Dear Editor,
We regretfully took note that the Dutch government continued on its path to destabilize the peaceful Caribbean region after serving last year a term in the UN Security Council which primary objective it is to prevent conflicts.
After the UK and France launched an ultimatum against the sovereign state of Venezuela recently, the Dutch Foreign Minister Mr. Blok announced that the Netherlands will join them if Venezuela does not comply. Yesterday, this provocation escalated when the Prime Minister of Curaçao Mr. Ruggenaath, whose government which last week has been forced by the Dutch government to surrender their limited autonomy back under Dutch control and rule, declared the same.
Curaçao, together with Aruba and our island Bonaire, being the closest neighboring island to the Venezuelan coast can be considered a direct escalation, provocation, and violation of UN Charter guiding principles of non-interference and non-intervention and respect for sovereignty and affairs of states is directed by the Dutch government from The Hague.
This is a highly hypocritical approach by the Dutch government which has continued colonization of its Caribbean dependencies and recently has erased the democratic rights of the Dutch Caribbean islands by:
1) Forcing the democratically elected Curaçao government to surrender their limited autonomy and accept direct higher supervision from The Hague with control over the budget and all judiciary powers and intervention powers remaining unilaterally in the Dutch Parliament in The Hague;
2) Destabilizing and forcing the democratically elected government of St. Maarten after the natural disaster of Hurricane Irma to surrender their limited autonomy and border control, budgetary, judiciary and went as far as they will have to approve or who will be appointed in the government positions and are completely back under Dutch rule and control;
3) Forcing the local government of Bonaire, which has surrendered already all the tax-revenues and powers to the Dutch government, under threat to accept an undemocratic program-manager above the locally elected government to govern and only accountable to The Hague;
4) Undemocratic abusive actions of their unilateral legislative powers and military and police powers to depose the legitimate elected government of St. Eustatius and appointing a non-elected ruler and depriving the citizens of St. Eustatius of their democratic rights by blocking a free election.
Ironically all this is happening at this same moment and is kept under the radar where the Dutch government is taking the front-line in this provocation towards an armed conflict where his re-colonized ABC islands’ inhabitants, all innocent humble friendly Caribbean peoples, would be in the first line of retaliation and can easily be wiped out and ethnically cleansed; meanwhile, the command will remain safely in The Hague, Europe.
It would be no coincidence, because the ABC islands, all within eyesight from each other, all are equipped with an international military standards airport and deep harbors could be the mayor reason behind this war-campaign, as through war-economics and military actions they enriched themselves to become one of world’s richest countries, is nothing new to the Dutch glancing back at their horrific colonial past.
We would like this letter to be a serious warning to the Caribbean as the colonizing powers headed by UK, France, and the Netherlands and backed by US who all share the major colonial interests to remain in the Caribbean region, have finally shown their real intentions that they are back on track to repossess their former colonies and attempt to turn back the colonial clock if possible.
The intentions and tactics are very clear, as the Dutch promoted, supported and financed the division, destruction, and dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10, 2010, and recolonized the Dutch Antillean islands. The same tactics of destruction are carried forward to the Caribbean level, to divide the Caribbean and stop the unification and integration process of the Caribbean.
We wish to make a dramatic call to all Caribbean leaders to use this moment to serve as wake-up call, to stand up for all Caribbean peoples. As we all came with the same boats, we all are still in the same boat, with the same common right to emancipation and freedom, to unite and fight together to maintain a peaceful Caribbean, and to actively help to decolonize the Caribbean, as there is no free Caribbean until all Caribbean peoples are truly free.
James Finies,
President of the foundation “We Want Bonaire Back.”
Dear Editor,
I am disappointed that the Finance Minister did not stand behind the decision of the Receiver where it concerned the design of the 2019 number plates for motor vehicles.
What I do not understand is, beside one time, it was the Education Minister and primarily the Justice Minister who was the authority commenting on the discussions concerning the protest against “50 years of Carnival” on the plates. All of this should be handled by the Finance Minister and/or the Receiver.
The decree was made and the wording is a stated fact. We will be celebrating 50 years of Carnival, so to me that silly argument about making a commercial for something that is not relevant, is making a mock of the situation.
I have been involved in keeping order during Carnival in the Netherlands Antilles since 1965 and do not know that celebration to be other than a cultural festival.
I believe that government is demonstrating insecurity in this matter and beside creating a precedent, government is also creating confusion for those involved in the control of the compliance of the motor vehicle tax.
I will state again that I believe that those who are talking about they not making commercial for Carnival are being hypocritical. They all read the paper and some have even used the opinion page to highlight their protest. Why are they hypocrites? Because I have never read where any of them have threatened to boycott reading the paper because of the commercials on the community page. Or is it something they secretly do?
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
Why is it that criticism of religions, politicians, police officers, normal men, etc. is fair game, but when someone says anything about gays, who by now we know have fought tooth and nail to be considered normal, that is considered discriminatory?
Dear Editor,
Why do men bruise, beat, and batter women? That is the right question. Blaming females for staying is victim-blaming. Why do men denigrate, devastate, and destroy? Why do men misuse their personal power with cruelty and control? Why are men jealous, suspicious, and controlling?
More questions. How do women become trapped in dangerous relationships? And why does society blame them for staying? How can family, friends, and co-workers provide resources?
Batterers, the ill-informed, and ignorant individuals may blame women for staying, “But you won't find a single expert familiar with domestic violence who agrees that victims like being in an abusive relationship,” asserted Craig Malkin, Ph.D., in a 2013 article in Psychology Today.
Often victims are afraid to leave. And here’s why. The abuser has threatened to harm or kill them. More than 70 percent of domestic violence injuries and murders happen after the victim has left the relationship.
Men who threaten to kill the women’s family members if she leaves. Or the abuser threatens to kill the pets or does murder the family pet. Husbands or partners that threaten to take the children in a custody battle if she leaves. Or threaten to kidnap the children and relocate to another country. Some abusers have threatened suicide if the wife “abandons” them.
The abuser sabotages her employment. A spouse that obsessively calls or shows up at the workplace so often the woman is fired. Or the abuser accuses the wife of having affairs with males at her place of employment. With today’s technology, some abusers use tracing devices.
Abuse may be emotional, mental, physical, financial, spiritual, or sexual. Gaslighting is when the partner intentionally tries to make the woman distrust her own perceptions of reality or that she is mentally incompetent.
Childhood abuse. Girls that grow up in homes where fathers or stepfathers abuse mothers often believe domestic violence is a way of life. When brothers are allowed to abuse sisters, females develop views of inequality.
Emotional abuse. Being told you are worthless (i.e., stupid, fat, ugly) day after day by a partner erodes self-esteem. Abusers blame-shame and heap false guilt upon women. If you did this or if you did that – then I wouldn’t have to beat you. Males need to take responsibility for their own violent reactions.
Financial abuse. A series of 10-14 minute videos is designed to raise awareness of the signs of financial abuse for victims. “Financial abuse can have the most devastating and long-lasting impact on the lives of survivors and their families. You’ll hear stories that include abusers who control their partner’s spending habits, preventing a partner from accessing bank accounts and keeping a partner from having a credit card.” www.thehotline.org/women-breaking-free/.
The Institute for Family Studies looked at hundreds of comments from a hashtag on Twitter, #WhyIstayed. Through analysis, they identified eight main reasons these women stayed in abusive relationships:
Distorted Thoughts. “Being controlled and hurt is traumatizing, and this leads to confusion, doubts, and even self-blame.”
Damaged Self-Worth. “Related was the damage to the self that is the result of degrading treatment.”
Fear. “The threat of bodily and emotional harm is powerful, and abusers use this to control and keep women trapped.”
Wanting to be a Savior. “Many described a desire to help, or love their partners with the hopes that they could change them.”
Children. “I was afraid if he wasn’t beating me he would beat his kids. And I valued their lives more than my own.”
Family Expectations and Experiences. “Many posted descriptions of how past experiences with violence distorted their sense of self or of healthy relationships.”
Financial Constraints. “Many referred to financial limitations, and these were often connected to caring for children.”
Isolation. “A common tactic of manipulative partners is to separate their victim from family and friends.”
www.ifstudies.org/blog/eight-reasons-women-stay-in-abusive-relationships.
So, instead of asking why women stay – ask why men abuse and batter. And provide support, encouragement, and resources for abused women.
Melissa Martin
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist. She lives in
the U.S.
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