We are Not a Deep Democracy or a Polder Model, but We Talk a Lot
September 27, 2024
Ironically, perhaps not coincidental, our local language is called Papiamentu, which translates to talking. We do much of that—decades of it regarding specific issues, like overhauling our public transportation system. Yet, despite all the talk, meaningful change seems elusive. Our transportation system fails the poor and middle class, contributing to a wider social imbalance.
Public transport on this island, especially the bus system, is frag-mented. The big and small buses operate as separate entities with no real collaboration. As a result, workers face significant challenges getting to and from their jobs. Long travel times and high costs make sustaining regular employment difficult for those on lower incomes. Rising temperatures due to climate change only add to the misery of standing in the sun, waiting for a bus that may or may not arrive on time.
Some employers, recognizing the system's dysfunction, have pur-chased buses to ensure their workers can reach the job site. That speaks volumes about the state of public transport.
A few months ago, Member of Parliament Sheldry Osepa raised this issue in parliament. He pointed out that this inadequate transpor-tation system is not just an inconvenience but a barrier to progress. People cannot get to work, attend educational programs, or participate in training that might help them improve their lives. In his words, this transportation issue makes it "impossible to uplift out of poverty."
He has argued that we cannot overhaul our transportation system because those with permits to operate small buses hold too much political power. They benefit from the current setup and resist any changes that might disrupt their control. This political dynamic sti-fled progress, and after Osepa's speech, the conversation faded away. Silence returned.
Was it talk?
In a real democracy, especially one modeled after the Polder mod-el, collaboration and compromise are essential. But we are not that. Instead, we talk a lot. Talking seems the easiest thing to offer when you don't intend to act.
Miguel Goede
Comments