We understand that King Willem Alexander has chosen to deliver a speech in which he will likely ask for forgiveness from, among other people, the people of Curaçao, for the way his predecessors enslaved our ancestors. 

Furthermore, neither the parliament nor the government of Curaçao have touched upon this topic. There is complete silence regarding this matter. 

All these things lead us to the conclusion that the manner in which they choose to ask for forgiveness, whether they do so or not, is a lack of respect. We strongly reject this. We want transparency, clarity, and honesty! 

For this event, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations has invited Mrs. Maria Liberia-Peters. If she did so "on a personal basis," it is her right. However, if she did so in her capacity as a representative of the people of Curaçao, we must oppose and counteract this action. 

Mrs. Maria Liberia-Peters, in turn, should not stand by and endorse such actions because that is the tactic used to pit us against each other, to make us believe that we are more important than others. In this way, anyone who succumbs to these games is labeled as the "bomb" with the mindset of plantation slavery. 

As concerned citizens, we believe that: 

The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations should better know who to invite as a representative of Curaçao. 

If King Willem Alexander wants to ask for forgiveness, he should come to Curaçao and do it in front of the entire population, just as he came to present his heir to the throne. 

If King Willem Alexander wants to ask for forgiveness, he should come to Curaçao with a blank check for reparations to fulfill what we need. Not only for our ancestors, but also for the negative effects and consequences that this has caused for us up to the present day. 

King Willem Alexander should grant us our freedom as a formerly enslaved colony and decolonize us. 

They must stop using the tactic of dividing and reigning, pitting us against each other. 

Note to the people: 

When will we open our eyes to see how we are "misused" against ourselves for their own benefit? 

When will we unite our forces to liberate ourselves from colonialism, find our own direction, instead of remaining servants and dependents of the oppressor who does not have our best interests at heart and seeks their own benefits at our expense? 

Concerned citizens, 

Hugh Lopes; 

Faselda “Chela” Thodé; 

Reginald “Keith” Taylor; 

Jozef “Papito” Nivillac; 

Suzenet “Netty” Muller; 

Ashley Mauricia.