English version (Pa papiamentu skrol bai mas abou)
“In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”– Warren Buffet (successful American investor).
On March 21, 2025, Curaçao will hold elections to form a new parliament, followed by negotiations between the winning political parties to establish a new government coalition. While integrity should be a value for everyone, it’s often politicians who come to mind when we discuss it. In this edition, we’ll take a closer look at the integrity of politicians.
A key question arises: Why would anyone want to become a politician? The answer requires honesty, but most politicians—if not all—are likely to distort the truth.
A simple analysis reveals the following: Some politicians claim they want to solve the nation’s problems, implying they have no personal gain from the role—at least, that’s their intention.
Others also say their goal is to contribute to a better nation but fail to acknowledge that they are benefiting from a high salary and a secure pension. The principle that no one can be excluded from being a candidate in democratic elections contributes to this fact.
A third group, aiming to appear politically correct, will mention their desire to contribute to a better nation as their primary motivation. However, their true goal may be to build a network of influential contacts, which could prove valuable if they aren’t elected in the future.
Leading With Integrity (LWI) serves as a watchdog for integrity, and it’s interesting to examine the various motivations behind politicians’ actions to identify where integrity has been compromised.
In LWI’s worldview, politics is a noble endeavor, meant to govern a nation with selflessness. While politicians have the right to a fair salary and will naturally gain experience and valuable connections during their term, there is nothing inherently wrong with that. However, entering politics for selfish reasons constitutes an integrity breach.
So, how can we address these breaches? LWI believes the solution lies in political education. However, this education should not be provided by political parties themselves, as that would be like a butcher inspecting his own meat (as the Dutch proverb says). Instead, non-political institutions must take on this responsibility. LWI is not only committed to this cause but is also fully equipped and ready to contribute toward fostering integrity in politics.
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Vershon na Papiamentu: Drenta polítika? Di kon?
“Ora bo ta buska hende pa kontratá, bo ta buska tres kalidat: integridat, inteligensia i energia. Si nan no tin e promé kalidat, e otro dosnan lo mata bo.”– Warren Buffet (invershonista Merikano eksitoso).
Dia 21 di Mart 2025, Kòrsou lo tin elekshon pa un parlamento nobo. Despues lo sigui negosiashonnan entre e partidonan ganadó pa yega na un koalishon nobo di gobièrnu. Miéntras tur hende mester ta íntegro, hopi bia ta polítikonan nos ta pensa riba dje ora nos ta papia di integridat. Pesei den e edishon aki, nos ke wak integridat di polítikonan un poko di serka.
Un pregunta krusial ku ta surgi ta: di kon un hende lo ke ta un polítiko? E kontesta ta rekerí honestidat pero mayoria polítiko - si no ta tur - probablemente lo trose e bèrdat.
Un análisis simpel lo trese lo siguiente na lus: algun polítiko lo bisa ku nan ke kontribuí na solushon di problemanan dje nashon aki loke ta impliká ku nan no ta buska niun ganashi personal fo’i e funshon aki. A lo ménos, esei ta nan intenshon.
Otro lo bisa tambe ku nan meta ta pa kontribuí na un mihó nashon sin atmití ku nan ta probechá dje posishon aki pa haña un salario haltu i un penshun sigurá. E prinsipio ku niun hende no por wòrdu ekskluí di ta un kandidato den elekshonnan demokrátiko ta kontribuí na e echo aki.
Un di tres grupo di kandidato, deseando di ta polítikamente korekto, lo menshoná nan kontribushon na un mihó nashon komo nan motivashon prinsipal. Sinembargo nan meta berdadero por ta pa traha un ret di kontaktonan influente loke por resultá di ta balioso si den futuro nan no wòrdu elihí mas.
Leading With Integrity (LWI) su tarea ta pa vigilá integridat i ta interesante pa scrudiñá tur e motivashonnan tras di akshon dje polítikonan pa detektá unda ta'tin infrakshon di integridat.
Den LWI su 'worldview', polítika ta un tarea noble i tei pa goberná un pais sin niun propósito personal intenshonal. Polítikonan tin derecho riba un salario hustu i naturalmente lo haña eksperensia i establesé konekshonnan valioso durante nan periodo i no tin nada inherentemente robes ku esei. Pero drenta polítika pa interes propio ta un infrakshon di integridat.
Kiko nos por hasi pa kombatí e infrakshonnan aki? LWI ta kere ku e solushon ta den edukashon polítiko. Pero e edukashon aki no mester wòrdu duná dor di partidonan polítiko mes pasobra esei lo ta manera un karnisero ku ta kontrolá su mes karni (manera un proverbio Hulandes ta bisa). Institutonan apolítiko mester tuma e responsabilidat aki. LWI no solamente ta dediká na e kousa aki sino tambe kompletamente ekipá i kla pa kontribuí na promové integridat den polítika.
