Dear Editor,
Was World Tourism Day an occasion to celebrate? Then why was the theme “Rethink Tourism” attached to it? According to the Secretary General of UNWTO – UN World Tourism Organization – “World Tourism Day has always been a chance to come together and celebrate the many and varied accomplishments of our sector.” And so, it appeared that everyone started celebrating and sending out press releases about successes of the past.
But…… in the same address the Secretary General also noted: “However, this year especially we also recognize that we cannot go back to the old ways of working. We must rethink tourism.” And that was something missing in all the press releases. Rethinking means considering something, especially in order to change it.
Some authorities and organizations claim that they have a five-year plan for tourism development. It is somewhere in a drawer, as if it is an insurance policy to be kept in a safe place. Good years bring good things. But making a five-year plan, counting on five consecutive good years is risky. Nothing to be proud of to claim having such a plan. A vision is okay, but a plan may become questionable when one starts with the ‘what-ifs.’ One can plan the development of infrastructure, accommodations and technicalities related to tourism.
One just cannot plan the behaviour of people abroad. It cannot even be predicted. Tourists are individuals from a different country. They are often much depending on what is happening in their own country and environment. We have seen that in the past, whether it was recession or pandemic. Current inflation and energy prices are a concern. And then there can be trends that have some influence on their consumer behaviour. One just cannot plan on their numbers for the next five years; it is wishful thinking. What can be planned for sure are the basics what they like. In principle, they are all looking forward to spending their time in paradise on Earth. A place of exceptional happiness, pleasure, delight, contentment, and fulfilment.
That is where the challenges begin, and where rethinking tourism comes in. It is a challenge because the competition will try to do the same to attract them to their paradise concept. Therefore, the planning should include outdoing the competition as for what they are offering now and intend to offer in the future.
Destination or tourism product development should start with trying to get on their bucket list. A bucket list is a list of experiences one wants to have before dying. It comes from the phrase “kicking the bucket,” which simply means in one dramatical word, dying. Typically, a bucket list always has at least one ‘the best life has to offer.’ Be the one.
Then, the actual experience at the bucket-list destination should be such that the desire is created to make the visit to the destination part of the lifestyle. Thus, cultivating buckaroos, the iconic figure of a cowpuncher, into loyal repeat visitors. A lifestyle typically reflects an individual's attitudes, way of life, values, or world view. The only regret from a stay at a destination should be that the visitor could not stay longer! The worst one can do is planning the destination as a day-care facility for tourists. Do not create hustle-and-bustle attractions in a tourism product, if that is not something that belongs in paradise. The most important thing is to have unique offerings. Unique is something that others cannot claim to have. Authenticity and heritage come to mind.
Natural environment is an essential part of Paradise. Swaying palm trees are absolutely not unique enough to be mentioned. Palm trees love tropical climates, anywhere in the world. Nothing unique about them. Amazingly the orange flamboyant trees and the purple gardenias are never mentioned. There are forty or more beautiful tropical plants with flowers in many different colours including red, orange, purple, pink, white, etc. that can make one feel like being in paradise on warm sunny days. But how many Caribbean islands actually have a department to cultivate flowering plants and trees in public places?
What about Guestocology? You will not find the word in the dictionary. It is the study of the people for whom services are provided. It is a term and originates from the same man who said: "You don't build it for yourself. You know what the people want, and you build it for them", Walt Disney. Make no mistake, tourism or destination development is not about creating another Disney-like destination. It is learning some of the principles that may lead to success. What the guests want and need, means knowing and understanding the clientele from abroad. Not just their culture and behaviour, but their true needs, perceptions, and expectations. These should not be taken lightly, considering that for many a vacation is just a once-a-year happening.
A destination should establish a comfortable and lasting position in the marketplace. Tourism and destination development should acknowledge that there is a link between guest satisfaction and brand reputation. This combination can set one destination apart from all others. Assumptions and calculations in planning do not always square with reality. Dare to think differently about how tourism can be changed. Daring to think beyond the conventional way of thought is part of the recipe. When feet are kind of numb, polishing the shoes is not the solution. Last but least, think of how to get them to paradise fast and easy at a reasonable price.
‘Rethink Tourism’ is the theme!

Cmdr. Bud Slabbaert

Dear Editor,
Like many citizens, I am hoping and praying that this government is able to serve its full term, which would be a first since this country gained “country status” in the kingdom of the Netherlands. I truly hope that coalition partners can honour their agreements and work together through to a full term, for the love of this country!
I admire Prime Minister Jacobs’ leadership skills and commend her and those ministers and parliamentarians who are staying focused on their tasks. Of course, government is always subject to criticism – this helps to keep them in check and holds them accountable – but fellow politicians must not add malicious intent to their criticism.
It is disheartening to see the fractures that so many young politicians have caused. They often spouted, “Give the young ones a chance!” Well they have gotten their chance and have made a mess of it, thereby putting the country that they claim to love in an atmosphere of instability. What a terrible image of the country they are projecting!
And those who have been suggesting a call for early elections (some glaring opportunists among them) should be ashamed of themselves. What good is that going to do for the country? Haven’t they learned from the past snap elections? With so many political parties, the formation of a coalition will again become inevitable, and this means that parties will have to agree again to work together! We often hear some politicians call for unity but apparently this is just a charade.
The recent party infighting aired publicly has left much to be desired. I sincerely hope that those party members can put their differences aside and work together. Remember that you are working for the country, so do not allow your ego to take charge. Give us the opportunity to regain some of the respect and admiration we once had for you, otherwise you will be judged negatively as politicians.
To the numerous parliamentarians who have declared themselves “independent” after being elected as a party member, many of us have since lost respect for you. There are now 9 factions in our 15-member parliament: What a colossal shame! These superfluous factions just cost government much extra expenses to attend IPKO meetings in Holland for 10 days! You so-called independent politicians could not work with your respective party despite differences, but later on you will join another party or form your own with the delusion that you will make things better. But if you have not matured in the meantime or have not learned how to cooperate, the political farce will continue to repeat itself time after time.
There will always be disagreement in any group. How these disagreements are handled in politics requires maturity, selflessness, cooperation and concern for the greater good of the country. It should never be the childish attitude of picking up my marbles and leaving if I do not get my way!
On another subject, does this small country really need 15 parliamentarians? Apparently some of them are hardly doing anything, proving that the country can get by with fewer. Why not let the excess be transferred to some other places in government where they can do meaningful work? I am sure that they possess skills or abilities which would be very useful in some other government departments.

Name withheld at author’s request.

Dear Editor,
When I was 10 years old in the fifth grade of the then Prinses Marijke School, our teacher Meneer Peyster told one of my classmates that he was “bladvulling”. Because it was a new word to me, and because of the teacher’s demeanor, I wrote it down with the intention of finding out the meaning later. My father would usually bring home all kinds of books, but we did not have a Dutch dictionary at home, so I asked my elder brother who went to the Roman Catholic school if he could find out what was the meaning of that word. I was thinking of leaf and filler but could not put it together.
When I finally got an explanation, I was told that it was used sarcastically and that it meant “useless” and that “bladvulling” used under those circumstances did not have anything to do with a leaf of a tree, but a page in a book. In order for the page not to remain as it were empty, sometimes they would add something that did not really have an influence on the story.
That word remained with me and it inspired me throughout my life to never be in a position to be considered “bladvulling”.
I can remember when during a political campaign in Aruba a now deceased politician who was a member of the Aruba Island Council ask me to support him. I told him that I was not willing to give my vote to anyone who would be “bladvulling”. His demeanor changed, but he was alert enough to know that my vote was more important at that moment than to react in a not so pleasant way, so he put a wry smile on his face. Over the years those were personal conditions set for supporting politicians, which also afforded me the opportunity to ascertain who were in there as “bladvulling”.
I will always repeat that it is never personal, but one should not pretend to be what one does not prepare to be.
Now this. Several years ago someone asked me if the Immigration Department works with DNA. So now I am asking what would be the pros and cons for the Immigration Department as well as the Census Office determining the DNA of a baby by birth?

Russell A. Simmons

I, Cimmaron Marlin, president of the Talking Drums Foundation, have been approached by a person claiming to be a government civil servant. He presented to me a fraudulent letter. This “government civil” servant attempted to cajole and to force me, Cimmaron Marlin, president of the Talking Drums Foundation, against my free will, to sign for the receipt of this fraudulent and also unregistered letter.
I had kindly, politely and respectfully expressed and shared with this person, who refused to officially identify himself, yet who claimed to be a government civil servant, that this “letter be forwarded to me registered in order for me to properly receive a properly delivered ‘letter’.”
This person claiming to be a government civil servant with a fraudulent letter in his possession became very angry and enraged towards me for not having signed this false, fraudulent and unregistered “letter”.
This very angry and enraged person claiming to be a government civil servant lashed out by unleashing threats.
This person claiming to be a government civil servant has and is wrongfully, illegally and criminally threatening to have the legally constituted Talking Drums Foundation Project at the Border Monument maliciously and criminally interrupted, disrupted and terminated.
In the face of these protracted deeds of state terror conducted and carried out by organised crime networks within the department of Public Works – VROMI – against The Talking Drums Foundation, The Talking Drums Foundation has, is and will continue to legally conduct its social, cultural and educational activities at the Border Monument at Belvedere, Dutch Quarter.
The Talking Drums Foundation is reaching out to the entire island community in particular and the entire island in general to ensure that human rights, good governance, transparency, integrity, accountability, justice and the rule of law are upheld.

Cimmaron Marlin
President, The Talking Drums Foundation