The mere mention of a "democratic deficit" is likely to conjure up various images of a colonial Netherlands undermining our democracy. However, little is said about our own serious democratic shortcomings.
Take, for example, the lack of institutional capacity, which despite millions in development funds, has never been recognized by the Netherlands and Curaçao as the key driver for the proper functioning of democracy. Persistent insufficient institutional capacity undermines policy implementation, decision-making, and consequently, the quality of governance. The Curaçao Country Package pays almost no attention to this issue.
Furthermore, in our democracy, there still exists legal discrimination based on sexual orientation. LGBTQ individuals are treated as second-class citizens, and nobody seems to care. We have the power to address this deficit, yet we choose not to. It is a painful reminder of the racist zealots who supported slavery and opposed equal treatment of women, non-Catholics, and black people. Nowadays, the dangerous groups are radical Christian organizations supporting this government, aiming to dismantle the judiciary because it is led by a judge who, allegedly, is homosexual, while remaining eerily silent about the legion of pedophile homosexuals within their own churches/sects.
Furthermore, there is a lack of necessary judicial constitutional review, which allows for the adoption of unconstitutional laws (think of the 80/20 rule). This is another issue that we can solve ourselves. We must question why there is no discussion about this.
Our biggest deficiency is the lack of qualified government and parliamentary members, which results in a dysfunctional democracy. Moreover, people have no chance to become more involved and, as a result, democratic decision-making is entrusted to politicians. The associated democratic deficit is particularly concerning given the level of government and parliamentary members.
How can we entrust a democracy to the uneducated and convicted criminals? To shameless parliamentarians who suggest that the state should sell seized drugs? To incompetent administrators who want to sell our gold reserves to fix potholes in our roads, while gold accumulation is actually increasing as an alternative reserve asset due to a China-led challenge to the US dollar?
There is plenty to address within our own country before we speak out externally. To the hypocrites who constantly lament about the democratic deficit elsewhere: Why not first remove the beam from your own eyes?
Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has a MBA from the University of Iowa. (USA).
