Nochi Willem, councilor of the Union Sindical Boneriana, USIBO explains that this is an aggressive campaign that UNKOBON in cooperation with DE GOEDE ZAAK in Ulanda is leading to put the necessary pressure on the Rutte IV cabinet for now to stipulate a social minimum for Bonaire, Saba and Statia. In addition to this campaign, members of the First Chamber also put pressure, demanding a social minimum now.
In the Tweede Kamer also various parties do not understand why the social minimum cannot be stipulated from 1 January 2024. The Human Rights Council and the Ombudsman will keep the pressure on. Now the swimming union FNV has also made it clear that it wants to help put pressure. The same is true of the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) as well as the pressure groups Divosa and Solidatiteitsaktie.
Do not forget that UNKOBON has a court case against the Dutch state. It should also be said that slowly but surely the Dutch press is also paying attention to this issue that everyone sees that the Dutch government’s behavior is against human rights and against equal treatment for us in the Caribbean, being an integral part of the Netherlands. So many movements in the Netherlands to stand up for our vulnerable people so that they can get a fair understanding and pension and with it a fair minimum wage.
Now here on Bonaire what are we doing to stand up for our fundamental rights that are even enshrined in our constitution and recognized internationally. It is our duty to go out and show courage and solidarity and that for us too it is enough to be treated as second, third and even fourth class citizens. On 19 December, Rutte apologized for the cruel acts against humanity that enslaved and violated human rights. Less than four months later, the secretary of state unilaterally declares, without consulting us here on Bonaire, that she is breaking the social minimum. Last year on May 5th, USIBO organized a peaceful popular demonstration to send a clear and scratchy signal that something must be done and Minister Carola Schouten did something about the situation, about the retirement pension and the minimum wage, but everyone realizes that it is not enough because not much has been done to keep costs down, so our purchasing power has not improved and has kept a lot of people still in poverty.
Just as in the Netherlands a coalition was formed to protest here on Bonaire, all collectors of income, all pensioners (they are over 2 thousand), all workers, they are certainly 10 thousand, all members of all unions without distinction, so members of AFBW, ABVO, FEDEBON, NAPB-BES, SIMABO, STRAF, but also members of UNKOBON and sympathizers of all 6 political parties that went to the elections on 15 March, single mothers, young adults visiting SGB, MBO and FORMA, and other social and spiritual groups on Bonaire should all come together in a demonstration of solidarity with those who have taken their throats out and defended our democratic guarantees that our constitutional right to live there in a democratic way is guaranteed by a people that is free from fear, untroubled and united.
Let the world know that here on Bonaire we also support a decent and humane social minimum for Bonaire, Saba and Statia.
And we will join the demonstration of Solidarity when we are called with courage and courage, because we are aware that we are fighting for the defense of a fundamental human right.