VBC: "Government is eliminating foundations of society"

July 06, 2011 10:18 AM

According to the Business Association Curaçao (VBC), all signs indicate that the current government policy is focused on eroding and/or eliminating the foundations and the infrastructure on which the Curaçao society is built.

“After intervention and approach in the constitutional state, the apparatus of government, the government entities (government NV’s and institutions), the Central Bank, the education and the labor market, the public health pillar is to take the rap,” according to the association in a press report.

According to the VBC, the trotted out alternatives that are to replace and/or improve this foundations are not convincing nor based on sound democratic views, such as transparency, good governance, legal security, integrity and trust. It is unclear, according to the VBC what the government intends with this policy.

VBC emphasizes the concern and the cries of distress coming from organizations in the public health sector and expressed by the Inspection Public Health. “All studies and experiences worldwide demonstrate that a well functioning public health sector is of essential importance for a sound and attractive living and investment climate. The competitive position of a country and the extent of the labor productivity also depend on the quality of the public health,” says the VBC.

The policy pursued by Minister of Public Health, Jacinta Constancia (MFK) and the measures taken to-date are incomprehensible, according to the association. The VBC also condemns the policy pursued by the other cabinet members. The VBC queries the withdrawal of the signing authority of the Inspector General for the public health. The decision to leave the independent Inspection Public Health up to a private hospital domiciled in The Netherlands of which the media reported that the CEO of this institute was convicted for as many as three penal acts by the court, also surprises the association. Therefore, the VBC urgently calls on the government to reorganize their policy and approach. According to the VBC, the government is to aim for a swift recovery of the confidence, the peace, integrity and order and respect within society. “This is also the best way to guarantee the basic principles such as good governance and legal security,” according to the VBC.

4 July 2011