Dear Editor,
I was not yet 20 years old, in my first month on the job, living at home by my parents when my father sat me down, pointed to the suture(seam) between the tiles on the ground and told me to “watch that good.” I was not nearly aware of what he was going to tell me.
He said to me, “I want you to always walk that straight line, because there will be many who will not walk that straight line. A day will come when everybody will be obliged to walk that straight line. It will be difficult for those who were not accustomed, whereas if you walked that straight line it will have become second nature to you.”
Why did I start my letter this way? Simple: MP S. Jacobs thanked Minister W. Smith. Something that surprised everyone, but should not have, because government continues.
If we were in the habit of doing the things in the right way and getting recognition by merit, instead of being of afraid to offend voters (which they do anyhow by not doing the thing right), there would not be cause for surprise when things are done the way they should be done.
This is the second time in his short tenure that Minister Smith has put his money where his mouth is. I also got a whiff of a report of his travel abroad on behalf of government. We just had two Ministers travel abroad also, hopefully the people will get a report on what was accomplished, because the people’s money was spent, so the people expect an account.
When I first arrived in St. Maarten to work, because of the way I carried out my duty, the talk around was “Who he think he is to come up here to change things. Don’t worry, the old man going get rid of him soon.” And this also coming from the top.
I hope that now Minister Smith, who by the way I am sure is not changing anything, will not be accused of wanting to change things. He is just doing it the way it should have always been done: by the book and giving an account to the people. I am sure it is for the better.
When they used to say that they are going to get rid of me my answer would be “as long as they let the people know the real reason,” for it is not merely a saying it is a fact: “The truth will set you free.”
I am continuously amazed that so many of our people in government continue to be indicted and we go about it as if what they are doing is normal. Whether guilty or not there is still another court case pending. My father used to tell me, “If you were not there, your name could not be called.”
Minister Smith, with the children at heart, disregarded his ego and did the thing right.
Russell A. Simmons
