Dear Editor,
Permit me a little space, as I can't let this on-going matter concerning late payments to students and teachers involved in the Second Chance Education (Social Compulsory Education) program go unannounced.
Indeed, it takes a village to raise a child, and we need to wake up as a community, for it is serious when it comes to education, protection, sheltering and caring for our future generation "our youth." They are willing to turn over a positive leaf and carry their responsibility in life, but this is being jeopardised by our governments.
Our students ages 17 to 24 and their teachers, for the past year, are encountering financial setbacks due to our government's priorities.
St. Eustatius has more than 50 students. Many of these are teenage mothers that are in this programme to acquire an education, which they expect to improve their chances of getting a better job on the labour market and better their standard of living.
These monies used to come regularly in the past from USONA. Now they have to come from Holland via Bonaire, and we know that Bonaire is facing financial problems of its own, as it has been stated by the Dutch that "as long as Bonaire's government didn't show up at the negotiation table, the money faucet would remain closed." So when Bonaire sees fit, it will send the money to our Financial Department, which, in turn, has to get it approved before it finally reaches the Social Compulsory Education to be paid out to the students and teachers.
Our problem situation is that the students (especially our teenage mothers) are left without monies when they are not to blame, as they are living up to their responsibility by attending school. They are the ones left without money to pay their monthly bills. As for teachers, on the other hand, some are not always paid on time, and there are those cases in which both partners are teachers, and they have no other means of income.
Some of these students visited me telling me of their on-going financial situation, and right now they don't know when they will be paid, or how they will be able to pay their house rent and utility bills, not forgetting food for their children.
Why must just this group that needs it most be the ones to suffer the consequences of our government's shortcomings? Why? Must they go back on the streets before something is done?
We all applaud this project, as it provides a better future for our youths, giving them self-worth, knowing that they can make a difference in their lives and those of their children. This is especially true as many of these youngsters were on the streets, involved in drugs, criminality and prostitution, to survive.
Who is to blame? What is our government doing to solve these serious problems? Is it waiting until it accidently stumbles on a solution? Or is that the reason for the plans to put prison cells for 35 persons on St. Eustatius? Is this part of a bigger picture? Do we really and honestly care about our people, or is it all for self-gain?
These persons don't need a quick fix. They need a good adult education programme that will give skills that are needed to function in a modern developing community, so that they can be better equipped and get the jobs that many foreigners are coming in and taking over. My people, we need to build an educated, strong nation to survive.
Every person deserves better, especially our future generation. In this way we are not encouraging them but depriving them. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.
I must say that our government hasn't made many changes, for, as part of the BES, our status situation in reality didn't change for the better. We were first under Curaçao, and now we're under Bonaire – different structure, but the problem stays the same. Why not direct? Let us be SMART (Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and Tracking). It will be controllable, accountable and with less bureaucracy. I really don't see what the big deal is, unless someone's share is being cut short.
Brenda van Putten
Progressive Labour Party (St. Eustatius)
