The leader of Raiz, Ursell Arends, gave an interview on Noticia Cla with Tito Lacle, shorter, but trust-inspiring, a few days after Premier Wever-Croes lengthy appearance on the show.
Tito also scheduled two interesting subjects for this week, focusing on an LGBT verdict from Curacao and a follow up on stray dogs/cats with vet Irene Croes, who is the sister of MinPres, in charge of that sad stuck-in-the-mud issue.
As a side note: While we are talking and talking about government involvement in environmental protection, liquid and solid waste management, spray & neuter campaigns, labor law reforms, NOTHING IS MOVING.
I am hopeful the new coalition partners will push, and find the fine balance between being Team Players and OUTSIDERS who get things done, because one cannot always play by the rules.
And one cannot always be a rebel.
Ursell Arends has an even-keeled disposition, and a tranquillo air about him. He defended himself well against the accusation he got a FUN packet of ministries and pointed out the importance of his three upcoming goals: Better Elderly Care, Better Nature Protection, and Integrity throughout.
One of his main points was his declaration that RAIZ will NOT engage in the coordinator-practice, and that his office and Geoffrey Wever’s, will be using the department heads and their staffers, to run the apparat.
Under the current system, our civil servants always had to take a backseat when a new minister checks in with his entourage. According to Arends, he will introduce his own administrative staff, plus legal and political advisors, all said UNDER the 25 consultant ceiling set by MinPres, I think he said no more than 15.
Arends reiterated he will rely on the GOA’s apparat, vertically, collaborating across departments, to restore RWZI, the Bubali Plas facility, redesign Serlimar, equip and upgrade Meteo, and Shipping to their former effectiveness, having been neglected for years.
That was an interesting point, because it’s true, as an island we depend on effective/efficient shipping, yet besides an occasional work stoppage at Barcadera, we rarely hear about it.
He also spoke about secure food sources and protecting agriculture, husbandry, and fishing, and asked his audience to be patient, not to declare losers, before the horses leave the paddock.
Arends sees COHO as an opportunity to restore our finances, and do good, he talked well about accepting responsibility for the shameful state of our financial situation. He acknowledges past wastefulness and pledges to do better, stating that many of COHO’s reform requirements are already included in the plan for government written by MEP and RAIZ over the past months since the recent elections.
It seems in the months that followed as Arends and Wever attended 100+ stakeholder meetings, they learned a thing or two about the depressing state of our affairs, and internalized the lessons.
I liked it when he said, don’t mistake my humility for weakness, because he intended to move mountains in the first 100 days of government, usher a number of stuck laws in, and work in over-drive to achieve short term goals.
He promised to be a reliable, stable coalition partner, and supported MinPres in her position that the Health Care system maxed reduction at 36M already, and more than that would be unreasonable, and requires open negotiations with the Dutch.
He will be talking to former minister Marisol Lopez Tromp, he said, about her irregular findings in DIP and DOW, and will be writing all departments under his management in an effort to weed out corruption and disorder.
The only dissonant to me, was the special mention of opposition leaders Miguel Mansur, Accion 21 and Marisol Lopez Tromp, MAS, whom Arends labeled unstable potential coalition partners, reporting that members of their political lists suffered post-election, from deficient team spirit, the very fuel that ushered Raiz into government.
Which brings us back to my side note: I am hopeful the new coalition partners will push, and find the fine balance between being Team Players and OUTSIDERS who gets things done, because one cannot always play by the rules.
And one cannot always be a rebel.
RAIZ must define its own identity in government, not blend into MEP and not differentiate itself completely. As I said, find the fine balance. I am hopeful.
