Ursuline Tilma: Dutch government is assimilating children in Bonaire

"The Netherlands has banned our native language, the colonial government is assimilating children," Ursuline Tilma, a member of the Bonaire Movement for Change, who participated in the international conference Decolonization: Silent Revolution, told Report.

The conference was organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) at the UN headquarters in New York.

Ursuline Tilma stated that the main problem in Bonaire is the prohibition of education in the native language (Papiamento) of the local people:

"Although our native language is Papiamento, the Netherlands demands that education be conducted mandatorily in their language and they exert pressure in this direction. They want to create the impression that children who don't know the Dutch language are not intelligent. This is a very dangerous approach."

According to her, the colonial government is assimilating children: "This is not about the children's intellect, but about the language barrier. They want to take away our ability to take ownership of our society by assimilating our children. Whereas our children could receive higher education and be represented in government and administration. The problem is that educational opportunities in Papiamento are limited."

Ursuline Tilma added that if children could receive education in their native language, it would be easier for them to integrate into society in the future:

"Our children need to know who they are and what they are capable of. Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to find their place in society."