Dear Editor,
I was asked by several people if I was joining a political party, because they noticed that I am constantly advocating for all the people in government to leave. I do not know if I wrote it like that but yes because in my opinion this cannot get worse than it is now. It won't do us any harm to put fresh people in government who with the help of the advisory council would be able to give us at least four years of stable government in order to be able to get us back on the path of at the least re-establishing the name of Sint Maarten.
On the 5th of January 1965, we got our first official lessons at the Police Academy in Curaçao. The first question that was posed to the class was the initiation to actual police work. It was "What is the answer that a policeman is never allowed to give?”
We were eighteen in that class and everyone who was singled out to answer, answered “I don't know,” because they did not know the answer to the question. With a grin on his face the instructor said, “Here I am before a class of eighteen men who are supposed to serve and protect the country. I asked them a question, which they all unknowingly answered correctly while shrugging their shoulders as if in despair.”
Fifty-two years later I am still in the habit of avoiding that answer. Instead I still try to direct people to where they can be helped.
Because of the upcoming elections I am constantly wracking my brains these days, trying to come up with something that these governments would propagate that they have done to improve the quality of life for the people of Sint Maarten. The only thing I can come up with is that plastic bag story. I am also not sure whether it was to ban or increase the plastic bags because since that story started there are more plastic bags flying and floating around than before.
I am trying to find something tangible that I would think those in government could come up with to "fool off" the people with, this time around.
So, are not these reasons enough to want to get rid of those who are only collecting and making deals with our money and at least try giving it to another set of people? I am sure that a new set will not be that cunning as to start with the intention of toppling the government, whether in the midst of turmoil or not. But I am cautious because we have had a strange land deal and a flag on which we spend a “ton-load” of money of which we do not know whether it is going to fly or wrap itself around the pole.
What makes things more confusing as to whom to choose is when people send letters to the editor suggesting that the police should have more say in labour disputes when it comes to payments. I would like to know from Cuthbert Banis how the police should go about obliging construction companies to pay their employees?
Very possibly an emotional influenced suggestion, but unless it started this week police make peace, not judge on policies. Yes, they can refer parties to their lawyers, to the labour department, or even the Prosecutor’s office, but the police do not pass judgement. All of this is because we do not have a proactive or controlling government. It is laissez-faire as usual.
These are reasons why those people in government continue to remain in there, no matter how often they shuffle the deck and no matter which party or parties are in government. Yes, ignorance causes insecurity. And when one is insecure one becomes complacent or docile and one does not rock the boat, so the boat continues its smooth sailing because we, the coast guard, do not know whether they are fishing in illegal waters or not.
By the way, I agree with Steven Johnson reacting to the “giving them the benefit of the doubt” from the Editor and I also took your side concerning the remarks of the Minister of Finance. We put them there to do a job and they have had time and enough to do it right. They have only done it right for themselves (check how many businesses they are involved in managed by other people) so, yes, out with them.
“Be still and know that I am God” crossed my mind twice lately and that to me is the cause of the behavior of the throwing down of government in these real trying times, and that quarrel between the Fire Department and Firefly BV (fire fighting fire with fire). I know of umpteen fires started with fireworks, so I never rule out the possibility of fires being started by fireworks. Hence the name.
Who can guarantee that everyone is going to follow the instructions on how to go about lighting fireworks? I am grateful to those in the Fire Department who put their foot down and insisted on putting security of the people before personal interest. So yes, there is reason enough for us to be still for a while and know who is God. It works for me.
Russell A. Simmons
