Long Live the King – But Who Is Actually in Charge?

Long Live the King – But Who Is Actually in Charge?

25 April 2026

I read the Governor’s first address on the occasion of Koningsdag 2026 with interest. As far as I can recall previous speeches, this one was – to be fair – an improvement. More coherent, more attuned to the spirit of the times.

And yet… I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t add a few critical notes.

Let me start with the core. The speech clearly revolves around cooperation, challenges, geopolitics, governance, society, and ceremony. A logical and well-structured narrative. Curaçao faces complex issues, and cooperation is essential. That much is clear.

But that is also where my unease begins.

The speech emphasizes shared responsibility. It speaks of cooperation. Of “we.” But the longer you listen—or reread it the next morning—the more one question starts to surface:

Who is actually in charge?

Perhaps this is not the place to make that explicit. After all, it is a ceremonial address delivered on Koningsdag.

But if even here—in a moment of reflection—it does not become clear who is responsible for what, then when will it?

In my view, the role of the government remains noticeably underexposed, while that is precisely where primary responsibility lies. Instead, the emphasis subtly shifts toward the “individual responsibility” of citizens.

But which citizens are we talking about?

Citizens who, in reality, are often simply trying to get by.

In a society that has become increasingly individualized since the 1980s. In a country historically shaped by dependency relationships and patronage. In that context, it is too easy to speak of shared responsibility without clarifying who takes the lead.

Because without direction, cooperation quickly becomes optional.

And without ownership, responsibility remains an abstract concept.

And then what happens is something we know all too well:

Everyone carries on with their own agenda, and we wait to see what happens.

The speech itself is solid. That is not the issue.

The issue is what comes next.

Will it remain at words about cooperation?

Or will someone, somewhere, actually take the lead?

Long live the King.

But perhaps even more importantly:

long live clarity about responsibility.

Miguel Goede