14 Years After 10/10/10: The Kingdom in Reflection
October 12, 2024
As we approach the 70th anniversary of the Statute of the Kingdom, reflecting on the past 14 years since 10/10/10 has brought some important realizations. During the October 10, 2024, conference, several notable figures, including Edson Hato, the Representative of the Netherlands, and Saskia de Reuver, Director of Kingdom Relations at the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations, took a moment to acknowledge this milestone. More so, they focused on the ongoing collaboration between The Hague and Willemstad. De Reuver, for instance, remarked that while political cooperation may sometimes seem strained, on the ground, customs officials and police officers speak the same language and work seamlessly together.
A new face in the Kingdom’s political landscape is Zsolt Szabó, the State Secretary for Digitalization and Kingdom Relations, who has already made several introductory visits to the islands. However, despite these fresh faces, the rest of the cast and—most importantly—the script remain unchanged. These newcomers bring enthusiasm and energy, with many agreements made and networks being built. They seem to believe they are ushering in an era of open-door politics, forming genuine connections, and making a real difference.
But, in reality, they are performing a centuries-old ritual. Every time there’s a new State Secretary or Dutch representative, a program is curated to introduce them to the same group of people who have held power for the last fifty years. They hear the same myths, and then, we continue down the same well-worn path we've been walking for decades.
To illustrate this point, despite my recognized expertise in this field, I’ve never been introduced to these key players over the past thirty years. It’s doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results—what many would call the definition of insanity.
Based on what we’ve seen so far, it doesn’t take a genius to predict that under this administration, nothing will fundamentally change, especially not for the poor citizens of the Kingdom.
Miguel Goede
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