Our Human Capital

Our Human Capital

26 November 2025

A human being is a human being, yet in economics, we have reduced people to a resource. This way of thinking—people as means—has become dominant. Human interaction is treated as a transaction; a tit-for-tat society. Much as this bothers me, I will go along with it for the sake of argument.

Besides sun and sea, Curaçao really has only one trustworthy resource: its people. The World Cup qualification proved this once again. It’s about talent that is developed and then combined. At the same time, it shows that Dutch systems and societies chiefly shape raw talent. We do not invest enough, and frankly, we cannot. But we do have the conditions to generate talent. Only: to reach the absolute top, our people apparently have to leave the island.

This isn’t just true for sports or the creative sector. Think of Tanya, the mezzo-soprano. Think of Jandino, comedian and all-rounder. Think of Churandy Martina. And the list is much longer.

Curaçao is a living lab: a place where people develop with an exceptionally diverse potential. But we fail to see it. Or we treat our people as if they have little value, or even as a cost. We invest relatively little in people, and we hardly value achievement. We are not a meritocracy—except in (top) sports.

This brings me to the forms of intelligence of the YdK. From the classical list:

• Linguistic intelligence – language, writing, speaking

• Logical-mathematical intelligence – reasoning, analysis

• Visual-spatial intelligence – visualizing, designing

• Musical intelligence – rhythm, tone, musical understanding

• Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence – movement, sport, physical skill

• Interpersonal intelligence – empathy, cooperation

• Intrapersonal intelligence – self-knowledge

• Naturalistic intelligence – recognizing nature and patterns

  
  

…four are especially developed among the YdK:

• Linguistic intelligence

• Musical intelligence

• Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence

• Interpersonal intelligence

All four deserve a deeper exploration. But one stands out to me: muscle intelligence. In our society, it is strongly evident. And precisely there, the least thought, vision, and investment go. I cannot even recall the last sports policy.

Meanwhile, enormous attention goes to degrees and diplomas. A few examples: for decades, we’ve heard that the Little League Baseball Park will be restored. Wealthy baseball players are not exactly made to feel welcome when they want to invest here.

Our greatest and clearest form of human capital remains underused—right where we could be world-class.

Miguel Goede