Dear Editor,
Raymond Knops (State Secretary) visited the island of St. Eustatius on April 30, 2018. Various short videos were uploaded about his visit. In one video, he was seen talking to the “Advisory Committee” in which he stated that even though the Committee is not an official body, the Committee fulfills the role of the Island Council. What a contradiction!
In another video, Knops was seen climbing on top of a car wreck perhaps to symbolize the start of the car wreck removal project.
I realize that propaganda is alive and well on my beloved Statia. Propaganda has been used throughout history to influence public opinion on many importance issues. I guess that by standing on car wrecks and meeting with various small groups (at different moments in time) attempts are being made to win hearts and minds. Attempts are being made to influence the people into entering some type of alternative reality. Apparently, this can be done without the use of narcotics.
Whether one’s reality is altered or not the following statements remain true:
When a Statian goes to bed tonight and wakes up tomorrow facing the rising sun, the democratic deficit will still exist;
When a Statian child sits in the classroom on any given day, listening attentively to the teacher’s instruction, the “Governor House” will still be occupied by persons who have not been directly chosen by the people of Statia;
When Statians sit down on Skell’s Corner tonight laughing and talking the night away, Franco and Stegers still won’t know Statia’s fishermen by name.
You see, I can hear the voices of the critics in my head, “the local government this and the local government that”. But while those voices are as loud that they have ever been, Raymond Knops continues to hold the “democracy key” in a carrot-and-stick type fashion in front of ALL our noses.
Truth be told, they can stand on car wrecks as much as they want but their propaganda ain’t gonna alter my reality/consciousness!
Xiomara Balentina
