Dear Editor,
It seems like some degree of patriotism is finally taking hold on St. Maarten. I see more and more persons are questioning the motives of our alien prosecutors. Some rightfully are being cautious as in the case of Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot-Williams, who said “I am usually quite hesitant to publicly and hastily comment on this type of cases, because I wonder, would it do the person more harm than good.”
When I started to write about this issue I had the same reservations but to that I took comfort in the saying, “For the wrong to prosper it takes the silence of good men.” It is sinking in with our local politicians that this isn’t an attack on Theo, it is an attack on the stability, prosperity and political sovereignty of St. Maarten.
I am not suggesting that Theo be exempted from the rule of law. In fact, I am hoping it works and as such he is vindicated that there is no solid and absolutely irrefutable evidence against him. I am, however, worried that the law is being used as a political weapon to create some degree of destabilisation. An unstable St. Maarten lends for great political mileage for some European Dutch politicians.
The issue of Theo’s legal struggles seems to me a situation of interference of European Dutch politicians, the likes of Van Raak and Boasman, who find “Trump-like” support by stirring up the “strife of being different.” Notice I did not use the word “racist” as yet.
These politicians, fuelled by humours/melee and wanting to point fingers far off to our island instead of in their own backyard, use their positions to influence the prosecutors, who then seemed pressured to conjure up legal debacles for the people of St. Maarten.
I know it is not fair to only blame the European Dutch, locals with a grudge often repeat, post or share a negative imagines/rumours of St. Maarten void of patriotism and/or worse yet unsubstantiated rumours based on no solid prosecutable facts.
I noticed the judges of the joint court took time to point out that the court did not lightly consider the request to prosecute Heyliger and their decision was not based on political motives. It is understandable that these judges sitting from afar made such a decision. At the end of this, their decision will, I hope, put an end to the continuous targeting of the island’s highest vote getter.
I read in your newspaper, Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin’s position that from government’s end, a careful eye will be set on ensuring all procedures and due diligence are properly followed. It is time that the alien prosecutor’s office be watched, monitored and scrutinized.
Maybe a screening system, the sort of the one used by the Dutch against local politicians, should be implemented for alien prosecutors and judges wanting to work on St. Maarten. Should breaches of confidence continue to pop up from within our justice arms, the “watched, monitored and scrutinized” should be enough to warrant legislative discussions on the implementation of complete screening for the good of all involved. St. Maarten should not accept any except the ones of the highest integrity, who can pass the screening.
MP Tamara Leonard said Wednesday systematic targeting is stagnating St. Maarten. I agree with her statement. I have seen this MP speak her mind on the floor of parliament and I applaud her for having the civility to openly defend and support a colleague and a local leader.
She might be the MP that sees it fit to table a motion to review the way in which prosecutors and judges are posted to this faraway vacation spot called St. Maarten. Are St. Maarten and the islands considered a dumping ground or a political reward for the justice personnel in Europe? What are the benefits to being here apart from the sun, sand and sea? How and who selects them for this luxury spot? Are there any undue political forces that might have the ability to influence these aliens? How would St. Maarten go about screening them to ensure that the laws of St. Maarten are not breached by overzealous aliens? Something like the screening used by the Governor of St. Maarten would work great.
To Theo and his family: much strength and with this battle comes your vindication!
Justin Ebenezer
