and here they are:
maybe not so funny
the show goes on!
Our politicians keep doing the weirdest things, but it's hard to keep laughing at them.
Here a selection of, at times, nightmarish acts in Curaçao's political circus, starting with the most recent ones.
alphabetical searchable list—at page bottom are links to years past.
last year of
the double-ring show!
RATZ agrees they're all clowns:
Shouting slogans, singing the anthem
on the sinking Ship of State
And So On...
the situation around the future status
of the Netherlands Antilles
(after the infamous Referendum)
Chavez' party - model for Nos Mes Por?
| A Double Feast The day of the island government elections, the last chance we had to turn down the residing government's intentions, just happened to be the birthday of Adolf Hitler: 20 April. a reminder by Johan Oldenboom in a letter to Amigoe-editor |
| Welcome! If this is your first visit, you may have arrived here via a link in an e-mail that's now circulating, sent to me by one of my Spies. It originated from ex-minister Smith, who says she's 'indignant' about my remarks here. But miz Smith, try to imagine how indignant we are, the victims who are force-fed these politicians', your distinguished colleagues', chicaneries on a daily basis. From her, it made its way through a worker at CTB, who's 'heavily shocked'. Working there, hasn't she heard of Chong? Of Asjes? About former directors Hepple, Wallé and de Lannoy, all so disgusted with what went on at CTB that they took their leave? And how Schotte topped it all off? But now they're indignant and shocked - why? Because somebody dares to mention it? Can't help being reminded of the staff of MVD, the Soviet camp guardians, who were filled with outraged indignationwhen One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich was published in the USSR - The Gulag Archipelago VII, p. 474 The latest appointment of Evita Nita as head of CTB in May, 2007 is the last in a long tradition. Again, no matter what her qualities, there has been no open application. It's a habit. 2007-03-16 |
Next Day Planned:
15 December, 2008
(come-back of Statuut-Dag)
See You All Later
Away for a spree - maybe not well-deserved, but certainly needed.
Back February 2008.
2007-12-24
In plain daylight some guys climbed into a money-transport car near a supermarket, grabbed a few bags and disappeared with a stand-by get-away car. All money-transporting clowns had left the loot alone to service an ATM. Has to be a habit.
2007-12-23
Back on Line
The cat cracker, out of service since the 5 december disaster, will start up again next Sunday (better stay indoors and keep your windows closed for a week or so.) Repairs took 3 weeks, and we can only guess at the damages originally estimated at US$12M.
It would be nice if somebody at least made an effort to explain why, during all that time, the refinery kept flaring; a procedure that supposedly only takes place in "emergency conditions." Not much transparency in those sooty clouds.
2007-12-22
Little Nigeria
It's not the first time we've called this place like that, analog to the local watch store 'Little Switzerland'. Now the kadaster [land registry office] has been convicted of deleting and changing items in a document. Kadaster has twice denied there was a mortgage existing, when later it turned out there was. But not to worry:
The scratching out was of no influence on the legal facts registered in the document.Kadaster says so themselves (while public notary Burgers disagrees and claims ANG150K damage.)
2007-12-19
Not a Complete Fool
Pierrot, who announced that he would retire and spend more time with his family, no doubt can afford to do so: He ordered a 'report' on the geopolitical situation of Isla refinery from Angiolillo's journalist friend Pedro Elías Hernández. The report, described as a 'scrap of paper' which nobody has seen, is reported to cover more than 1 pages A4 and has cost half a US$ million. Isla, who had to pay, asked SOAB national accounting to look into this. Pierrot says they're all out to get him, it's just politics.
2007-12-19
Still Unexplained
Say, whatever happened to that explanation VBC was supposed to get from Curoil on oil prices? Paranoia time...
2007-12-17
Thick Strong Skulls Contain Cavernous Cavities
Now that everybody is totally disgusted with the recent environmental disaster, while the judge has ordered the refinery to clean up its act, more and more people are finally realizing that the best thing to do may well be to cut out this cancer once and for all:
Get rid of Isla.
But not the government. Only now, they are desperately trying to catch up with events; as usual. Only now, there are furious negotiations with PdVSA on what to do to keep Isla running. Problem is, they need more money that Curaçao and Chavez' ruinous economy can come up with ($1.5G). Now Marubeni, already a partner in BOO, has been invited to join. Because Isla has to stay, at all costs. You can't help asking yourself what is their advantage.
Some gems by Mendes de Gouveia, president of Isla:
It is quite possible to have a refinery right in the center of town, look at Pernis in Rotterdam.
Either the guy is criminally stupid or he's an outright liar who thinks we're criminally stupid:
Look at the map.
Rotterdam center-Pernis refinery (red square): 8km
Another howler is, he doesn't see why Isla should relocate in Bullenbaai, because
Who will clean up Schottegat? There's still oil pollution in Caracasbaai
(where tanks have been removed recently). So let it grow even worse, right? What else can he mean. Does he know himself?
Edgar Leito points out that, after the refinery is closed in 2019 when the contract ends, ten years will be needed for the clean-up.
2007-12-16
Clown Bows Out
... not before we were ready for it: Pierrot is getting out of politics. He is disgusted with the way politics work here. So are we; maybe his quitting helps. He says he
has been betrayed by people he helped to a job.(We knew all the time it worked like that.)
But don't break out the champagne yet; he was talking the same way a year ago and hasn't even told his own party about it.
2007-12-15
Quick Service
After thirty years, the health of people below the Isla smoke is investigated again, already. 'See? We do give it attention' says PNP deputy Davelaar. (He was one of the first to be checked - much too fat.) There will also be measurements on four locations for SO2, NO2 and fine and coarse dust. Will cost ANG210K and take 2 months, probably in April and May.
2007-12-15
No Business: As Usual
The island government meeting to discuss the rather extreme recent Isla problems might have had more result if it had not been held. PAR Jackson wondered if the 1.5G couldn't be invested more effectively in anything but Isla, especially since it would cost jobs; MAN Schotte, for once wisely, remarked they should all listen to DP George; who advised all those present to read the stack of reports published in the past twenty years. George also wondered if the refinery really is so important for the economy. The rest of the speakers would have done better to remain silent.
Meanwhile, negotiations were re-started with PdVSA on the future of the refinery. Pierrot has made such a mess that the only effect was, nobody else wants to be part of a PdVSA-combination; and PdVSA is only interested in buying a 49% share.
2007-12-14
The Fat Hits the Fan
Maybe. BC member FOL Capella should have been receiving a (partly) pension since July; after all, he had been paying for 4 years. As he did not get a preply from gezaghebber, he has gone to court (2007-12-20). It's one way to speed up the dragging proceedings.
2007-12-12
The Sh*t's in the F*re
Isla refinery will have to pay for and present a report on May 12, 2008 on how, when and against what costs they can operate within the norms. Two weeks later, the case in court will proceed further.
2007-12-12
Civil Servants Saved
It's official: All civil servants in country service will be taken over by the islands once they become countries. Those in power all agree that's a great thing. Us mere
2007-12-11
A Royal Dutch Tradition
The US Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (part of the Department of the Treasury) discovered that ING daughter Netherlands Caribbean Bank for years has been manipulating SWIFT-transfers from Cuba to the USA, making it look like the money came from Curaçao. The bank has now been closed, but that has
nothing to do with US political pressure.What made you think that?
2007-12-08
Diesel Disgrace
For a long time there have been complaints about the diesel fuel sold by Isla refinery. It contains 5000 ppm of sulphur, over 300 times the European standard of 15. Curoil has tried to get Isla to produce a cleaner fuel, but after having waited for four months now considers buying from the Aruba Valero refinery, starting early next year.
The dirty diesel available now results in extreme wear of diesel engines, which again leads to black exhaust fumes that are dangerous for heart patients.
2007-12-08
'Racism'
PNP minister de Lannooy was smart enough not to go for Aruba's enticements to join forces against the Dutch
recolonizationplans. She claimed Aruba's entire indepence movement was caused by racism: The Indian/white population of Aruba did not want to be governed from the black island of Curaçao. As far as I know, this is entirely correct, if, especially for a politician who has to work with those guys, not what you'd call tactful. Still, rather ironic that MAN Macaay then accused de Lannooy of racism!
2007-12-07
We Won't Make It
In March, Dutch Staatssecretaris Antillean affairs Bijleveld will announce whether the planned independency date of 15 December 2008 is still valid; and our bet is, it's no-way not. Problems are the mismanagement of Bon Futuro prison, the judicial apparatus, the financial controls and what to do about the refinery. Much to our relief, but not unexpectedly, a motion to kick us (described as a
corrupt crooks' lair) out into darkness, where there's wailing and gnashing of teeth, did not make it.
St. Maarten's Duncan sees no reason why this should be delayed. He blames it entirely on Dutch tactics, while it's pretty obvious that a lot is caused on this side.
Some Dutch parliament members want a look at our taxes. Lots of money are disappearing from the Dutch taxes to Curaçao. One thing we have to say is, we're not guilty. This may be a tax paradise for Dutch companies and millionaires, but not for us.
Other Dutchmen came up with the brilliant idea of subsidizing our political parties! Must have figured it might be a precedent so they could get some, as well. Anyway, it was kicked out. Even here a similar plot was not accepted.
2007-12-06
First, the notorious BOO plant went down. Then, in three individual Aqualectra plants they had their problems. It all resulted in shut-downs of electricity all over the island, with (much worse) interruptions in water supply and a $12M damage for the refinery alone (nobody asks us what our damage is.)
When the refinery's cat-cracker had to re-start, resulting in the accompanying extra pollution, it started leaking gasoline. 5 schools had to be evacuated, including one that has been completely airconditioned quite recently, tourists in down-town Willemstad left restaurants and even passengers of cruise ships complained. Meanwhile, government and refinery management just keep dragging their feet on doing anything about it.
That's FOL, not FOL
One is a political party, the other stands for American Forward Locations. They serve to intercept cocaine smuggling, with enormous succes. Yes ma'm, they flew for 15,212 hours and caught 35,006 kilos of coke; 2.3 kilos per hour. It would be much cheaper to buy the cocaine from the source, especially as many more costs have to be added.
Meanwhile, production and consumption went up in the same period and US market price went down. Who's being FOLlish here?
2007-12-06
Babies Born in Prison
It's a girl! dolphin baby; a boy born last week died within an hour.
2007-12-04
Plastic Bags
Everybody hates the way those plastic supermarket bags are fluttering about all over the landscape, above and under water. Now, there are actions to forbid them on all islands (except St. Eustatius and Saba.) This is not necessarily a good thing, though.
In the USA 10 million barrels of oil are used yearly to produce 100 billion of those plastic bags. Going back to paper, though, would mean the slaughter of 14 million trees. Take your pick. Personally, years ago I bought a kitchen garbage pail designed to be lined with a supermarket bag. I guarantee no plastic bags from our household are blowing about, and we never have to buy [plastic] garbage bags.
2007-12-03
A Small Problem
The country needs another 1G guilders to safeguard the pensions of civil servants; yet another hidden surprise popping up. Presumably, that's on top of the 4.5G Holland is prepared to take over. And then some: The debt of this island already is supposedly 2.5G, while Curaçao is promising to take over all civil servants.
2007-12-02
Another Demonstration
After the first one was such a hit, pun intended, tomorrow we'll be treated to another one. This time with a police permit. But PAR Jackson (no relation) thinks it's a disgrace:
On Sunday the people must go to church and pray.For a better government? In our desperation, by now we're almost tempted to try that.
The organizers expect 'thousands and thousands' of demonstrators; special buses are running to schlepp them in. We'll see (I won't be there - three is a crowd, but four is a mob.)
But who's counting? PAR Sulvaran estimates 1000 joined the protest march; PS Wiels makes it 6000. MAN Senior first wrote on Caribbean Net News there were 'thousands', and later on 'hundreds' of demonstrators. Amigoe estimates 1200-1500 (not enough to get one eilandsraad member elected.) The main problem with this march is, nobody knows exactly what it was for or against: High fuel prices, expensive water, re-colonization - take your pick.
They ended thanking god that there had been no incidents, but, as always, never thought to blame him for their troubles.
2007-12-01
Don't Rock the Boat
It was PNP Seferina who offered this pearl:
We're sitting in a boat together. So we shouldn't fight, because all of us will sink.With 'we' she meant 'politicians in the meeting'.
Like, Don't Rock the Boat?
2007-11-30
Be Positive - Don't Piss
They Should Try Positiating!
Refineria di Korsou Isla and PdVSA are negotiating again. This time, PdVSA wants only 49% of the shares in return for participating in a 'total investment' of 'over $1G'. If you feel this is pretty vague, you're not alone. (PdVSA earlier wanted 100%, and except RdK there's nobody to be found who even want anything to do with Chavez' gang.)
2007-11-29
Venezuelan consul Angiolillo, who has a certain resemblance to the late Arafat on a day when he had forgotten to shave, once declared that it was the CIA who had burned down 5 Free Zone warehouses, just to get at some honest business men holding a Venezuelan passport. But now, John Daryanani has been arrested for arson and insurance fraud. Alleged, to be sure. (I'd like to know if Pierrot's insinuations have been followed up.)
As Daryanani was a share-holder in the Martinus University, this might sound the death-knell for that institute of high standing. At least one national embarrasment less.
Daryanani's detention was both extended and postponed a week later, to enable him to run his many business affairs. His property was taken over on December 19 by Emmazicht NV - except for the Martinus university.
2007-11-27
Transparency
Ombudsman Fred Wiel asked BC island government to postpone a public meeting on the 2008 budget for thirty days (a period stipulated by law) in which
everybodycan read its contents. When Wiel's proposal was voted down, opposition parties left the meeting to go lodge a complaint with the public prosecutor for this infringement by both Eilandsraad and Bestuurscollege.
Coalition's refusal is, if not forgivable, at least understandable: A proper 2008 budget is a condition for Holland's support, but there's this awkward 66 million hole to be filled. PAR Deputy Willem is even reconsidering accepting the total debt take-over by Holland. Meanwhile, both country and island government are back at borrowing what they can, where they can.
2007-11-26
Hard to Explain
Entrepeneurs club VBC published a study pointing out that, between 1190 and 2005, Curoil's gasoline prices had grown more than double the increases on international markets. Curoil then took a full-page ad in at least one local newspaper in which VBC was blamed for using reports out of context without knowing what's going on. While Curoil still failed to explain why those prices had gone up so much (and just raised them again) they finally invited VBC to a meeting, appropriately enough on Sinterklaas day.
But it's even harder for VBC to explain why supermarket prices for soft-drinks imported from Venezuela have gone up from ANG2.25 to ANG3.25 in three years, while the bolivar value has been dropping steeply. If we were not living in an entrepeneur's market, that price should now be far below 1.50: The Venezuela black market value of the USDollar (and thus of the ANGuilder) is three times that of the official rate.
2007-11-26
¡€ si, $ no!
We already noticed Pierrot is getting fleshed out; no wonder. This great admirer of the socialist revolution recently went to Cuba, for which he and cohorts got a daily compensation of €270, which is ANG225 too much. They then had the hotel send the bill to Curaçao Dock CDM.
Not only is the black market rate for the Cuban peso 'medium to high', the most expensive hotel we could find in Cuba was €140/night. No doubt Pierrot has found a better deal; for him, that is.
2007-11-23
That New Program is Old
Pierrot's NPA is five years old already, and they celebrate the occasion with the publication of their grandiose vision for a new autonomous Curaçao. For starters, it does not accept the slotverklaring; they want to redo the entire process from 'GO'. Again.
NPA won two seats (10%) in the last elections, but that hasn't stopped Pierre from growing noticeably fatter, a professional risk for our politicians.
2007-11-21
In the Curaçao Centrum supermarket the bar code reader
where a client can check for himself was out of order.
Scan Scam
This item really belongs on the economy page, where it reappears. It indicates the difference between a monopoly society (ours) and a competitive one (like South Africa). In Holland, the warenwet law states that an item must be sold for the price it is offered at, but the South African supermarkets go even further.
2007-11-21
How Much Was That?
Some say $65M, others $1.6G, and still others somewhere in between: The sales value of the Isla refinery. It may be even less, depending on law suits' outcome and some other slight problems, like, who is going to invest a necessary minimum of $165M, maximum $1.1G (again, depends on who's talking.) But the real problem is, nobody wants it at all anyway if it has to be shared with Chavez' PdVSA. So much for the sweet dreams of the no-brer politicians who want (us) to be proud and poor.
2007-11-18
And Whose Fault Could That Be?
Sitek teachers' union wants us to continue with
the struggle to realize what we voted for in the referendum.To refresh their memory, it was
Status Aparte - Curaçao an autonomous part of the kingdom of the Netherlands.They foresee
discussions will go on until we'll have our backs against the wall and Holland forces us to accept their conditions.
The MP doesn't even want to consider alternatives to the slotverklaring.What alternatives? The only one we've seen is that idiotic Monte proposition (still wonder who paid whom for that, and how much.)
They have the arrogance to say the people is against the slotverklaring because it doesn't understand Dutch.Right; it doesn't. And whose fault is that but the teachers'?
2007-11-15
It Keeps Ticking
By June 15, fourteen government services were supposed to, but still have not, come up with copies of their bank account statements of December 31 and (signed, please) cash balance statements. The services include Fiscal Matters, St. Maarten's Tax Inspector, Import Duties, and Finance, the direct responsibility of PNP minister de Lannooy herself.
I could do it in 5 minutes, or less. And you know what happens when you fail to give the Tax Person what he wants, when he wants it. You don't know? You don't want to know.
2007-11-15
On Schedule, with Delays
FOL Godett announces the Masterplan Infrastructure is progressing right on schedule. There are delays with lighting, bus stop abris and more, for reasons left unexplained. But it's all right on schedule.
2007-11-15
No Beer Hall Putsch, but Hòfi Riot
Helmin Wiels has been instigating another riot. An evening of incitement in Hòfi Biesheuvel was followed up by a regular riot by Marriott Hotel. 'Over 100' people were there throwing rocks, building barriers and burning tires (ugh). Police used tear gas and and smoke bombs (but what for?) and are now studying video footage.
MAN Cooper sent his wife and seven-year old son to participate, and flag-waver Chin Behilia his daughter. These are the very same guys who were bragging about their
democratic refuting of the slotaccoord. Check out why I refer to Hitler's 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.
They picked the Marriott location because of the meeting there on the new political status, which the opposition opposes. But DP and FK preferred to attend the meeting and know what was going on.
Next day, our PM was on the bube toob admonishing us we shouldn't start riots. OK, but demonstrations? Ask Bertrand Russell (that was Lord B.R.)
Then Wiels announced yet another demo, on December 1. This time he asked for a permit.
Author Frank Martinus Arion, the darling of the Dutch, definitely ought to distantiate himself from Wiels, unless of course he wants to be known as a cohort.
2007-11-14
Shut Up or We Won't Like You
Rector Coster of MIL complains that, because his school is critical of Isla, other schools who keep silent get new roofs, aircoes and all. While he's supposed to close the school when more than 5 pupils are sick, pollution is so heavy that they most of the time just remain open. Coster also calls attention to the
evacuation planfor the barrio, that in fact only exists on paper and has never been rehearsed. If you wonder why Holland doesn't stop this by enforcing measures (a so-called algemene maatregel van rijksbestuur) - nooooh... that would be violating our precious autonomy!
2007-11-14
Why Should We Pay?
The Marriott Hotel is being auctioned and island government has more or less decided that we will pay for 17M (almost $10M) that the hotel owners will fall short of their obligations (the hotel was built with a government guarantee). This probably equals the pay-back kick some politicians, and don't forget the civil servants, have been getting for their efforts. It would be slander to mention their names. Only DP George wonders out loud why we are expected to pay those 17M.
Building costs for the hotel were ANG90M instead of the budgetted 40M.
The proposed deal was retracted on 29 November.
2007-11-14
Civil Servants Army Grows Back
It's like a cancer that has been cut out but grows back; compare with population:
| year | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 |
| population | 144522 | 141932 | 130347 | 137094 |
| civil servants | 3673 | 2702 | 1401 | 1702 |
| people/servants | 39 | 53 | 93 | 81 |
Sources Amigoe, CBS, 2007-11-13
Sounds Familiar
Last week, a morning paper seems to have published an article in which it was alleged an ex-deputy, who was eligible in the last elections, has been using a government credit card for personal needs, without paying back. The man is still at work at some government organization, and is still abusing his credit card. All allegedly. It was not
credit cardAsjes.
Small wonder some don't want financial control by Holland.
2007-11-13
The 2008 country budget may be balanced for once, but you are quite entitled to some doubts, apart from the fact that they already need 2.4M more for this year: To name just one example, there's a lot of new furniture on it (to the tune of almost ANG1M), but PM de Jongh-Elhage assures us that those public services needing it will not disappear when the country is abolished (le mot juste).
To be sure, they do need it. While police headquarters at Rio Canario are being rebuilt the furniture has just been dumped outside, on a heap which every passer-by can see. They didn't even take the trouble to hide it. So eine Unverschämtheit.
2007-11-07
The Pensions
In a meeting on the deputies' and eilandsraad salaries & pensions, not enough members were interested enough to turn up, so it has been postponed. Reasons are not clear. MAN Cooper has the chutzpah to say that he does not want to cooperate with this PAR proposal, not in these hard times for us poor citizens (you can just picture those crocodile tears dribbling down his fat jowls.) He must hope that we'll conveniently forget that he was one of the guys enthousiastically pressing through an even worse version at the very last moment, while they still could.
You have to agree with DP George the new proposal still is much too generous: Full pension is built up in a mere 12 years and starts at the age of 50.
2007-11-07
Amigoe
They Beat Us!
We have been asking ourselves before how 'they' would find ways to make the car license plates even more expensive. But they found one, all right. Makes you wonder desperately how a cop could possibly figure it out when a stolen car speeds by. (In St. Maarten, last year they reduced the price per set from 25 to 15 guilders.)
Also, mark the colors: Yellow for PAR and orange for FOL. Funniest is, obviously PNP green has been added as an afterthought - and the dominating color is (opposition) MAN blue. Such childishness, it's embarrassing. And these guys are supposed to represent you and me.
2007-11-07
It's a public housing project. My, but it's ugly. Gaah... retch...
My Significant Other thinks I made this too PRITTY.
It's a habit, I have to guess.
Their Profit Is Our Loss
Aqualectra announces, proudly, that last year they made a 15M guilders profit which they expect to double this year. That's 400 and 800 per modal family, because in the long run they are the ones paying it. Rather exorbitant, especially in view of those tariffs that keep getting higher and higher. Not to mention the money that may just disappear long before a profit is made. Curoil thinks they deserve part (25M) of those profits, as Aqualectra pays only 40% of market price for fuel; and the deal is: No more price hikes as long as Curoil subsidizes Aqualectra.
2007-11-08
Drat for DAT
Inforcing the clamor to set the dumb dolphins free, WDCS now downright states that the tauted DAT, dolphin assisted therapy, is cruel and ineffective. I have been fighting this ever since the Curaçao dolphinarium opened its
therapycenter. Even if it should work (which it doesn't), are we entitled to use cruelty to our fellow animals for our own good? Shades of Mengele. How like our government and, it hurts to say it, our people to tolerate this.
The Whale and Dolphin Society has called for a total ban on DAT.
2007-11-06
Not Very Original
Aruba minister Wever has found the standard goverment solution to, in this case, obesitas: TAX! All foods that lead to overweight should be taxed. Like, bread? Reminds you of that BBC poll where it turned out that, all over the world, people would not mind paying taxes to combat energy waste and pollution. On one condition, those funds should be applied to combatting energy waste and pollution. They know their Rulers.
Too bad I can't show you a picture of Wever.
2007-11-04
The verdict is in and SMOC has been awarded a Knock Out, if only technical: Isla must clean up its act. And with those Dutch government members having just visited here, we may finally get some help from that dreaded neo-colonialist country; only to *u** our own dear feet-dragging leaders, of course.
Well-known anti-colonial Wiels proclaims that
this is the latest trick of Holland to force us down upon our knees:With Isla gone we have nothing more going for us and we'll be forced to accept all conditions. Conveniently forgetting that Isla hardly pays, that there are more pillars of the economy, and in his emotion also forgetting to tell us once again how great tourism is doing. In his view, Holland forced the closure of the Amstel brewery, Continental Milling, rice 'factories' and DCA. If Wiels isn't telling outright lies, his memory is criminally wrong; those who believe him, criminally stupid.
2007-11-03
Dolphin Dutchie
Yeah, with all the commotion going on, combined with the bad news on his Aruba franchise, Dutchie's timing is perfect: Now he wants to import 9 more dolphins. From Cuba, which makes it even worse. Dutchie has an official license to hold protected mammals in captivity (in defiance of CITES).
Remarkably, the so-called Dolphin Academy distantiates itself from Schiers plans (but next thing she knew, manager and one-third share-holder Laetitia Lindgren was fired.) They are not against importing caught dolphins; no, only from Cuba. This 'academy' emphasizes that it, the Seaquarium and the Dolphin Therapy Center are three completely separate entities - sharing Dutchie
original photograph © Amigoe
Nobody will deny Dutchie is good in putting politicians at work for him; but I do hope he's cut off more than he can handle now. His neighbors are complaining that their splendid swimming location is threatened by Dutchie's plans. Not that I can care much about those 26 guys losing their splendid private beach (red line); they can obviously afford to drive down to another beach and pay the entrance fee like the rest of us.
2007-11-03
No Surprise
Just look up there at that clock: We've been telling you so. Since having visited us recently, Dutch parliament members do not think anymore that date will be achieved, and so many of the Curaçao politicians don't want it anyway that you might well wonder what's the next Date of Promise. The longer it's postponed, the higher the debts, and the more difficult it will get to crawl out from under that despised neo-colonialist yoke.
2007-11-03
Pierrot Strikes Again
When the 2008 budget was accepted by island government, Pierrot's fractious faction left the meeting. Not because they thought the budget was fine, no... because they did not wish the Cft [commission financial supervision] to have a final say on it. Even if Cft necessarily agrees with the opposition that this budget is worthless, it's still neo-colonialsim. Very smart, Pierrot. Just what we'd expect from you.
The budgets over 2006 and 2007 have finally been accepted, total deficit 135.2M. We'll see how realistic this is; eventually. Even though those original budgets have largely been prepared by what's now the opposition and are even some 40M lower, the opposition was largely against. But naturally!
2007-11-03
Gone? 'Wacht een Beetje' [Wait a Bit]
It took 6 months of scheming to get Arsjes fired from his job at Selikor. Now he will get 6 months salary extra, all in all over ANG200K for doing exactly nothing. I couldn't tell you if Godfather Godett is still illegally functioning at Selikor himself, but rumor has it he enragedly left the meeting in which this was decided. Those things run in families.
On August 30, the country government gave island government two weeks two have a committee investigate the many suspected appointments by former island government; otherwise country government would start investigating itself. This letter came over a month after governor Goedgedrag had asked (island)-gezaghebber to please explain. PNP Jesus-Leito now still can't say when the committee will start; but we're relieved to have her assurance that they're
working on it and that it will be arranged soon.We all understand that being in such a commission pays well, so we understand even better that all this must take time. Suggestion (we're all working for the good of the show): Why not check all appointments? Not only those this year; even going back to 2003 is not far enough. Let's do a through check from 1969. June, that is.
Island and Land governments are run by exactly the same parties, and getting rid of one of those layers (and its too often uncivil civil servants) is the only good reason for a political status change.
Utter silence continues on the easy jobs of
Son of SalasSchotte, Prince and Frensel Marchena - and don't forget Fontein. 'Mama Kupa' (Clift Christiaan) claims there are sixty civil servants getting a salary without having work to do; other sources say are over 400 of those beloved guys and dolls were taken on between 2003 and July 2007. Excuse me for thinking "so many more parasites", but I won't apologize.
2007-11-03
One Sad Island
During the visit of the Dutch parliament members to Aruba, they were treated to a (rare) demonstration where texts could be read like
Holland, help and free us,
Oduber cabinet, symbol of nepotism.Demonstrators asked attention to Aruba's debts, mounting government expenditure, growing inflation and lack of dialogue between government and social partners. They were also worried about environment problems.
But PM Oduber announced Aruba would not participate in negotiations on the future of the Antilles if Holland did not pay up 360M florins ($200). This on top of the 151M Holland has been blackmailed for already.
As regards the environment, De Palm island has announced that as part of their dolphinarium they will start a dolphin hatchery, aided and abetted by
scientists from Yale University.
Curaçao Business Practice
When entrepeneur Remy Neuman saw a former business partner of his approaching the beach where he was relaxing with his Girl Friend, he was in such a flutter that he grabbed the first speed boat he saw to make his getaway. Alas, there were two kids in it, which he napped. He later returned, complete with kids.
Meanwhile, his former associate had 'stripped' Neuman's power boat. Most of it belonged to him anyway, they say. The parents have lodged a complaint with the police.
Neuman later publicly apologized in a letter to newspaper Amigoe. He explained that he was threatened by a man for whom he, a contractor, had built a house; so he go got away AFAP. Neuman seems to feel it quite all right two expose two children to the same danger he claims he was in. For those curious about that building: Wijnand Gielen has sued Neuman for ANG one million, because he left him in the lurch when building his 7718 square meter house, or maybe 937. Thats 30 by 31 meters, folks. Like, Xanadu?
2007-10-27
Hmmmm...
With coalition for and opposition against (11-8) eilandsraad accepted a motion where, essentially, bestuurscollege will have power to act in matters concerning the coming political structure renovation. Which in practical terms means the eilandsraad opposition has been put on a dead track for these matters.
A parliamentary delegation, upon returning to Holland, was very down about the prospects of that renovation, as they found out our politicians again want to change the accord so laboriously reached.
2007-10-27
Maybe Good for You; So Who Cares about Dolphins?
Now that the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society has released a critical brochure on Dolphin Assisted Therapy, you can read local newspaper articles rather half-heartedly agreeing. That Seaquarium remains just as popular as the Scientology ship Freewinds. But their dolphin 'therapy' is even going much farther than WDCS seems to know.
2007-10-26
Gift: One Troyan Horse?
Milieudienst will be given its very first measuring apparatus–a gift from Isla refinery. Deputy Davelaar says he's glad, because now they are not dependent on Isla's own figures; but SMOC is taken aback, because after years of fights in court, they finally got to see some figures and it turned out Milieudienst has never taken any action on 'shocking' violations of all norms, anyway. So what's the use?
Isla had budgetted the money (peanuts: only 100K) for five years, but finally decided to use it. Maybe because the judge will give his verdict next week? Just insinuating. I'd advise to check that apparatus thoroughly. Wish I were just kidding.
2007-10-25
Thanks, But No Thanks
DP George has announced he will stop co-operating on the country's political reconstruction, as promises for 'complete participation and transparency' have not been kept.
And PAR deputy Jesus-Leito said on television that the public has a
false perceptionthat matters are not proceeding well: Oh no, it's merely so that the experts have not reached agreement on financial supervision and judiciary matters. There will be no changes in the Statuut. Well, then, why all the rigmarole in the first place? But this contradicts St. Maarten minister Duncan's statement that
there will be less autonomy for Curaçao and St. Maarten. That's a relief! To us, if not to MAN.
2007-10-19
Tintin Flight 714 © Hergé
All members of eilandsraad have use of three phone lines which are paid for by [you and me]. The average bill is ANG1200/month. What you want to know is, who are the top and bottom users?
Besides those, they can call from their office where they also have ADSL. Nobody knows what they spend there. And another burning question: [you and me] can only deduct 80% of their telephone bill; the tax person figures the rest is private. How about those guys?
THE CHAMP: In 2004 FOL minister Salas managed to spend $7800/month - and most of that time he was in hospital.
2007-10-19
Spare Us PdVSA
After all that time that has gone by and all those politicians' bragging boasts that it would be easy to sell Isla refinery shares to a third party, it turns out that none can be found that wants a partnership in a refinery where PdVSA has the final say.
Not to mention that we're all awaiting the judge's verdict on October 30 - breathlessly (get it?) PdVSA seems to be working on schemes where they will take over 49% to 100%. Twelve parties have been negotiated with: Camac International, Case, Chemoil, Delta Consulting, Geo Petroleum, Glencore, Morgan Stanley, Petrobras, Valero, Tropic Petroleum, Shell and 'representatives from China'. And finding no takers.
2007-10-18
Stop Borrowing
Central Bank director Tromp once again speaks out on the idea that Holland should have taken over the Antillean debts for 100%; our Leaders preferred to go for 85% as this enabled them to go on borrowing to their hearts' content. One result, says Tromp, is the deficit of the 2008 budget in spite of PAR Rhuggenaath's repeated promises.
2007-10-18
Our Culture
By year's end, there are lots of tambú and aguinaldo parties, for which permits were given by Kas di Kultura. Musicians were very satisfied with this state of affairs, as they were allowed to play as loud as they want to. But as from now, police will handle permits like they do for other festivities; not that this really helps to abate the public nuisance. MAN Macaay is furiously yelling that this is yet another insidious way of Holland
breaking our culture.
2007-10-18
Let George Do It
After any amount of occasions where either coalition or opposition refused to sign the attendance register, so there was no quorum and the meeting had to be postponed, coalition PAR/PNP/FOL pulled the same trick once again. (The opposition wanted to appoint a seventh deputy, which can't have been agreeable to them.) It took DP George to, finally, after all these years, point out that gezaghebber made a mistake in her interpretation of the rules: As long as the members are sitting on their uh... seats, they are present and obliged to sign the roll call - the meeting ought not to have been postponed. Pierrot didn't agree: this was no occasion to
play political games.But exactly who are playing around here?
2007-10-10
Medical Universities
We have two universities training MDs on this <150,000 people island. If you think this mixture is too rich, I have 'No Comment' (Aruba, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba each also have one of these institutes of higher learning, with Bonaire even sporting two. None of them is accredited.) One of those, Martinus, a few weeks ago was seized by the bank. You may feel
serves them rightfor stating on their web site that they are continuing a 150 year tradition. (The building they are in was put up around 1850 by the catholic church as a primary school.)
The second one, Caribbean Medical University, just now became the subject of another controversy with newspaper Amigoe publishing an article (based, as they say, on web site ValueMD) that CMU is
a swindle.
As CMU is a project of Venezuelan businessman Vittorio de Stefano (popularly suspected of being financed by Chavez' corrupt regime), it's a priori tempting to believe this. But, weirdly, I for one can't find the ValueMD article Amigoe refers to; maybe it's this. No doubt more will follow on this controversy, as CMU on that forum threatens to sue Amigoe. Discussions have run so high, there are now five ValueMD forums [sic] on the CMU subject, count 'em: one - two - three - four and five.
News Flash: Martinus University will be publicly auctioned on November 26, unless owner Daryanani's debts have been paid before then. This will not influence Martinus University activities.
2007-10-07
Irresponsible
That was the comment from several people about the efforts, renewed by PAR Rhuggenaath, to attract gays and lesbians to Curaçao as a Pink Paradise. While attitudes towards non-straights have become much more accepting in the past 25 years, it's not half a year ago that PS Kleinmoedig was beaten up in his garden and denounced as a 'mariku' (still one of the most abusive terms in Papiamentu.) And it's only three weeks since FOL Godett, in a session of the eilandsraad, started a vulgar torrent of abuse directed at PS Wiels, using the terms 'a goat' and 'Sodom and Gomorrha', which resulted in the opposition leaving the meeting in protest. Worst, reportedly the coalition, including Rhuggenaath, was visibly enjoying Godett's tirade and chuckling over it.
2007-10-07
You Might Well Arsk
What often seems full-time letter-to-the-editor writer John Baselmans (and more power to him) asks in yet another effort: Whatever happened to PM's months-old-promise that all those sinecures given away by the former island government would have to be cancelled
within two weeks? Since then, deep, utter and deep-black silence.
2007-10-06
Business Beats Baksheesh
While PdVSA has formerly given away money to redecorate 'our' floating market in their national colors, and now ANG4M or maybe 6M to SEHOS hospital, they can well afford it out of the many millions they make out of the Isla refinery - which is in such a bad state the yearly damage to public health may well exceed that gift. Now, it seems that PdVSA is starting to use Curaçao Oil Terminal as a bunkering station, quite against the contractual rights of Curoil. Curoil wants another price hike of ANG.10/liter, which could be avoided if PdVSA did not insist on charging 'transport fees' - from Curaçao to Curaçao. So much for that cheap oil Godett and Pierrot have been promising us.
2007-10-05
South Africa dog sign
After for several years pitbulls have been maiming and killing several people, among which children, now finally an island law against breeding them has been adopted. But other breeds like rottweiler, fila brasileira and dogo argentino, forbidden in many civilized countries, still have their chance at attacking bystanders, innocent or not. Meanwhile, there have been at least two cases of rottweilers acttacking humans already. I suppose they have to kill, first.
2007-10-04
Pelea! Boxeo! Rojer versus Wiels
When our people's representatives PS Wiels and FOL Rojer met in the street, a vulgar brawl ensued where Rojer (and, according to his version) several other people received blows from Wiels. Wiels, like many a fellow-pupil of mine at primary school, said he'd only
pushedhim. Commented Rojer, this hurts the eilandsraad image. For once we agree with him. He said he'd lodge a complaint, but a week later they made up and shook hands.
2007-10-01
Seems Something May Have Changed
February last year, the opposition PNP left an eilandsraad meeting because the microphones were turned off for the discussion on a 112M guilders loan to Grand Cypress. Now the proposal came up again, but it does look like Grand Cypress will not get that loan (can't help wondering who are not getting their cuts - tough).
2007-09-28
Smells Fishy
Godett is all set to buy a terrain on Fontein, on which FKP social housing foundation management and an internal committee all agree the price is much too high for public housing. The workers' unions announced they will go to court if the deal goes through. But Godett is deputy and boss, right? Why is he so anxious to proceed? Why is he now trying to get Asjes to work there after the Selikor fiasco, even if Arsjes is still receiving his salary for now?
Why am I so afraid of being hauled to court for slander that I shut up here? (He may very well not even bother.) But it is because I only suspect but don't know that Godett might get a cut from the terrain's owner.
By the way, Godett had the temerity to complain in public that it was a disgrace that Asjes still got his Selikor salary (while StIP is desperately trying to extend his job there for as long as possible.) Not all people are as stupid as Godett necessarily must feel they are, not knowing any better: His standards are way too low.
2007-09-28
They Can't Mean Us
Now that there is definite talk of a media law, the guys of the press and radio are finally getting nervous; long overdue. Next thing you know, they will have to go to court to have their revoked license back because some government official feels it has been insulted. It does strongly smack of totalitarianism; you'd need a permit in advance to publish! Even the staten seem reluctant to go that far. When the media finally protested, Leeflang got enraged and gave back the prize they had given her a month before. (But I'm still not worried.)
What's incomprehensible is that one of minister Leeflang's aides is former Amigoe journalist Marjo Nederlof, well known for her independent attitude towards governments. 2007-09-26
Balanced Budget or Unbalanced Government
As the coalition judged they had not enough of a majority (Godett was on a trip), they refused to hold a meeting as requested by opposition parties. Especially DP George was worried: The debts to be taken over by Holland were assessed at end 2005; the years after are excluded (600M worth). There is just about 1G needed to solve social-economic problems. Finally, they 'forgot' to include the 500-700M cost-of-living allowance for civil servants.
The proud new independent nation of Curaçao will set out in life with a deficit of 2.3G guilders.
Be that as it may be, the island 2008 budget has a deficit of 169M, of which they feel Holland will pay 103M. So much for Rhuggenaath's repeated promises that it would be reduced to zero by then. Not to mention how much confidence we have in the promised efforts to bring it down during the year: zero.
2007-09-24
A New Commission: Now We're Getting Somewhere?
While by now the government owes Willy Maal ANG39M (20M the judge gave him, plus interest since 1999), we have yet another commission to have a look at the problem. Understandably, Maal is afraid this is just another way to gain time; it works very well for Isla and Asjes - let's try it again. So Maal is now planning to sue again, for a total of 276M.
2007-09-22
That's for Aruba. Don't Panic!-Yet
The judge has decided that 'European Netherlanders' (as distinct from Arubian Netherlanders - we all have that nationality) are free to settle on the island. As the laws of the Netherlands Antilles are virtually the same in that respect, it looks like this discriminating nonsense dating from colonial times will finally be stopped. Good thing too, with these spoiled brats here always clamoring every time Holland wants to stop Antilleans from coming in, that it's a shame. Which it is, of course.
De Telegraaf2007-09-16
Making Himself Popular
Is what DP George is not doing, at least not with many of his esteemed colleague-politicians. Now he wants to know how many deputies have extra jobs, contrary to rules, in goverment-owned companies. Oh yeah, and if they pay taxes over their salaries there.
2007-09-15
Lower the Norms
When an awful lot of architecture students at University NA failed their final exams, the solution arrived at by staten [island governement] was easy and entirely predictable: Never mind the norms, lower them and give 'em their diplomas.
2007-09-15
A Colonialist Plot
When the protestant school committee announced that, as from now, teachers and pupils on their schools would have to speak Dutch, not Papiamentu, teachers' union SITEK did not surprise anyone by stating that this started an 'unequalled proces of recolonialization'. The committee is trying to fool everybody with their concealed evil plans, feels SITEK.
SITEK mentions several other ways that could be used instead to combat language problems; hard to understand why they never thought of those before, let alone applied them.
2007-09-12
This Calls for a Celebration
Maybe for the first time since the Netherlands Antilles became autonomous, and certainly for the first time in living memory, the national budget (for 2008) is balanced. This is only because Holland takes over the interest and maybe some other details. The Antilles have lost almost ANG100M in interest because they only accepted the slotverklaring with an 8 months delay.Question remains, will this be the first year in memory when the government will keep to that budget?
And also, is it really balanced?
2007-09-10
What a nightmare!
The newest eilandsraad member, lawyer NPA Rooijer, became a member of Pierrot's party after that guy had appeared to him in a dream twice. Representative? Not for me.
2007-09-08
Schotte Strikes Back?
While there is a movement to get Schotte fired from his cosy chair at DROV, for some reason his boss Karsdorp there got an order to demolish the new wall around his property, as he had no license for it. Within 24 hours, Karsdorp (to nobody's surprise) could show a license and the wall still stands.
At an architects conference begin November, same Karsdorp announced in public that no illegal building was ever torn down. Don't we know it (but for one notable exception, when in the 1980s an illegal building of Fort Waakzaamheid's Simon was torn down - somebody must have hated his guts). Elsewhere, Karsdorf stated that going to court was of no use, as
the judge would then have to deal with all others who had built with no permits.Right, please do so.
Question is, why should we suckers then pay for a building permit? They don't come cheap, either.
Karsdorp also explained that they had given permit for a new parking garage, a monstrosity that will now arise in the center of Willemstad, which they want to keep a Unesco Heritage Site.
2007-09-05
Double Disgrace
FOL Rojer said it was a shame that there was such strong criticism on the former bestuurscollege for hiring all that extra personnel over and above the norm; it was all a witch hunt just to disgrace politicians. DP George reminded Rojer that he, as a member of that former BC, was an accomplice and one of those politicians who had disgraced themselves. Better watch this guy George, he gives rabbit punches.
2007-09-04
Joy Ride
Eilandsraad wanted to take a joy ride (at our expense) on the paranda-bus (decked out in blue and yellow, what else?) but spoilsport DP George thought it
nonsense... whoever came up with this idea must be out of his mind.Complained PAR Jezus-Leito that 'now we do something for unity and then that's all wrong.'
2007-09-01
Betting Is Not Gambling Some people never want to bet with me, as I only bet when I'm sure I'll win. Wise guys. Most of 'em would gamble in a lottery or a casino; not so wise. Anyway, I am leaving this place for a space, and want to bet on these points:
1 — When I get back, the deputies' salaries & pensions will not have been lowered.I LOST - or did I?2 — Asjes will be receiving money from Selikor; Schotte will have a lucrative job.
Even though it became painfully obvious that gezaghebber Dindial had been willfully aiding and abetting the former Eilandraad in this, neither she nor that august body took any measures to withdraw the comfy arrangement. It took until August 16 for PM de Jongh-Elhage to come with a country resolution [landsbesluit] in which the pensions were annihilated. They were contrary to four laws. But as gezaghebber never signed the proposal, the country cannot lawfully annul it and it is left to eilandsraad to do so themselves. Which, as far as I could find out, hasn't happened yet. I WON!
I WON.3 — Nothing will have been done about the refinery and its pollution.I WON.4 — The audits of Aqualectra and Curoil will not have led to any solid results.
I WON.5 — The police will not have changed their policy to withhold crime numbers.I WON.6 — Country civil servants will have been reassured that the new island country will hire them all, needed or not (nothing new there, after all.) If this stands up later is another matter; I wouldn't bet on that.UNDECIDED7 — There are still more civil servants than was known, and also more PP (free medical insurance) and onderstand (welfare) clients.I'm sure I WON.8 — [Big:] IF they've got around to checking it, it will turn out the national debt and island debt both are much larger than what the Dutch bargained for.
Boy, have I WON!9 — The roads will be even crummier than they are now.I WON.10 — Jacob Geld Lekker will have found one more way to make a fool and a nuisance of himself.UNDECIDED - I didn't hear of one.2007-08-13
Pirate Party
A club of lawyers has announced a party, 'Pirates of the C.' But C does not stand for Court, what possibly could have made you think that? It's for Caribbean. Appropriate location, too: next to Baya Beach (who that night called the police to come and end to the nuisance - twice.)
2007-08-11
They Noticed, But...
After the face-lift, or put-down as some interpret it, of the Floating Market Isla refinery has now completely renovated one of the schools in their billowing smoke. It's completely equipped with airco, of which electricity costs will be paid by Isla. Manager Jimenez declared 'Isla is conscious of environmental problems.' You could have fooled me: Why don't they stop the problem at the source, then?
2007-08-10
Gamble Lost
The UK has a 'White List': Only online gambling operators from countries on that list are allowed to advertise there. Curaçao had asked to be included, but was not. Says a local lawyer
the island has fulfilled conditions for years already; but we need new laws so the last details can be formalized.A slight contradiction there? Not too slight for the UK. The gambling operators say, it's just UK favoritism. Two of them have opted to depart for greener fields. Oh, how sorry I am to see this solid pillar of the economy crumble.
2007-08-10
Now He's Asking
Dos Santos, as member of a dropped-out-of-the-race political party a director of Curaçao Port Authorities, will soon loose that job. It may be a coincidence that he only now starts to ask awkward questions about the way that business is managed, referring to manager Diaz as a 'failed politician' and a 'devil-like person'. Diaz denies all allegations, what else is new?
2007-08-09
Tired Old Song
Everybody with one eye and a nose can see and smell how this is, as John D. Macdonald wrote, one of the filthiest places in the Caribbean. (Not only) because money is asked for trash disposal and dead dog cremation, the filth is just dumped by the roadside. Public service Selikor doesn't do anything about it; they may be too busy keeping Asjes out. But now, because tourists have noticed, an effort may be made to stop all this. That we have been complaining since way back when never matters.
2007-08-09
Ungratified Civil Servants
Civil servants who were promised an extra gratification (that's those who already earn the maximum) got to hear, this year they won't get any:
There's no money.Asks their union,
What does that mean, there's no money?We all know the snappy answer to that silly question. They later decided to sue, which is quite in order, of course: They don't need empty promises any more than we do.
2007-08-09
Our Culture
While author-turned-politician Martinus and actor-turned-politician, not such a big step, Leerdam ran to court on a copyright quarrel about a play based on a Martinus novel (both in Dutch) they at least, if a bit late, listened to the judge when he advised them to please talk it over. (It's performed by politicians - can't wait to see it.) But 80-year old poet Elis Juliana got flak because he'd had the audacity to write a poem in Dutch! High treason! It should all be in Papiamentu. Elis came out with a strong statement against the trend he (and count me in) discerns here:
In fact, this exaggerated breast-beating of the Afro-Curaçaoans, this 'only I am a real Curaçaoan', is a manifestation of strong inferiority feelings, of shame. In my poems I have pointed out many times this is misplaced pride.
2007-08-09
Vantage's Vengeance
As we knew already, Curoil is just wasting their (our) money by sueing Vantage as they don't like the results of the audit. Director Drabinski is so sure, not only he appeared in court without bothering to hire a lawyer, he has now published the audit (http://www.vantageconsulting.com/documents/CuroilFinalReportVolI4-9-07electronicversion.pdf) on the web.
In March 2008, the report was removed from the Vantage website.
He feels Curoil may be spending more on fighting the results of the report than it has cost, and is now starting his own court case in Curaçao. Curoil's Capella says it's all nonsense, in which he must be at least 50% correct.
2007-08-07
Join The Club
Oh, you're an honorary member already? One third of Curaçao taxpayers doesn't pay any tax at all; another third twists and turns to avoid paying completely. This results in an estimated 400M guilders yearly loss in government income.
This is the right place to emphasize once again that the tax person then goes out and hassles those who do pay to get them to pay more than is their due, resulting in a lot of money wasted. Not to mention the time and effort those payers have to spend to avoid this; apart from the fact that their taxes necessarily are too high already.
2007-08-07
Pierrot's Hands Empty As Well As Other Body Parts
After all those negotiations and promises of Pierrot, nothing whatsoever has happened with PdVSA and Isla refinery. Mendes de Gouveia, new refinery president, says he'll do something about it. What can we do but wait and see?
2007-08-06
Insurance: It's a Gamble
21 of 29 insurance companies just haven't bothered to publish their yearly reports, as they're legally obliged to. (Some, at least, have asked for an extension.) Taking out insurance is enough of a gamble without this.
The casinos seem to feel there's not enough gambling going on yet in their hallowed halls, and many also operate lotteries (
number offices) in there. Illegally, need I add?
2007-08-04
Scene from movie Dakota, 1974
Isla Magnanimity
The refinery has spent fully 600K guilders on a project nobody needed, taking away all romantic picturesque aspects from a prime tourist attraction, the Floating Market where vegetables and fruits are sold from (less and less) Venezuelan boats. Too bad the crew of those still not even has a porta-potty at their disposal. Yessir, very hygienic. Better wash that salad when you get home.
A move to collect signatures to return the wasted money has been set up. I don't see any use in that, but here's a link.
Anyway, there's less and less available in Venezuela since Chavez' Bolivarian 'socialist' Revolution. Consul Angiolillo (as much a compulsive liar as his Boss) came out with a new gem: This is because same revolution has been such a success, the Venezuelans now can afford to buy the stuff themselves. The truth is, with yearly inflation uncomfortably over 20% and a bolivar coin .3 of 2000 value, Venezuela agriculture has virtually ceased to exist. Supermarkets are looking at importing from Colombia instead.
2007-08-04
Sounds Familiar: Aruba Mario
Without telling why they only acted now (maybe because that would be telling?) the Aruba government announced the Aruba
Rather interesting in this connection is, all Antillean (plus Indonesian, Papua New Guinean and Surinam) utilities used to be owned and run by OGEM, which company sold out to the government at a time (1980s) when privatization went on all over the world, and proceeded to go bankrupt soon afterwards, in the best ENRON tradition. Did Wubs and Evertsz learn their tricks at OGEM? And another interesting question, into whose bottomless pockets will all that lovely money go now?
By the way, opposition parties AVP and RED remind us that this same government has 'introduced' the same changes last year.
2007-08-03
That's a Relief!
Contrary to rumors, PLKP (Bakoba's party) will continue to exist. Much better is the news that Pierrot hasn't been around for a long time; he wasn't even present to vote against the slotverklaring. And Henriquez has been offered another job by a special committee who worked it all out; in the government, naturally. In business, he'd have been kicked out and nobody else would have wanted him. Wonder how much they paid that committee.
2007-08-03
Best Airport in the Caribbean
That is, as Alterra has been bragging for years now, what they want to turn our Hato Airport into. They don't seem to succeed very well. Last week, a sick case could not be moved to hospital and had to remain in a non-airco aircraft sitting in the sun, as the medical emergency room was not available - or was it?
2007-08-01
Just Don't Tell Them
Police is not giving information any more to the press on assaults and robberies; they wish to avoid
panic in the publicor give
potential robbers any ideas.Their radio system has also been changed so press can't scan their messages any longer.
They reassure us, though, that they still do their duty and register those crimes, which they claim went down by 50% last year (a personal yearly chance of 1 in 275 to be assaulted and robbed). 1 in 5 of these crimes was solved.
Former head of police Oldenboom, in a letter to Amigoe, agrees:
Just claiming there are less assaults doesn't bring grist to the mill, and is not convincing.
Just a suggestion: Why not legalize assault and robbery and lower crime rates?
2007-08-01
CDM Slavery Disputed
CDM director Hernandez claims conditions for Cuban workers have been changed, and the visum-stop should be canceled. It's all in a report, that (for some reason) is kept secret, though.
2007-07-31
Wild Fluctuations
The inquiry into Finance dept. is labeled disputed, as it was done by ex-aide Carolina of FOL ex-deputy Strick (now in a cozy Tax job), both with conditional sentences on their backs. But it surprises nobody that the dept. is one muddy mess; makes for good fishing. In the first week of December 2006 their prognosis was a deficiency of 23M guilders, while a month later they reported a 31M surplus over the same month.
2007-07-31
Hunting Season
MAN calls the 'obligatory vacation' of Henriquez and Martina a
civil servant hunt, which just serves to kick some people out and replace them with members of other parties. Gee, I wished they told me to stay home while keeping my salary! (And don't forget the pension build-up goes on as well.)
2007-07-31
Suits Them Fine
Opposition parties DP, FK and SP asked for an eilandsraad meeting to void bestuurscollege's decision to raise its members' salaries and pensions. But PAR and PNP, with Godett's FOL the ruling partners, said it so happens eilandsraad is in recess so it can't be done. It has been done before, though, and presumably could be done again; if they wished to.
Godett says it's a disgrace! not the salaries: no, the request for a meeting.
2007-07-29
| High Salaries at the Top and Favoritism |
Very high salaries at the top … disrupt the team. They make … people in the company see their own top management as adversaries rather than as colleagues.... And that quenches any willingness to say 'we' and to exert oneself except in one's own immediate self-interest. Followers are likely to perceive such financial inequity as unfair. Favoritism, or even the appearance of it, is the royal road to civil war in organizations, political parties and countries alike. |
| Peter F. Drucker - The Frontiers of Management (Dutton, 1986) The New Psychology of Leadership, Scientific American August 2007 |
Curoil started a USA court case against Vantage; they want the money back they paid for the audit. Vantage director Dabrinski appeared without having secured the services of a lawyer; he can't think much of Curoil's chances. More money wasted.
2007-07-27
Let's Make It Legal
DROV [town and country planning] has a list of 200 illegally built houses. You can't help thinking there must be many more. FOoL Godett blames MAN Cooper for that, but all former deputies are as much at fault. An illegal builder is a voter, right? Well, and there you are. Anyway, Godett offers a smart way out: Make them all legal now; the government will
earn much moneyand it (another gem quote)
reduces illegality.It's the old gambling trick. Hint: Why not make assault and robbery legal and lower crime rates still more?
Oh, and, by the way, remember Arsjes and Selikor? Godett feels that as the guy gets his salary, he must go and work there; and the judge has been 'too emotional' anyway, he must have been influenced by Amigoe newspaper.
2007-07-27
Hey, That Wasn't the Deal!
Minister Duncan (from St. Maarten) caused a panic among government 'workers' by stating that 1000 of those may have to be fired when the Netherlands Antilles stop to exist. Deputy Jesus-Leito reassured them that the new country of Curaçao will hire them all. To do what? That aspect would not make much difference to them; but we on our own will have to maintain a thousand more
Hurray for Independence! Let's go out and buy some more flags.
As it turns out there are some 2400 of those types at quote work unquote for the island and almost 1700 for the country. As usual, Rekenkamer and government have a different count. But Duncan says they could use some on St. Maarten—if they want to go. Makes me drool.
VBC entrepeneurs' association reminds us that in 2001, commissie staatkundige structuuur [political structure] figured that joining of country and island government would result in 367 superfluous government jobs (saving ANG106M/year), and that since then, with an 'absolute' stop on hiring in effect since 1999 (solemnly repeated in 2005), 859 had been hired until 2006, and many more this year. No surprises there.
2007-07-26
Here's Our Chance
Ombudsman Wiel announces that anybody or any legal entity can lodge complaints with his office against bestuurscollege when it does not follow accepted norms; or against any deputy who behaves unseemly in public or in his own time, as this 'violates the integrity of island government.' Small wonder those guys don't love him.
2007-07-26
Letters to the Editor Dotty Com
Myself at occasions being frustrated enough to shoot off a letter to Ye Ed., I sympathise with the guys who have set up Ingezonden/Remetido.com. Weirdly, they have two links (one in http://www.remetido.comPapiamentu, one in http://www.ingezonden.com Dutch) to exactly the same site. Maybe that will change later? I'll keep on sluicing my venom here and sometimes in a newspaper with 10K potential hits per day. That really is a lot, web-wise.
I was wrong, there are two different language sites; two more (English and Spanish) are in the works. Ayway, forgot to add I wish them the best. Bas of April 2008, they seem to have disappeared again.
2007-07-25
Gambling to Stop Gambling
PS Wiels wants to stop illegal gambling (machines in snacks etc. are all over.) Instead, all those machines should be put in halls, and the resulting tax proceeds used to improve education, sports and addiction fighting. An even better suggestion: Put Prince in charge!
2007-07-23
Papiamento in Aruba
The Aruba government has found time to take a highly important decision: From now on, those who want to be naturalized have to take an exam in Dutch and Paiamento. Many people there already don't speak either. It's also contrary to laws of the EU, of which Aruba desperately wants to become a member, so every Arubiano can go to any EU country and freely settle there. But we knew already many guys in government can't what you'd call 'reason'.
2007-07-21
Yearly Drama
Since the schools changed the instruction language to Papiamentu, there has been a rush to get kids on the four remaining schools in Dutch. This year, there was no room for 813 of them, which is over 10% more than last year. In 2004, the total amount of first class pupils would have been about 2600, and 1185 pupils opted for Dutch-language schools. That's 47%. Another instance of democracy, Curaçao style; not that we needed one.
2007-07-20
Skeptical on Schotte's Scheme
Schotte has anounced he will leave his job at DROV if all other jobs, similarly given away in the last ten years, are reversed as well. Schotte knows very well this can't be done, desirable as it may be. There have been more impractical but mouth-watering propositions like this. Trouble is, Schotte still doesn't have qualifications, not even for a job that never was.
DROV has written a letter to BC that they can't use Schotte, and they advise hem to apply for jobs he is capable of.
2007-07-16
A Good Point
MAN Curiel thinks it's sheer hypocrisy that the Antillean government now rejects the eilandsraad salary raise, while they raised their own salaries and pensions on the very last day IJs was PM. We do have the consolation that the Antillean government will not be around after next year. Also, MAN was part of that very cabinet Puriel is complaining about; that's double hypocrisy.
FK Damoen joined Pierrot in resenting PM de Jong-Elhage's use of the word
cliquefor the guys who plotted and conspired to arrange those salaries, especially as she includes the honorable gezaghebber and secretary. Well, what would he call it? A band? gang? bunch? rabble? mob? I gladly run the risk of getting into problems by suggesting words that really express what she may have meant.
The best part about all this is, the Staten decision was never properly accorded but the salaries are paid anyway, which makes our PM part of that same
clique. No surprise there.
PS later charged the public prosecutor to start a legal investigation into the staten salaries.
2007-07-14
Spoiled Brats Keep Whining
PS Wiels really keeps thinking the people do not want the slotverklaring accepted. Even FOL was smart enough to see that, at the last elections, all parties who were against lost votes while the others won. But PS doesn't even seem to be able to count, and now wants to go to court against the Netherlands, in Holland and Curaçao.
Tali-Wiels comes with the old chestnut of going to the decolonization committee of the UN, despite it having been declared a useless empty move long ago, by UN advisor Carlyle Corbin; Curaçao has been removed from the list of decolonized countries in 1955 (Statuut-year), and that UN committee has been inactive since 1990. PS also threatens to go to Copppal for support. I don't want to disillusion them, and even wish them good luck—they need it.
MAN Cooper is of the opinion that this decision should have been taken by eilandsraad, not bestuurscollege, and wants to go to court as well. How they love running to Father Judge, those strivers for independence.
2007-07-14
What a Mess
For the first time in 46 years, social insurance bank SVB yearly account, showing a 23M profit, has been accepted. This is because SVB took old age pension payments over from the Tax Persons, who, as we all know, don't seem to know and care even less what they're doing.
2007-07-13
A Good Point
MAN Curiel thinks it's sheer hypocrisy that the Antillean government now rejects the eilandsraad salary raise, while they raised their own salaries and pensions on the very last day IJs was PM. We do have the consolation that the Antillean government will not be around after next year. Also, MAN was part of that very cabinet Puriel is complaining about; that's double hypocrisy.
2007-07-14
Do You Mean Us?
A good question, as the government is planning, not too soon, to do something about hate mongering and inciting—for unfathomable reasons, a sport that has been growing more and more popular. For the time being, this site is safe as they only refer to newspapers and radio programs. I'm not very worried, anyway.
2007-07-13
How Tipiko
As we all know, we have to keep our administration on file for ten years or so for the Tax Person. However, you have to bill the government within 18 months, or they just won't pay. This came out because they have decided to pay a supermarket bill dating from 1999; but the summons to pay 1995 bills had been sent in too late, and the dept. couldn't find the original bills. And that's that.
2007-07-12
Is What We Figured
FOL Strick claimed that when he left his deputy function there was over 20M guilders in island government cash; but his PAR successor Willems claims that's just because APNA and Wegenfonds had not been not paid. He also wants to check the (80M short) budget as he fears it may not be 'realistic'.
2007-07-12
Shut Up and Deal
Author Frank Martinus is very proud of the fact that he's been selected in Holland as one of the 1 or 2 hundred most popular Dutch. Weirdly, at the same time he's solidly on the Total Independence side of bad loser Tali-Wiels and is unable to accept the fact that it's all over and done with now. He still hopes (Fat Chance Dept.) the United Nations will declare Holland to be colonialist and imperialist. One more proof, not that we needed any, that his mind is still in the nineteen-sixties. There are many like him. PS wants to take legal action against accepting of slotverklaring, and will protest with Amnesty International and somewhere else I forget. They'd better stop all that spoiled-brat-like nagging and get to work—there's plenty to do.
2007-07-11
Forget It
Governor Goedgedrag has sent on the documents relating to the eilandsraad salary raise to PM de Jongh-Elhage, who declared that Antillean government will start procedures to annihilate the decision after the proposal will have been accepted (by gezaghebber signing it (something which she should have done two days from now to make it legal.) Chances are, new eilandsraad may reverse the decree before then, which is formally possible. Will be interesting to see how they vote now.
Gezaghebber, and she may be right, says it's not for her to reverse the decision. On the other hand, she keeps defending it, if half-heartedly, by saying that it was based on an advise by Finance Dept., which actually wasn't around at the time. It has now turned up and ripped to shreds: According to the Dept., the extra costs would be a mere 130K this year, slowly growing to 250K in 2010. In reality, the salary raise will cost over 2M/year, while the pensions cost
multiplesof 6.7M/year.
2007-07-11
Make 'em Pay, Anyway!
Now that we have a new minister for Telecommunications (FOL Adriaensz) and our national UTS has made 25M profit last year, Adriaensz proposes to restore our isolation by charging money for using Skype, Net2Phone and other systems for international calls via the internet. Sounds like we can have a lot of fun here, with Yahoo! and Google having joined the fun.
2007-07-10
Take a Deep Breath
After seventeen hours of discussions, interrupted by the meeting having to move because of a (no doubt fake) bomb alarm, eilandsraad accepted the slotverklaring. (Pierrot wasn't there to vote, he didn't feel so good.)
Now, maybe, finally, we can get down to it.
Vox Populi labeled the bomb scare 'TaliWiels', as the PS man kept inciting the crowd outside the building where the meeting was being held; but PAR Gomez referred to TaliMAN. PS said the bomb scare was a plot of bestuurscollege to make PS look bad.
2007-07-07
Now This Is Official
In Aruba, the judge has convicted ex-minister Croes (2001) to pay damages to the country for exceeding his budget without parliamentary approval (how much will be fought out later.) More similar cases are pending.
The judge thought other accusations unproven: accepting bribes, awarding contracts to befriended entrepeneurs, favouring political friends and conspiring.
2007-07-06
And Not A Moment Too Soon
Next Friday, less than a week after they took office, eilandsraad will discuss the slotverklaring once again. PS Wiels is all against it; he calls it 'a provocation'. Look who's talking. This party wants to check if reversing a former decision is legally possible. My guess it, it is and should be; but if it turns out it's not, that sure comes in handy for Wiels' salary and future pension.
(PAR and PNP don't refer to it as slotverklaring any longer, but they don't fool anybody.)
2007-07-04
Just What We Hoped
The judge threw Arsjes out of court with some strong words, almost amounting to an accusation of StIP and Godett of contempt of court (only there's no such thing in our law) because they had hastily signed an agreement with Asjes when it was obvious they couldn't fulfill it, as the judge would reverse the decision. So Arsjes didn't get his job; his father-in-law (who allegedly paid Godett to help him to that job) paid in vain. But when Asjes sued Selikor for his salary he won! There are three choices open: 1 - Arsjes' contract has not been cancelled yet, awaiting the judge's final verdict, so he has to be paid; 2 - if the contract is postponed, Arsjes does not have to be paid; 3 - or Arsjes contract is cancelled and he will get redemption money. The choice seems obvious, but (for some reason) not to Selikor. Go figure.
Oh, by the way, today bestuurscollege decided on the future of those infamous and notorious boards of directors and about StIP: Members of FOL will remain in there. I guess that's part of the coalition-deal; merely routine business practice.
2007-07-04
ournew eilandsraad
photo Amigoe
Just What We Expected
The new eilandsraad (PAR, PNP, FOL) did not reverse the decision on their salaries and pensions, as proposed by DP, FK and PS. PAR Jackson had the chutzpah to tell us it wouldn't be 'decent' while the governor was looking at the proposal (after all, they must be getting impatient after having had to wait for a year.)
Two days later, on the official
day of the flagmeeting, PNP van der Gen referred to her gang as 'worthy representatives of the people'; MAN Macaay once again expressed his by now boring opinion that accordation of the slotverklaring meant nothing more or less than a return to slavery.
At the same occasion, DP George called Godett 'a liar' (now what gave him that idea?) Gezaghebber rebuked him, which made George wonder out loud if using that word was worse than the act of lying. George, with SP Wiels, later refused to take a seat in the official tent for his 'worthy' colleagues during the flag ceremonies.
2007-07-04
Maybe we should reverse that trend, here, now - just in case
Clean Rooien, Filthy Air
PNP Davelaar is spending 1.7M ($1M) to clean the rooien (arroyos), something speed-humper Cooper never got round to. Too bad the government has no money (150K) for Milieudienst equipment and training to measure pollution. They are now acquiring these from Isla refinery; really!
Last year's SO2 pollution was 137ppm, 70% over Isla's own norms, already high over international norms.
To mention in passing, diesel oil here contains 0.5% of sulphur, while internationally accepted norm is one tenth of that, with a growing trend to one hundredth. This also results in fast deterioration of engines designed and built for that norm, causing even more pollution in the form of smoke and soot.
Another mess Davelaar wants to clean up, via an audit, is Selikor, until recently under responsibility of Godett.
2007-07-04
Not Over and Done
Gezaghebber Richards-Dindial has sent the notorious decision on salaries and pensions to governor Goedgedrag, on his request. Decision has not been signed by gezaghebber and therefore can not be cancelled. Yet. Gezaghebber comments that decision is not against any law, and it is not clear to her if it's against the common interest, the only other reason to cancel.
The redu [rumors] chain has it that the PAR-PNP-FOL coalition has almost broken apart. If PAR and PNP act according to their stated principles, they will have to cancel the decision, which doesn't necessarily mean Godett will leave the coalition; even when DP and FK are champing at the bit to replace FOL.
Henk Pasman, a 13-year PAR member who was so disgusted with PAR's sticking with Godett that he left the party last week, advises us all to send a letter to either gouverneur or gezaghebber with the following text (copy-and-paste):
Subject/onderwerp: Petitie
Hierbij maak ik gebruik van mijn recht op petitie, en verzoek ik u in te grijpen op het eilandgebied Curaçao met betrekking tot de door de Eilandsraad goedgekeurde salaris- en pensioenregeling voor Eilandsraadsleden en gedeputeerden, en wel op grond van de hiermee overtreden normale regels van deugdelijkheid van bestuur. Aangezien ik geen jurist ben verzoek ik u hierover de juiste juridische adviezen aan te vragen, maar mijn rechtsgevoel is in ieder geval duidelijk aangetast.
Not so far from eilandsraad
another Pit of Filth
Google Earth Isla
No Harm Done
At least, Milieudienst tells us that the removal of the Asphalt Lake, now in progress, is guaranteed safe and will not result in any extra pollution in no form whatever. Too bad we can only hope that, for once, Milieudienst is telling the truth; because the dug-up mess will be used in the BOO plant, about which we've been told long ago it has been designed for much lighter grades of fuel.
2007-07-01
Don't Celebrate, Yet
The Dutch, who will have to cough up some ANG3G to take over our debts (even in €s a quite respectable amount (more than most of us, and I include Bill Gates, will ever earn), are already protesting against our Democratic Representatives usurping some ANG8M/year on top. After Strick promised he'd do something about the 81M budget shortage of this year, just as expected nothing more was heard from him. Since then,
wehave been hiring extra government personnel to the tune of over 42M guilders per year. Then, there's that old standby, onderstand. And how about those voting machines?
You know what that means? That You, and, much more importantly I, would have to cough up those extra 81+8+2.5 million guilders (that's 108 per family or 3660 per voter—per year; 10 guilders a day.)
What I say is, kick 'em where it does most good.
Holland has, as expected, announced the salary raise is unacceptable. Their promises to re-finance our debts are based on the situation of end 2005; all debts acquired after that date we (you and me) have to pay.
2007-06-30
Well, Maybe
PAR Willem feels that, as there is no financing for the questionably exorbitant salaries (don't forget the pensions) our Honorourable Deputies and Representatives have democratically [The Will of the People] given themselves, the decision should be reversed. My idea. We'll see...
2007-06-30
photo Amigoe
Dennis the Menace
Dennis Evertsz doesn't look very worried because of 'his' PNP party looking at disciplinary measures against him for voting 'yes' for his salary and pension, and why should he?
2007-06-30
Some You Win, Some You Loose
Now director of personnel organization Martina has been kicked off his comfy chair. Seems he was involved in Henriquez trying to get PM de Jong-Elhage to sign a document, as one-in-a-stack, granting him and others a 25% higher salary.
The plot succeeded and the decision stands. But maybe Henriquez is not to blame, as he was away when the document was presented to the PM. Still, he never told her he was on the list himself, nor that the date the raise started was retro-active.
2007-06-30
Shotte Should Be Schot!
After DROV head Karsdorp, ex-head van der Horst and personnel had complained about Schotte's appointment at that institution, ombudsman Wiels promised he'd instigate an investigation. Son-of-Salas Schotte never applied for the job (at least, not openly), neither does he have the proper qualifications; he never even finished high school. The job has been fulfilled for years by another person at a much lower salary.
But Salas needn't worry, as from tomorrow he'll be entitled to a good salary and pension as eilandsraad member. Or will he?
2007-06-30
Here's Another One, or Are There Thirteen?
Even before the last elections, Godett's brother got a job at Milieudienst; it seems to be the tenth in a range sent there by Constancia, another member of the mafioso-like Godett family. People working there say they expect two or three more yet to follow.
Small wonder Milieudienst makes such a stinking mess.
2007-06-29
No Bets Are Taken
It would seem simple enough for the new bestuurscollege to reverse the villainous decision on their own
salaries and pensions. Don't be so sure, sucker! PNP de Lannooy already said her party would agree
on conditionfinancial and judicial advice is available;
who says they have to follow that advice?
Knock-Out Victory for 'Democracy' versus The People!
Once again, long after Hitler won his democratic victory, not so long after Chavez won his, and even shorter after the
democraticrejection of the slotverklaring, our island government thought it necessary to deliver one more unneeded proof that it's all a farce: With 13 against 6 votes the shameless proposal for higher salaries was accepted. At least this time none of these crooks had the guts to tell us this was democracy.
It's worth registering who were the 'yeah' sayers: MSL Prince and Marchena, MAN Cooper and Macaay, NPA Pierre, MPK Lak, PNP Evertsz (against the wishes of his party), and FOL jail-bird Godett with his gang of goons Rojer, Ocalia, Douglas, Sling and Carolina.
It was quite safe to vote against that majority, and so did PAR Castillo, Rhuggenaath, Alcalá-Wallé, Gomez and Jackson, and PNP Davelaar. Even safer was Errol Bakoba's going on about what a shame it all was—only to leave before the vote took place.
But FOL Constancia thought even this not good enough. She feels,
out of respect(not for us, to be sure), full-time eilandsraad members should get the same. You think, as she'll be out and down the day after tomorrow, Fat Chance? Wish I could be so sure!
2007-06-29
Try, Try Again
If Selikor director Kook will not publish information on cooperation contracts before noon today, he will be fired (sure comes in handy; a meeting of the board had been planned for the same afternoon already.) This seems rather sudden (Godett's letter was dated June 25), but easy to explain when you realize that, if and when, Selikor will not have a director the day after; so the judge's sentence on the Asjes affair can't be executed as it would leave Selikor without a director. How simple it all is when you really want it, and all your f(r)iends are willing to stand by!
But that board meeting has been cancelled. After all, it was much more important for Godett to be present at the eilandsraad meeting and vote for his own salary and pension. First things first.
2007-06-28
The Bottom Half of the Iceberg
Turns out we were seeing only the top of the iceberg: Between 2003 and 2006 (when virtually all parties have had their share of the pie at one time or the other) with a hiring stop in place (if not effective), the island has hired 353 extra
workerscosting 35M guilders/year extra; which means our estimate of the salaries for 62 persons hired this year is way off and has to be adjusted to 10 times what we figured. Don't blame us or Arna, who blame bestuurscollege: it
has the instruments to stop this but prefers not to use them.Salary costs have gone up with 40% in three years, make that 50% including the last six months. And don't forget the welfare.
2007-06-27
Dom Verstaan
[Dumb Understanding] is what our teachers at school used to call it when you acted as if you hadn't heard or understood them; it seems to be a colonial habit as the Dutch use
Oost-Indisch doof[East-Indian deaf] for the same phenomenon. We are reminded of this when just about the last act of old Bestuurscollege will probably be (they're working on it) in spite of all outraged public protests, not to raise their salaries as much as they'd planned: Now, it's 'merely' going up from 8K to 11K/month for deputies, 60%+, and from 7.7K to 10.5K for representatives, 40%+; pensioning age is raised to 60 years, but all this still results in a 7.7K pension/month. As far as I could find out, only DP, PAR and surprisingly enough PLKP are against this shameless thievery. PNP de Lannooy states, and I quote,
this needs a good look at because of the present aversion against politicians in society.Otherwise, it would be just fine?
The proposal was pushed through by instigation of FOL Douglas, MSL Prince and MPK Lak, all of whom have been voted out in th