narcotics mission has been months in the making but has taken on greater importance following the above-mentioned indictments. It’s to be supported by 22 partner nations, including Brazil (which sent its President to visit the US Southern Command in Florida on 9 March 2020). This is relevant since Brazil is opposed to any military intervention by the US in Venezuela (Reuters).
The US has never camouflaged its desire to topple Maduro. Invading Venezuela wouldn’t be much of a problem for the US since Venezuela’s military has only limited combat value. But what then?
Democracy, as we have seen in Iraq, cannot be copied and then pasted. The US can ill afford creating another mess without a clear exit plan. It also risks losing hard-won support among Latin American and Caribbean governments. China, Russia and even Iran would eagerly fill up the vacuum left behind by Washington in this region.
It could be argued that China and Russia are less inclined to keep supporting Maduro as before. China for the time being will certainly be focused to revamp its post-COVID-19 economy. Russia faces uncertain times with a rapidly aging population, plunging oil prices which will push it further down on the list (currently number 11 behind Italy and Canada) of the world’s largest economies. The decision by Russian oil firm Rosneft, the biggest economic ally of Maduro, to cease operations in Venezuela and sell all of its assets in the country to an unnamed company that is wholly owned by the Russian government was simply stunning. Whatever the Kremlin’s new strategy, Rosneft’s exit will further crumble Venezuela’s economy as the flow of hard currency and supply of gasoline will disappear for the time being.
Could this Kremlin move mean that the US, Russia (and China) are coming to a point that each will respect the other’s right to have and defend its own vital interests in the various corners of the world? (I will dedicate an article on this issue later). Could be, but the arguments against a US invasion of Venezuela are overwhelming as we have seen above.
Will this show of force topple Maduro? Difficult to say. I believe that the US tough statements and actions are not a sign of an imminent military attack. It’s rather a signal to the Venezuelan opposition and military that the US would support an internal coup. It could also push Maduro into a corner forcing him into negotiating a bloodless exit. Hopefully those often elusive cooler heads will prevail.
~ 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,
Let me start by reminding everyone to keep a safe distance from each other. and do the safest thing, which these days is to STAY HOME..
I have not had much of the usual contact with people since COVID-19 and even though I did not agree with certain things done, I have not written about it because I give priority to the cure or alleviation of that virus. Then on the 17th, I got a call asking me what I think about that piece written by the PPA leader. I looked it up and my opinion is based on my point of view. We do not need any unnecessary distraction at this time, whether well-meant or not. I do not think that we should embark on personal congratulations in a time when so many people are involved in trying to save lives of others. I can put my head on a block that there are thousands of people who in one way or the other are positively contributing to alleviate that corona virus or keep it under control.
Many years ago my father asked me: “Where did you get that shirt?” “I bought it.” “Who made it?” “I do not know, somebody in a factory.” “What is it made of?” “I do not know, Daddy.” “Cotton, silk, wool, or linen? “Maybe cotton?” “Possibly, but it was made of cloth, who made the cloth?” “Somebody. It was made in a factory from raw material and the raw material was gathered by somebody.” “My son, why did I ask you all of those questions? The reason I asked you those questions is to let you know that because you like that shirt, you bought it. But you have to be grateful to at least six people for that shirt.”
I too would like to give kudos to people, but then I thought of the amount of people who care and who are involved and I thought back on my father’s question about the shirt. And then I ask myself who is more important these days? The person who willingly goes out there and gathers the bush for bush tea which he knows will help you with the cough and the cold and the sore throat, or the person who gives you money, or the man in the supermarket or the man at the gasoline station?
I will not judge, because it all depends on the circumstances. By now we should know what affects the people on the island and why, so let us consider this “the time to do well and don’t look back”.
And let us not let up on praying for the first responders and the caretakers.
Russell A. Simmons
Around the world many CEOs and small businesses alike depending on the product manufacture and supply, stepped forward to adapt their respective companies to make products direly needed in aid of first responders in the health care industry or those at the frontline, such as police officers. They heeded the calls by government or took the initiative to fill the sudden void to create life-saving products that were once in abundance, like surgical masks or -gowns, sanitizers.
Items we considered a natural necessity as we went about our daily lives until the COVID-19 pandemic knocked on almost every nation’s shores in a dominos effect around the globe. Until recently these items have become commodities. Scarce, and highly wanted.
St. Maarten is no exception. There are many persons, businesses, non-profit organizations and volunteers who are doing their share to assist government to cope with the prevention as well as the aftermath of this horrible pandemic.
One such company that answered the call to help right here is Topper’s.
Well-known by one of its companies that distills St. Maarten-based products, owner Topper Daboul and his distillery team, including Ms. Melanie, stepped forward to produce a hand-sanitizer to temporarily alleviate the current and critical void. This item is direly needed especially for our law-enforcement agencies that are at the frontline daily. It took collaborative minds to get this action done quickly and effectively.
Kudos goes out to Ms. Cleopatra Halley for making all this happen by quick and creative thinking out of the box, bringing parties together for the common good. Together with law-enforcement, community police officer Mr. Felix Richards, Mr. Neville Halley of Halley Aviation, Bryan Fredericks who made it all happen.
There’s always a time to step in and support where and when needed. What makes us great as a nation is our ability to be open, creative and inclusive in our joint efforts to be successful in combatting this common enemy, the COVID-19 virus.
Small steps can lead to big results in keeping our people safe.
Gracita Arrindell
Leader, People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA)
Peridot Foundation bade farewell on Tuesday to a very kind and gentle man, the late Kenneth Kong as he was laid to rest on Tuesday in close family circles.
We are still stunned and very saddened by his sudden passing March 30 last.
Our special relationship goes beyond the many times we sat in his front yard together with his beloved wife Dolores, his dear friend and neighbor Mr. Don Hughes and numerous other persons from his down-street neighborhood. Passing through his alley, some would stop to participate in the talk about the topic of the day. He was always encouraging. Those were happy and memorable moments I will always cherish. Kenneth was truly a genuine generous person, acting from his heart, selflessly in support of a general causes without hesitation.
Peridot Foundation was extremely happy with his support last December which ensured that the lights surrounding our Statue at the Churchill Roundabout (opposite Carrefour supermarket) shone bright with the Happy Holidays, Happy New Year 2020 messages. It is a fact that relational violence increases during the holiday seasons. Keeping the lights on during this time was important to him as well.
Mr. Kong was the first to receive photos of the roundabout as soon as they were placed. We were extremely grateful, without him it would not have been possible. His uplifting beautiful messages continued until just before his passing.
Based on the COVID-19 circumstances the world is experiencing, including St. Maarten, we are unable to extend our personal farewell to our loved ones, family and friends who have passed away recently. To his lovely wife Dolores, who always warmly welcomed us at their home, we say thank you, for sharing!
Kenneth’s brothers, extended families, his close friends, colleagues and neighbors, we wish you much strength ahead. His presence will be sorely missed. We will always cherish his memories.
Kenneth always greeted me cheerfully with these words whenever we met: “Dag Meisje.”
Dag Kenneth, rust in Vrede.
Gracita Arrindell
Peridot Foundation
By Bonnie Benesh
Imagining the future is now urgent business. Big takeaways that are now being implemented around the world. As part of my work as CEO of the Think To DO Institute, I was in a zoom meeting yesterday with over 300 think tank CEOs representing all continents and countries of all sizes regarding the response to this COVID19 situation. After data-sharing, ALL think tanks agreed that open, transparent solutions arrived at through collaboration are absolute to finding our way forward.
Think about large scale infrastructure change. Think about what projects will have the best return on investment.
Solidarity is crucial. How and when we go back to work will depend on our ability to connect, our ability to reduce inequities/inequalities, livelihood insecurities and our ability to manage civil unrest.
We must promote large-scale collaboration and large-scale solutions.
We must address future conflicts that will arise because of trust deterioration, livelihood insecurity and food insecurities.
We must address the new future reality on the short and medium term, not only on the long term.
So, what could be done to jump start the future of everyone in our country?
If locally as many as 50% of those of working age are going to be unemployed as a result of Covid 19, what is the large-scale infrastructure project that would best assist in retrenching and retraining the workforce with skills for the future?
If 100% of the students must now look at digital learning for their education, what % of students do not have access to digital learning tools? How can we level the “playing field”?
What is the large-scale infrastructure project that would best assist in providing digital learning platforms and tools to all students?
What if that large-scale project was providing free internet connections to every home within the next 6 months. What if that large-scale project was providing a free digital device, free digital learning platforms to every household (for the adults to learn new skills, for all the children to have access to learning).
Becoming a digital society by necessity can leap-frog the society into the future. IT will cost a lot, but the return on investment is greater. It’s up to all of us to urge our governments, policymakers, and engage in public-private partnerships with corporations to make bigger and bolder investments to cover the real cost of insuring our digital future.
Nation building costs a lot of money but making sure that every household can connect to the opportunities the Internet offers is worth it. The more we invest into empowering all who are vulnerable with the tools to contribute in our economic future, the better the return for everyone.
It is a bold proposition. Other countries are going to engage. Can we afford not to invest is such bold solutions? The Think To DO Institute is joining in this “think tank collaborative approach” to respond to COVID19 through shared best practices that create resilient people, resilient society, resilient knowledge and resilient leadership and take advantage of the opportunities that lie in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Bonnie Benesh is the CEO of the Think To DO Institute
The Think To DO Institute is an independent, apolitical think tank located in Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean. The T2DI has as its purpose to help Curaçao become a more resilient society by producing research that is based in best practice, and which delivers practical solutions to the barriers that hold the community back from becoming more resilient. Research evidence shows that Resilient Societies are created by attention to people, to organizations, to place, and to knowledge. Resilient Societies design, redesign organizations, institutions and systems to better absorb disruption, operate under a wide variety of conditions, and sift more fluently from one circumstance to the next. For more information about the Think To DO Institute, visit the website: www.thinktodoinstitute.com
