Communication, communication, communication

Communication, communication, communication

20 December 2025

Communication, communication, communication.For years, it has been repeated almost to the point of cliché in every course on change or transformation management. For me, it has long since become a platitude. Precisely for that reason, its absence is so striking.

Back in 2020 and 2021, I wrote about policy instruments. Traditionally, these include legislation and regulation, financial arrangements such as taxes and subsidies, and coercion (police, enforcement). At the time, I argued that communication had become a policy instrument in its own right, and later added digitalisation to that list. By now, it is evident that communication may well be the most important policy instrument of all.

And that is exactly where the problem lies.

It has become increasingly clear that this government is not strong in communication. In fact, I am now prepared to say that the government cannot communicate. The decision best illustrates this: some four years ago, it was decided to abolish the weekly press conferences following Council of Ministers meetings. I do not believe this reflects an unwillingness to communicate. Instead, it suggests an inability to do so.

That impression has only been reinforced by the confusion the government itself has created since 18 December 2025.

What happened? After months of protests by AOV pensioners demanding indexation and benefit increases, the government signed a covenant with a small group of representatives. As of January 2026, the AOV will be increased from Cg. 862 to Cg. 1,000 per month. In addition, a lump sum of Cg. 2,500 will be paid, half next year and the remainder the year after.

However, the measure has been perceived as if a self-appointed group of representatives has effectively given up the right to indexation on behalf of all AOV beneficiaries. That perception is politically toxic.

What the government has failed to explain — or perhaps does not know how to explain — is that this arrangement is temporary. A court case is scheduled for March 2026, and if the judge rules differently, the final amounts will be determined and adjusted retroactively. Substantively, therefore, the government may not have acted incorrectly.

But the communication has been disastrous.

Many pensioners are understandably relieved. With the holidays approaching, there is finally some extra money to spend. That reaction is human and entirely understandable. Structurally, however, little has changed. Curaçao still has the lowest AOV within the Kingdom. In fact, the gap has widened further, as other countries have increased their benefits far more than the Cg. 173 per month added here.

What perhaps surprises me most is the silence. I hear nothing from my financially and economically educated friends. No analysis. No explanation. No attempt to clarify what is really at stake. They, too, appear to see no urgency to communicate.

And that may be the deepest problem of all: not only does the government fail at communication, but those who should know better also leave the public debate unattended.

Communication is not a side issue. Communication is policy. And those who fail to understand that will lose trust — even when the substance of their decisions may be defensible.

Miguel Goede