Dear Editor,
Coming from me, I can imagine the restraint that that educated black woman had to apply while writing to you in order to maintain her composure and to euphemize her piece. I am referring Joslyn Morton. Permit me to add to that letter that educated black women are independent and to further clarify, educated black women are not followers and educated black women know how to control their emotions. I have said it over and over, decorum.
The intention of this letter was not to deal with Parliament, because even though I was taught by my parents that nothing is a waste of time, when I follow the behaviour of several of those members of Parliament, it seems that certain people in that house do not understand what they are there to do, and that their leaders enjoy having them there for exactly that reason.
So I wonder if my parents were right. Probably not a waste of time, because we can learn how not to do it, but it is definitely a waste of taxpayers’ money. By the way, may I suggest to them that before attempting to do anything when they intend to introduce new legislation, they should first go to 'general affairs' and find out if there is any existing legislation on the intended topic. That would save a whole lot of time.
I can guarantee anyone that there are very few ideas that one could come up with for which some kind of legislation is not already there. All that has to be done would be to update it to coincide with life today. I joined the police force in 1965 and already the 'Bioscoop Verordening' (ordinance governing the movie theatre) was one of the ordinances I had to study. But then again, who makes use of what is available in the government administration? And who trusts who?
Also, Members of Parliament should be appreciative of their experienced president and try to upgrade themselves by mirroring themselves with her diplomacy and her knowledge of parliamentary procedures. It is still so all over the world that protocol is maintained and should be established. It is time that our Members of Parliament understand and avail themselves of these diverse international rules of order in order not to continue embarrassing the people of Sint Maarten.
But what made me go to my laptop today is the young man who came to me and told me the following. Mr. Russell, I know that you don't jump on the police, because you afraid of the backlash. I stopped him there and then and explained him that that was the wrong concept, because as a police officer he should know that police do not take revenge. After explaining him a thing or two he realized that experience is the best teacher and then told me that government does not understand that they are taking care of themselves, but that they (government) are not taking care of the ones who have to take care of them.
Even though I do not know the details because all this came about after I had retired, I have always said the dictator's survival depends on how good he treats his soldiers. I would suggest that the Minister of Justice get together with the Minister of Finance to get things regulated, and most of all get all law enforcement officers a dignified motivational course. From top to bottom. From Bloomberg to Rogers to us" everybody and together", which brings me to the following.
I took the opportunity given by PMIA and attended their 14th annual Lionel Bernard Scott Memorial Lecture at the PMIA hall and was disappointed for solely one reason. Key people of the community, who should have been there to see the response first hand, and who would be able to disseminate information coming from that presentation given by the keynote speaker were not there. Also people who would be directly involved in creating a solution to some of the problems outlined were not present.
Owing to the fact that this lecture has been taking place for fourteen years now and that the message of the former speakers was of a very high calibre, and owing to the fact that the topic for the evening was previously announced, and also a very current and urgent issue, I expected many more members of Parliament to be there. They again missed out on an opportunity to avail themselves of what one, who has experienced life from different levels, had to share. I would like via you to congratulate the PMIA and the keynote speaker Commandant Antonio Rogers of the VKS for a tremendous job.
In ending, permit me to say this. We do not live in a country with 300 million inhabitants; we live on an island, yes surrounded by water. Even though 37 square miles in total, we administrate only 16 square miles with some 40,000 inhabitants officially. On average people cross each other’s path at least three times a week, whether on foot, in their private transportation, or in public transportation.
Whether it is on the job or visiting each other’s jobs or home. We may not know who you are, but we know it was done by you. Because people pass information on to each other whether in small talk or by gossiping, and by the same technology and social media that everyone should avail themselves of, what you have done comes to light quicker than you can imagine. Not snitching is not that strong anymore because of the ability to text. So for the love of Sint Maarten, let us all come together and come clean.
Russell A. Simmons
