The content of this book is a compilation of daily events from the most energetic time of my life, in which I worked as a prison guard[1] in the prison that was situated in Plasa Wilhelmina and later also in the prison in the district of Kurá Spè. As the district Koraal Specht is popularly called.

                         I have always tried to do my job in good conscience. I do not claim not to have made any mistakes during my job, because wherever an employee performs a job it is possible that he can sometimes, not of his own volition, make a mistake. In such a case, an apology, for whoever it may be, is appropriate. This proves a consensual feeling and good reasoning and not a sense of shame. A saying in Spanish reads: "Lo cortés no quita lo valiente". In other words, courtesy is not a sign of weakness. Your personality will shine more in this way. I don't claim to be one of the best prison guards there was. But what I really cannot accept is that I am left out of the list of those who were determined to ensure that the prison had a solid structure.

                     The photos from the past are from the National Archives Curaçao. The photographer of the most current photos is Cahleen Giterson. There are some images of artifacts and of building drawings drawn by myself. And the photographer of the photo of me in uniform is a member of my family.

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                       I am very grateful with the help of Drs. Brendalique Giterson who has acted as a typist of the many texts I have written over the years. I am very happy with the help of Angelique Giterson who was my Allied at any time that I needed either copies or anything related to my book. A huge thank you to Drs. Cathleen Giterson who acted as "Wan shete fishi" [2] of this book and also a thank you to Ms Thelma Anthonia who helped with the text revision.

 

                      I would also like to thank everyone who in one way or another contributed to the realization and publication of this book.

 

                                                                                               Juan C. Martis

 

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[1] prison officer

[2] Handyman. A person who performs or uses different types of work or that makes use of his/her various talents in the performance of a job or task.