The Frog in the Pot: Reflections on Ruth Richardson’s Wisdom
June 15, 2024
Many years ago, around 2000, I had the honor of meeting the Honorable Mrs. Ruth Richardson, the former Minister of Finance of New Zealand. At the time, New Zealand was considered a best practice for neoliberal reforms, and Mrs. Richardson was a sought-after speaker at several conferences organized by Andersen on behalf of the late Jacob Geltdekker and the government. I had the privilege of working closely with my late friend John Steijaert and many others during this period.
Mrs. Richardson shared the success story of New Zealand's economic reforms. However, near the end of the conference, she dropped a critical insight: for change to happen, there must be a sense of urgency. She candidly observed that she did not sense this urgency in Curaçao.
These days, I often reflect on how right Ruth Richardson was. Curaçao is like the proverbial frog in the pot. While everything around us is changing, our mindset remains stubbornly stagnant, if not regressing. We seem to lack the urgency and the drive needed to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Ruth Richardson's words resonate more now than ever. As we face new challenges and opportunities, we must cultivate a sense of urgency and be willing to embrace change for the betterment of our future.
Miguel Goede
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