Dear Editor,
On Monday, September 23, a town hall meeting with Mr. Knops was held. The event was streamed live on Facebook. Many appreciated the fact that Mr. Knops took the time out to address the people of Statia directly.
Mr. Knops informed the people of Statia that some progress has been made in regard to governance and the execution of projects on the island. However, he argued that there is still much work to be done. Against this backdrop, Knops proclaimed that there will be a gradual return to democracy on the island. In other words, he expressed his wish to organize Island Elections in October, 2020. By doing so, the people will be able to elect their own island Council representatives, he said.
But in the same breath, he stated that the Netherlands will maintain the responsibility for the Executive Council and the Governor until full democracy is restored. Full democracy will be restored once there is sufficient guarantee that the changes made are sustainable.
Persons in the audience expressed their concerns about the slow pace at which projects are executed, the lack of transparency, the absence of local participation in the decision-making process and the prolonged absence of democracy. However, Knops was not moved by anything expressed.
The manner in which Knops interacted with the audience certainly sheds light on the current Dutch political worldview as it relates to Statia. A worldview that states, “It is our duty and obligation to insert ourselves into the lives of Statians, in order to fix the chronic problems. Even though some citizens are against our practices, we come with good intentions. We are actually here to make the lives of Statians better. In the end, Statians will thank us for it.”
As long as this worldview guides the actions of the Dutch political establishment, persons such as Knops will not be sympathetic towards the alternative worldview that emerged during the town hall meeting namely, “While we appreciate Dutch help, our democracy must be fully restored, as we empower ourselves and each other to take ownership of our community and our own lives.”
Xiomara Balentina
