By Alex Rosaria
Conspiracy theories. We’ve seen them on social media or had someone convince us to believe them at face value. They come in all flavors. The moon landing was faked, yet somehow all the Russian and non-American astrophysicists weren’t able to pick up on this scam. The earth is flat even though we’ve known since at least Aristotle that it’s round. Beneath the Denver International Airport there’s a colony of flesh-eating human lizards determined to enslave the human race. And, if you look very carefully, these reptile humanoids like Madonna, Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie, involuntarily shapeshift from human to reptile to human again. Conspiracy theorists now claim that 5G transmits the coronavirus.
Why would anyone believe these stories? A recent study in the Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition sheds some light. Evidence is provided that delusion-prone, narrow-minded individuals and religious fundamentalists are more likely to believe conspiracy theories (CT) as long as these theories mirror their particular worldview. If you were brought up in an environment that loathes the Western World, it is easier to believe the CT that AIDS was created in the US and Europe to kill black and brown people. This is why a CT believer doesn’t believe all theories out there, he’s selective.
CTs aim to calm the human fear of the unknown and come up with non-scientific reasoning of what seems to be unexplainable. These theories were never meant to find the truth, but to give us a temporary sense of relief from the distress in our lives. A brutal dictator may want to promote the theory that the abject poverty in his country is not due to his own mismanagement, but a result of blood-drinking human reptiles.
Proponents of these theories want to control the behaviors of their victims and push their own political or ideological agendas. CTs can wreak havoc on society. We’ve seen that with the destruction of 5G antennas, a surge in measles, the recent Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, killing of albino children in some parts of Africa and many more.
CTs are not unlike religions. In ancients times, people invented a god to explain things people didn’t understand. Different societies, each with a different set of experiences and explanations, had different god(s). They were never interested in the scientific truth. We’re seeing the same thing happening as conspiracy theories permeate larger sections of societies. CTs are taking on the role of religion and they are feeding fundamentalist beliefs.
Like religions, CTs don’t just emerge in a vacuum. They aim to simplify things and provide believers with a sense of reassurance in a fast-changing world. We should avoid belittling them, but at the same time we can’t afford to ignore CTs. They have become too mainstream now.
What can truth seekers do? Confront all believers with factual evidence (fact-checking). But caution, it may not work, especially when dealing with fanatics who blindly believe what they want to believe.
~ 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,
Actions speak louder than words. It is pivotal to use Caribbean data as a new communication tool to let leisure and opportunities lead to new regional ventures. The Caribbean should begin executing a regional vision and encourage the diaspora to collaborate and invest in a joint vision.
A united vision can be expressed in three key aspects. Firstly, it is a privilege and benefit to enjoy being home in the Caribbean. Secondly, taking comfort in the fact that there are ample opportunities available to live and grow these cultural advancements and attributes in a sustainable and qualitative manner. Ultimately, having the confidence that people can live in a “human threat free” community, where there are no worries about natural threats and the disturbance to our state of normalcy.
The joy of being home
The stress-free environment of the Caribbean is a key asset that distinguishes the Caribbean from many other areas of the world. It is important for Caribbeans, whether living in the region or in the diaspora, to know that it is a joy being home in the Caribbean. The evolution of the idea to take off your shoes and have relaxed moments, can be considered the cornerstone; the hallmark of the Caribbean experience. Most locals in the region take this for granted.
There are several key issues that one can focus on. For one, structuring the ability to merge the feeling or experience of being at home in the Caribbean with the ability to adequately provide for one’s family. Another issue is the ability to have more freedom to define daily activities and find a balance between work and leisure. And finally, being able to actually enjoy the Caribbean experience knowing that it is the envy of the rest of the world.
Being exposed, having the flexibility, and the rare treat to reach out and touch each island in the region is a great excitement. So is the ability to travel to any desired international destination from the Caribbean. Understanding the Caribbean context can be used as a positive motivation to inspire and recognize the value of what it means “to be home in the Caribbean”.
Plentiful opportunities
There are enough opportunities available in the Caribbean that allow the Caribbean citizens to live in a sustainable and qualitative manner.
The Caribbean region should know what each island has to offer and provide a true analytical measure to help individual businesses and young ventures. It will recognize that their added value plays an essential role and is a privilege. Developing connected industry data centers for the Caribbean will enable to profile regionally what the capacity of the region looks like. In the key industries, it will help structure a true social and market support expression. It will provide the region with the ability to observe patterns, encourage innovation and help young and mature entrepreneurs develop new strategies.
Understanding the connective industries will require a cultural curve. It will also initiate a new “technical language” with terms like Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0. Industry 4.0, simply stated, refers to the use of technology in every aspect of our industrial manufacturing processes, while Society 5.0 speaks to the condition of technology being incorporated into every aspect of social life, meaning people living in smart societies.
The Caribbean is potentially the ideal place for all forms of individual, family, and business leisure activities. The majority of the islands in the Caribbean are still looking to tourism as their main economic pillar. However, over the last decades more and more alternative economic alternatives for stability have begun to evolve and mature. Some of the industries of note are the music industry, the fashion industry, the sports industry, the culinary industry, and in certain areas the agricultural industry. The main question is, what’s next?
A flourishing community
The Caribbean region has the potential for living in a “human-threat-free” community, which is resistant to natural disasters. Being able to meet this challenge will be a final support that will encourage the people of the Caribbean to feel safe. They can enjoy a healthy Caribbean-based work career while being home and being able to properly explore and innovate many of the necessary developments that will be needed for this new Caribbean condition.
The Caribbean will benefit once it identifies a formal structure that embraces a new and innovative vision. For instance, strengthening its position in the regional yachting industry by developing super-yacht maintenance and service centers and niche supplies. It is also essential to have a better understanding of the fishing and produce industries.
A necessary level of clarity and flexibility exists within the context of the many changing industries. The fast pace that technology is causing our global community to change from day to day, as the South Korean saying goes “Pali-Pali”, quick and quicker. The timeframe of change is rapid. It becomes even more necessary to define niche markets and to facilitate relearning programs. These are necessary to help innovate alternative products and strategies for the Caribbean region going forward.
The Caribbean is ready to define its foundation and become a region that will help bring fresh ideas to the world and open new avenues for diverse opportunities and innovative ventures.
Damien Richardson
Being a successful organization we owe in large part to you and the other employees who work hard to produce quality products. Counting with you is like betting to the winner, we are what we are thanks to the quality of work you are doing.
If your main objective in life is to reach a great goal, keep in mind that the only way to make it is through your job. Let your mind free and bring this spirit to your work. Don’t bother about the result. Just make you satisfied. Nurture your talent with your hard work and dedication. You will win the race.
Dear Editor,
I recently watched a tourism promotional video clip issued by the Department of Tourism of Malaga, an old Spanish city, and some thoughts ran through my mind:
St. Maarten/St. Martin has so much to learn from places like Malaga, in the Southeastern section of Spain, when it comes to the “how to” part of tourism. But then, Malaga is a bit older and, in this case for sure, a lot wiser.
On our island we have to fix our outdated and terribly deficient tax system so that everyone can with great ease and not a lot of effort pay his/her fair share of taxes. Because without money in the coffers, no government can achieve the level of service and services a population must be able to expect at a minimum and more.
Then simultaneously we have to attract the best and the brightest of our own people to fill crucial positions needed to go forward with a vision. Then we need politicians that are able to govern with integrity, wisdom and selfless passion, providing leadership that, while focusing on the nuts function of Government, they and it do not get in the way of “free enterprise”, but facilitate it.
Our judicial system must be swift in meting out fair and consistent judicial oversight, that encourages people to do “the right thing” and quickly punishes those that don’t.
We must stop importing “poverty” and where we do not have qualified locals (people with roots either through family ancestry and/or investment and/or blood, sweat and tears), we must not be afraid to attract/import and pay for the best and the brightest from anywhere in the world to help raise “the levels that will allow all boats to float”.
And then, as a community, we the people must contribute our fair share of whatever “positiveness” we have to offer St. Maarten/St. Martin and stop accepting mediocrity, stop hiding behind “I from here and you are a foreigner”, stop playing the “race” card when we run out of solid arguments.
We must learn to respect one another for who and what we (hopefully all) are: lovers of this incredible 37-square-mile island in the Caribbean sun.
Mike Ferrier
Presidents of the various unions affiliated in the WICLU, esteemed board members and the workers of Country St. Maarten,
This year’s Labour Day will be more of a deep reflection than a celebration of our local heroes as most historic or who have made an impact and who have played a vital role behind the scenes in the spirit of labour. That has become our norm for the celebration of this historic day that is Internationally celebrated with parades of protest, demonstrations and widespread violence in the streets of many larger countries throughout the world
Workers usually would march through the streets while chanting and holding up messages against the different forms of abuse and violations in the workplace and publicly saying “No” to all the different forms of abuse.
With the world being affected by the COVID-19 virus the tone of this celebration is most likely to change completely given the impact that this virus has had on the health, social and economic structures in our societies. While workers are not willing to risk their health, we must commend our frontline workers in St. Maarten and around the world and recognize them as our local, regional and international heroes, who are making an historic impact on this Labor Day 2020.
We, as presidents of the various unions, salute you, as workers on the frontline and commend you all for your great and dedicated services to all.
As unions we continue to demand the standards of occupational health and safety in the workplace and denounce any violations thereof.
In retrospect, as presidents of unions, we have to continue to evaluate the consequences and negative impact that this pandemic would have on the workers of our country.
Governments all over the world have estimated and evaluated their reality based on the fact that the necessary lockdown has created a number of social and economic challenges for the workers. Sad enough, our government has not been able to structurally evaluate the impact this pandemic has caused on the formal and informal economy in St. Maarten. This has left many workers with many questions and many employers with questionable acts.
Unionized workers as well as non-unionized workers, permanent as well as contract workers, workers in the formal as well as workers in the informal economy are all face with enormous challenges.
Our governments have time and time again failed the workers by not enacting legislation for the social protection of the worker’s rights and benefits, unemployment benefits, living wages, cost-of-living adjustments to safeguard the purchasing power of the workers and correct the inflation on the prices of basic goods and services.
Employers consequently defy the few outdated labour laws by frequently using loopholes to make different forms of abuse of their position to terminate workers during natural disasters and this pandemic of COVID-19.
I dare say that as unions we breathed a sigh of relief when we heard the announcement of “payroll assistance “ and of stimulus packages for businesses to circumvent mass layoffs or termination of workers. This would have to prevent a rise in unemployment. I must say we are all disappointed that this is exactly what is happening at this moment without the government departments or labour mediator being involved. Some employers do this without consultation with the unions, using the phrase “termination by mutual agreement” and cunningly bypassing a number of important steps that have to be taken in any process of termination.
As unions we have to be vigilant and educate our members to their rights, so that they don’t sign to anything that would be less of their rights or benefits.
Beware!
As unions we should be prepared to defend our members and take these matters to court to seek justice against the violation of the social and economic justice for the workers.
It is a shame that to date a number of issues were reported in Parliament on questions asked by members. The Minister of Labour in his answers alluded to meetings to be held with the tri-partite committee and with unions representing the workers. My question would be: When? Or whether the answer would be “Never!”
I guess we as unions already know what to expect with a budget that doesn’t reflect the rights of the workers and the people of St. Maarten to social development, eradication of poverty and equality for all. One thing is sure now that the pill is much harder to swallow when our leaders agree for a measly 5 per cent salary cut when considering their much-talked-about measures in whatever form or fashion.
The COVID-19 must not be used by members of employers organizations and government to net out their hidden agendas and measures.
The COVID-19 will not prevent us as unions in defence of our members from saying “No!”
The COVID-19 will not prevent us as unions from standing in solidarity with the workers!
And the COVID-19 definitely will not prevent us from seeking social justice for the workers!
So, as we reflect deeply on this Labor Day 2020, I would like to continue encouraging the St. Maarten workers to be strong and as I deliver this message as President of the WICLU, be safe because, solidarity is forever!
Claire Elshot-Aventurin
President WICLU
