Dear Editor,
Another year has passed and one of the few changes is that we were able to seat a government without too much drama. Of course, we witnessed the performance of our person of the year chosen by a member of the fifth estate (Press) based on their impact on the society; don’t think they took into consideration that they have yet to hear of successful convictions of all these supposedly corrupt politicians and vote buyers and sellers since 10-10-10.They have heaped so many charges on our people while in the end maybe two hold any weight according to the court.
They would have us believe this organization is a beacon of integrity and honesty. This is the same office a few years ago that planted drugs in the car of a citizen to set him up so that the super prosecutor could carry on an affair with his wife; and one who collided while driving under the influence in the Middle Region area. There was also the case of one member charged with domestic abuse. No mention is made of how many people lives are affected by drummed-up charges that panned out to be nothing, or the seemingly unending time it takes for the accused to have his/her day in court. (Justice delayed is justice denied).
It is not enough to say oh yes we are grossly understaffed. for when you parade people in front of the press you should explain that beforehand. We have yet to get an explanation for the “Gestapo like” behaviour of this office breaking down doors and destroying people’s property while already in the residence, or creating the impression that these people are guilty via the press to influence public opinion while they have not been to court and as it is won’t get there for years.
When are we to hear about the investigation of a person being gunned down in the custody of the state without as much as a call from this office that is to serve the people to his wife, mother or father. While I would like to forego choosing a person of the year suffice it to say that this organization can only enjoy this honour in a military state, a dictatorship or in a colony run by a country with a long and bloody slave trading and owning past.
We have also heard of the planning for an IPKO that should have been cancelled, but after all the Dutch has election in March and what better campaign issue can you have than to show how you put the islands in line. So we waste the taxpayer’s money to allow the Europeans sometime in the sun and talked about a very amicable and informative meeting. Within a week we hear the Dutch have appointed a Quarter Master for the integrity chamber that doesn’t exist and to date has not had the ordinance amended to meet the concerns of the Constitutional Court.
In IPKO after IPKO the islands have been crying out for a dispute regulation and have even presented legislation to that effect, only to have the Dutch masters inform you that they have adopted a regulation that suits them and they will look at yours later. The right of initiative also comes to mind that also won’t happen for it would allow the islands to impact their politics.
For the good of me I can’t figure out what it will take for us to realize and recognize that we are colonies and not equal to the colonial master as we like to believe. Contrary to popular belief the Dutch has no hidden agenda, it is clear for all to see they want uninhibited control and placement of their civil servants with powers superseding that of the elected officials here. Our continued parading as Prime Ministers or Presidents of Parliament or the false notion of being equals in the Kingdom is nothing but an illusion of grandeur better suited for dreamers and fools.
Elton Jones
