January 2nd, 2007: New Year's Speech H.E. the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles

Distinguished guests,

Tonight, I would like to reflect on well-being and the development of our people, especially our youth.

All of you here have the responsibility of making a contribution to the well-being and wholeness of the people in the Netherlands’ Antilles. And I want to thank you for all the good you have done. To this New Year’s reception, I have invited many spiritual leaders, and it is to these leaders that I would like to speak in particular.

It is often said of you that you are the salt of the earth.  Salt is what preserves food and keeps it healthy. Salt prevents fish from spoiling.  It prevents meat from going to waste. As “salt,” your calling is to prevent our society from going bad, and to make our people whole and healthy.  It is interesting to note, that in Papiamentu, the word for health and for salt is the same, except for the syllabic stress.  Salú means health and Salu means salt. Perhaps the initial speakers of Papiamentu instinctively understood the connection between salt and health!

We all wish to see the good ingredients in our society preserved. We want to see our people developed to their full potential. We do not want any talent to go to waste.  We therefore highly value the efforts and contributions you make through managing schools and stimulating parents to be involved in the upbringing of their children.  More than anyone else, you have the opportunity to speak with parents, to help them and to train them! Thank you for encouraging development and wholeness.

As well, we thank you for all the social action you have taken in solidarity with the poor, for the distribution of food parcels and clothing, for the soup kitchens, house repairs and emergency aid. Thank you for encouraging people when they are down, thank you for comforting those who grieve thank you for caring for the sick.  We commend you for participating in the many celebrations and ceremonies on our islands. We honor you for stimulating the worship of God through prayer, and the singing of spiritual songs. 

We appreciate that you make our nation aware of such values as faithfulness, humility, honesty, love, joy, peace, harmony, kindness, perseverance, and self-discipline. You bring a good message! You are important motivators and messengers in our community; you speak of love and righteousness.  We want to hear you!

But is your message always heard?

Many factors contribute to the impact of your message. I ask you, therefore, to consider the following questions. Have you found new and exciting ways to make sure your message is received? Are you in tune with the values, interests and concerns of our young people? Are you connecting with them? Are you speaking in their language? Is your aim to change young people so that they fit better into your community? Or are you willing to change your community so that you are more accessible, more attractive and more attentive to our young people?

I encourage you to speak up because we want to hear you. Speak clearly, not faintly.  Speak up, and teach us how to be protected from evil.  Speak up, and warn us, if there is danger.  Speak up, and call us to account if we violate our own values. What good is a dog who does not bark when a stranger tries to break into the house? What good is a teacher who mumbles? You are the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it loses its saltiness?

So then, be strong and courageous, continue your good work, in fact, multiply it, with God’s help.

To the rest of you, you may think these words do not apply to you. But they do!

What good is a shepherd without a flock? I have asked the spiritual leaders to speak up, but I ask all of you to listen. Listen to what they say about the values of life. Listen to what they say about tolerance and respect. Listen to their message about how to live together in harmony, despite differences in opinion, the color of our skin, or our ethnic or religious background.

A new year has begun. Let us be the salt of the earth!

Together with my wife and three sons, I wish you a year filled with blessing.