Governance 4.0: An Outdated Approach in Need of an Upgrade
July 26, 2024
Many are stuck in the outdated Governance 4.0 framework. This system needs to be upgraded and adjusted to 5.0. Many adhere to old-school practices and don’t even realize it. For example, last night, July 24, 2024, I saw the Ombudsman on the news (interestingly, I didn't see anything about it in the newspaper this morning, which is also telling). Later, I found a website on this matter.[1] The Ombudsman criticized the utility company and the government, particularly the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (SOAW), stating that having more than 1,000 households disconnected from water is unacceptable. These are homes where children live, violating human rights and hindering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDG 6 emphasizes the importance of achieving "clean water and sanitation for all." The Ombudsman explained that he has no legal authority over government-owned companies. However, Aqualectra, being a government-owned entity, has always been cooperative. Here’s the strange part: In 2018, Aqualectra amended its statutes to declare itself a corporation that pursues profit. This is as outdated as it gets—blindly chasing profits for shareholders, who are, ironically, the government and the people. Aqualectra should implement Governance 5.0, which is more human-centric, leading to the realization that cutting off water for children is never an option.
This situation is like the Foundation for Social Housing (FKP), which considers it "normal" to have 9,000 vacant homes while there is a waiting list of 9,000 people needing housing. This is a clear sign of a failing organization that needs to be replaced as soon as possible. However, the 4.0 governance virus is widespread.
In contrast, the newspaper AD highlighted an educational psychologist in Bonaire who proudly announced that she works four days in salaried employment and one day independently in mental health care. This indicates a lack of awareness—thinking that care can be a business model reflects the neoliberal pandemic of the 1980s that has disrupted society and the environment. Governance 5.0 is the governance of the human-centric Society 5.0.
We will address these issues in our Master Class on September 19-20, 2024. Register at www.universityofgovernance.com.
Miguel Goede
Comments