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Diaranson, 2 December 2020 AWEMainta 13
Aruba Bank cu contribucion pa Ride 4 Kids di Kiwanis
Aruba Bank a contribui cu un
bunita suma p’e prome edicion di e
Ride4Kids Challenge. Miembronan
di Kiwanis Palm Beach a organiza e
careda rond di nos isla diadomingo,
29 di november. E causa ta encera
un 100K bike challenge, caminda cu
Rothmar Coenraad conhuntamente
cu 2 miembro mas di Kiwanis a core
como meta.
Tur fondo recauda pa cada miembro
cu a competi ta bay pa proyectonan
social, cu den gran parti ta enfoca
riba e bienestar di nos muchanan.
Sponsors y esnan interesa por a
sigui e careda via “Live Track” riba e
pagina di Facebook di e organizacion.
A LESSON FOR ZVK AND MINISTER HUGO DE JONGE
Dear Editor,
Hugo de Jonge as Dutch Health Minister Previous non-ZVK patients were Jesus wept! However, a choppy
needs to review the way responsible granted this favor. Why not me? meteorology discounted a walking
care is delivered by his civil servants back to Statia on water.
from the ZVK (Care Insurance Office) “No!” came back the email from This is not the first time that the ZVK has
on St. Eustatius and Bonaire. As a a dispassionate officer inside the been criticised for lack of responsible
recent patient in need of support ZVK Kralendijk office. This bleeped care and false economy. Over the
from these offices, I was treated response was not accompanied by years, the ZVK has squandered many
with a lack of empathy, flexibility and any explanation or sensitivity for my millions on delaying the return of many
communication skills. situation. Statia patients treated in Colombia and
I then turned to the crisis management other medical destinations - if only to
Diagnosed with acute appendicitis, I “adviser” on Statia whose typical civil save a few nickels on cheaper flight
was faced by a life or death situation. service advice was to ignore my crisis tickets. Some patients have nearly
The St. Eustatius hospital – with and deflect the problem higher up the expired before repatriation.
immediate consent of my Dutch chain to the Ministerial Czarina for the My lesson for ZVK and its Minister
insurance company - swiftly organised ZVK on Statia. de Jonge is to rely on personnel
an air ambulance bound for Bonaire who are prepared to listen, care and
and an urgent medical operation. And now the crunch: “I am not involved respond accordingly. The skies of
with individual cases,” this unfeeling Statia are punctured by parachuted
When it came to my return to St. and dismissive Dutch Mandarin administrators from the mainland
Eustatius, it was suggested to me by informed me. whose talents, experience and
several knowledgeable people on St. qualifications are rarely pre-checked
Eustatius and Bonaire to contact ZVK. So much for responsible care! Instead even at the highest levels.
of a two hour flight to recuperate at
It was a reasonable proposition. The home on the Historical Gem, I was As a Dutch taxpayer, I expect the
ZVK operates two direct medical flights obliged to spend a painful two week State to work at the service of the
per week between the two islands journey back via Curacao and St. individual and not the reverse. I
and as a Dutch pensioner, resident Maarten with all the inconvenience of shall take this matter further since it
and taxpayer, I thought it would infrequent flights, Covid tests, hotel displays a complete lack of flexibility,
not be unreasonable to ask for this and restaurant bills not to mention communication skills and more
service paid for by taxpayers’ money. eventual quarantine. importantly responsible care.
Furthermore, I was prepared to pay Chris Russell
for a seat on one of their sizeable Given that Hugo de Jonge is a Christian Bay Brow
planes. Democrat, I am tempted to exclaim: St. Eustatius
