Dear Editor,
There is a situation with the SZV that needs to be addressed. So, on behalf of all pensioners, let me just voice my opinion about the delay of the pension payment for February. The month-end of January was almost like Christmas, when SZV gave us a little raise together with a back-pay. Wonderful – not the real thing, because the pension should have been raised much higher, but as they say, “better something than nothing”
The pension money from SZV is usually paid on time, on month-end, or I suppose when things are good with them, even before the end of the month. But, dear editor, the month-end of February has been a big disappointment. No money was sent to the banks or ATM machines for the pensioners. Furthermore, no reasonable explanation was even given to the pensioners that there would be delay in their pension payments for whatever reason in respect.
Dear editor, my grievance is that this is absolutely not the way pensioners should be treated. Dear editor, these are difficult times we are living in. Many pensioners are depending on this little money, especially on month-end, as their only source of income to sustain them, pay their bills and food necessities.
As pensioners, we have worked our time, and we have faithfully contributed, to the pension fund during all our years of labor. Now that we are “old and gray”, for some of us even enjoying the final stages of their lives, we should be treated with more dignity as citizens who have contributed, and done their part for the next generation to take over, and are now looking forward to our pension income to continue to meet our needs. Dear editor, it’s a shame!
Some time ago last year, if I can recall, there was an article in the newspaper stating that AZV had lent the government 100 million guilders. So, if SZV has money to spare, then what could be the reason why the February pension couldn’t be paid out at the end of February? That money that was loaned to the government is the people’s money, and they should not be playing “Father Christmas” by just giving it out to other parties. And if they can do that, then they should have enough money to meet every month-end payment on time.
So dear editor, what’s the delay? As I am writing this article today it’s already March 3. Many pensioners have to also pay their rent, because the landlords are knocking on their doors for their money. Yes, everybody want their money on time. I do hope management of SZV will take note of this article, understand the grievance of the pensioners, “pull up their socks”, and start doing things right.
Concerned pensioner
Name withheld at author's request.
Through the media, Human Rights Defence Curaçao (HRDC) has taken note of the reports that the Minister of Justice has decided to “Responsibly Integrate”. This has led to quite a few reactions and questions from our human rights organization, especially from the undocumented, and especially from the side of Venezuelans, who have fled the dramatic and persistent crisis in their country.
For years they have been asking for opportunities to live and work here on our island, in a fair and legal way. Various options were advocated: from temporary work and residence permits to a general amnesty.
After years of neglect of the immigration issue and even violations of basic human rights of vulnerable migrants and refugees, the Curaçao Minister of Justice has now publicly opened a few days ago by announcing an “Integrashon responsable” (responsible integration). With this action he has raised great expectations in many about their chances of finally being able to be part of our society in freedom and no longer be at the mercy of the inhumane and repressive vagaries of the government.
Unfortunately, it is questionable whether this decision will finally bring the justice and legal certainty that human rights defenders have been advocating for years, both locally and internationally. Is there really a well thought-out and transparent immigration policy or is it more of an old trick that has been announced more often in the past?
The sudden announcement, which is not accompanied by a clear information campaign about what exactly the scheme entails, is causing a lot of unrest and confusion among people who are already struggling enough. HRDC wants to be able to provide clarity to pressing questions from our target group, such as:
What will happen to the large group of people if it turns out that they cannot make use of this scheme because – unforeseen – they cannot meet the (as yet unclear) conditions?
Is it known that migrants who rush to the official authorities after this announcement full of hope are being sent away with the reaction that they have not yet received instructions for implementation of this new policy?
What happens to people who come forward because they believe they are eligible for this scheme, but who, in the opinion of the authorities, do not comply with it? Will they be detained, or will they still be registered in a government file?
Which group benefits from the “Integrashon responsable”? Will it only be about attracting a select group of highly skilled migrants/wealthy people and will people from a different social class, without academic skills and with insufficient income be excluded?
Has this policy been drawn up in such a way, in coordination with the other parts of the Kingdom, so that the Kingdom government does not again have to undergo painful treatment in international fora as the ultimate responsible for violations of human rights?
In short, there still seems to be a little caveat. For HRDC and various cooperation partners, the question remains whether this means the migration policy of Curaçao that has been in the making for years or does this announcement of the Minister’s “Integrashon responsable” remain? The ball now lies with him to provide real clarity about what his new policy entails and what the procedures and other requirements are.
HRDC finds the fact that while the Ministers tried to showcase their new policy line of opportunities for migrants in a church in Steenrijk, HRDC finds the umpteenth deportation flight (euphemistically referred to as repatriation flight) filled elsewhere on the island, namely at Hato Airport, with Venezuelans who were deported from the immigration barracks as criminals.
HRDC urges the government to finally make progress in formulating and implementing a sound, inclusive and coherent migrant policy. In the post-COVID Curaçao society we can use the talents and strengths of bona fide and productive migrants, without distinction according to social class, colour, or gender.
Ieteke Witteveen
Director Human Rights Defence Curaçao
Dear Editor,
Oh yes, the vaccines have the COVID-19 under control. Millions saw and feel the
vaccine is one of the best ways to control the virus.
And more and more Great Britain, France and Holland are very concerned with helping their people in its colonies in this time of crisis (excellent).
l quote, “Knowledge has increased with medications and vaccines to heal the nations and get things back on track.”
Let’s hope for people to be more loving, honest, kind towards each other and be more spiritual to make this world a better place.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
Governance in modern society requires an understanding of the complexity of that society. Legislators need to either have an understanding of a particular area of knowledge or they should be able to identify parties whose advice has the best knowledge base and who are the most trustworthy.
No parliamentarian can have a full knowledge of every area of legislation.
Some areas are more difficult than others and some are of a nature that it is essential to rely on specialists and the main function of a legislator is to select the best information for the country.
Medicine is on the extreme end of the spectrum. In the area of public health the specialist from whom information should be requested is one who has not only done the six-year general medicine course which is followed by a two-year course in one of the many specializations within public health.
When we hear parliamentarians in St. Maarten expressing views on the very specialized area of virus infection and immunology without any reference to research they have done, then one should be concerned about the quality of their input into the very expensive parliament deliberations and the quality of their decisions.
Robbie Ferron
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Every year we celebrate the Lenten season with devotion. Every year we participate in liturgical celebrations with the desire to walk a journey of personal encounter with Jesus so that He gives us the grace of conversion of all our faults and sins. This year we must accept the new situation that the corona virus has created around the world. But for us, as Christians, this does not have to be a limit, but an opportunity to prepare ourselves with more dedication for the mystery of God’s infinite love in his Son, Jesus Christ.
I offer a summary of the Message of Pope Francis for Lent of this year that shows us the path of conversion by practicing faith, hope and charity.
1. Faith calls us to accept the truth and testify to it before God and all our brothers and sisters.
The truth that has been manifested in Jesus Christ asks, first, to let the word of God come and live in us, and the word is Jesus Christ himself who took our human nature, and He will be the way for everyone to reach true Life. That is why fasting places limitations on our body and renouncing something so that we can live with simplicity of heart and rediscover the gift of God, understand our reality as a creature.
When we accept living poorly, we will become poor with the poor and “accumulate” the wealth of love that gives and receives. “Fasting helps us to love God and our neighbor, since love is a movement outward that focuses our attention on others and considers them as one with ourselves” (Fratelli tutti, 93).
Lent is a time for believing, for welcoming God into our lives and allowing Him to “make his dwelling” among us (cf. Jn 14:23). Fasting involves being freed from all that weighs us down – like consumerism or an excess of information, whether true or false – in order to open the doors of our hearts to the One who comes to us, poor in all things, yet “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14): the Son of God our Savior.
2. Hope as “living water” enabling us to continue our journey.
Pope Francis invites us to read and meditate on Jesus’ dialogue with the Samaritan woman: Jesus offers the water that gives life, but the Samaritan woman, at first, thinks that he is referring to material water, while Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit, whom he will give in abundance through the Paschal Mystery, bestowing a hope that does not disappoint (Rom 5,5).
When Jesus announced his passion and death, he said that he would “be raised on the third day” (Mt 20:19). He was speaking of the future opened by the Father’s mercy. Hoping with Him and because of Him means believing that history does not end with our mistakes, our violence and injustice, or the sin that crucifies love. It means receiving from His open heart the Father’s forgiveness.
In the current reality in which we live so worried, and when everything seems fragile and uncertain, it may appear challenging to speak of hope. Yet Lent is a season of hope, when we turn back to God, Who patiently continues to care for His creation, which we have often mistreated. It is hope in reconciliation. When we receive forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession, we in turn can spread forgiveness to others. God’s forgiveness, through our words and actions, enables us to live an Easter of fraternity.
In Lent may we speak words of comfort, strength, consolation, and encouragement, instead of words that demean, sadden, anger, or show scorn. In order to give hope to others, it is sometimes enough simply to be kind, to be “willing to set everything else aside in order to show interest, to give the gift of a smile, to speak a word of encouragement, to listen amid general indifference.” (cf. Fratelli tutti, 223-224).
In the moment of silence and prayer, hope is like a light that illuminates all the challenges and choices we face in our mission. To enter intimacy, it is essential to “pray to the Father, Who sees what you are doing in secret.” (cf. Mt 6,6).
To experience Lent in hope entails growing in the realization that, in Jesus Christ, we are witnesses of the new times. It means receiving the hope of Christ, who gave His life on the cross and was raised by God on the third day, and always being “prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls [us] to account for the hope that is in [us]” (1Pet 3:15).
3. Love, following in the footsteps of Christ, in concern and compassion for all, is the highest expression of our faith and hope.
Pope Francis continues by saying that love rejoices in seeing others grow. Hence it suffers when others are anguished, lonely, sick, homeless, despised or in need. Love is a leap of the heart; it brings us out of ourselves and creates bonds of sharing and communion.
Love is a gift that gives meaning to our lives. It enables us to view those in need as members of our own family, as friends, brothers or sisters. A small amount, if given with love, never ends, but becomes a source of life and happiness. Such was the case with the jar of meal and jug of oil of the widow of Zarephath, who offered a cake of bread to the prophet Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 17:7-16); it was also the case with the loaves blessed, broken, and given by Jesus to the disciples to distribute to the crowd (cf. Mk 6:30-44). Such is the case too with our almsgiving, whether small or large, when offered with joy and simplicity.
Pope Francis asks us to experience Lent with love, which means caring for those who suffer or feel abandoned and fearful because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In these days of deep uncertainty about the future, let us keep in mind the Lord’s word to his Servant: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you” (Is 43:1).
Brothers and sisters, Pope Francis concludes that each stage of life is a time for believing, hoping and loving.
“Let us live this Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us – as communities and as individuals – to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father.
“May Mary, Mother of the Savior, standing at the foot of the cross and in the heart of the Church, sustain us with her loving presence. May the blessing of the risen Christ accompany us on our journey towards the light of Easter.”
Taken from the Lenten Message 2021 of Pope Francis.
Bishop Luis Secco
