Dear Editor,
Over the last few months the following newspaper headlines about Statian affairs have caught my attention:
“Stuco needs to work on better governance”
“Healthcare system on Statia falls short”
“Shortage of drinking water result of limited maintenance”
“Knops says: Bonaire, Saba, Statia can never be autonomous”
These headlines remind me of one of my favorite African Proverbs, “Until lions learn how to write, Hunters will tell their stories for them”. In reflecting on the above headlines, one can definitely understand the significance of the African Proverb.
These are the narratives that dominate our daily lives on these so called “Dutch Caribbean” islands. Narratives that consciously and/or subconsciously create an illusion that things managed and controlled by locals are inadequate, inefficient or not up to par.
It is hard to change the narrative when we ourselves believe that the stories being told about us are “absolute truths”. Embracing these stories without question truly wounds the soul. The result of this soul-wounding is quite evident within our small communities today.
The ancestors never accepted “these absolute truths” because they purposed in their hearts that, even though their physical bodies were in chains, their mind, spirit and soul would never be. It behooves those of us who are “wide awake” to continue planting seeds of resistance, pride and hope so that one day said seeds will blossom into trees that give great shade with solid and deep roots.
In honor of those who have gone before us and in honor of those not yet born, I therefore purposefully change the headlines:
“Stuco working hard to improve governance structure”
“Healthcare system on Statia – a case of small successes”
“Improving maintenance will decrease drinking water shortage”
“Knops says: We must work together with Bonaire, Saba, Statia to realize the best possible autonomous arrangement” …
Xiomara Balentina
