VKC Calmes
Dissent is Democracy
June 28, 2024
On June 26, 2024, we were jolted by the news that a member of parliament was arrested as part of an investigation by the Public Prosecution Service. It is quite something. And yet, I cannot help but wonder why it's him and not all the others who are still free. I tell myself that the others' turn will come. After all, a few still have been accused of document forgery.
However, what increasingly bothers me, and what I cannot shake off, is the unprecedented event within the Voluntary Corps of Curacao (VKC). A CEO of a government-owned company who was once a soldier rejoined the corps and was appointed as an officer without any officer training. This has never happened before, and this incident has led to some veterans leaving the corps. Mind you that VKC is not the Boy Scouts but the core of the internal and external defense of the island.
The question is: What drives someone to seek an officer position this way? Is it a quest for power, or a desire for status? And what are power and status truly worth? Why is the leadership endorsing this? And why is there a deafening silence from others, including us, the public? Shouldn't we all be speaking out against such actions?
It illustrates how we handle organization and appointments and how this irreparably damages organizations' credibility. Meanwhile, the corps, a symbol of our collective defense and resilience, is celebrating its 90th anniversary these days, a testament to its enduring legacy.
Miguel Goede
Comments