Dear Editor,
When a person understands the influence that he has on the community, he uses his public authority to gain their sympathy. That is how the people are fooled so easily, because this politician exercises his charisma to adapt a specific performance and then fine-tunes it to suit his own greedy ambitions. And, this is the reason why the country will continue to swim in corruption, because the population does not see anything wrong.
When will the population wake up and acknowledge that a person’s true value is measured by his character, and not by fame or wealth? So, why the hoopla to release Theo Heyliger? And, why does he think that he should have preferential treatment at the Point Blanche Prison? There is no contrition whatsoever. Instead of demanding his release, he should confront himself in the mirror and focus on the reasons why he is being incarcerated.
But he cannot, because, as saying goes, “A leopard does not change its spots.” At the same time, it is always good to go back to the history of an individual, because those chains of events will help to clarify doubts that may still linger in one’s mind. I can recall back in 1995, at Kim Sha Beach, when his grandfather, Dr. Claude Wathey introduced him to the public. The crowd was electric as we were entertained by the energetic Youth Waves Band.
Man, woman and child were there, because everybody wanted to see the man with the golden key – the chosen one, to continue Claude’s legacy. But within a span of three years, the defining moment came during a television interview, when Dr. Wathey made some shocking statements. He said, “Theo is no good. He don’t come to look for me and I regret introducing him to the St. Maarten people.” This is when I had a different view of Theo.
Is this not the behaviour of the majority of our politicians – those who pretend to care so much for the people, but stand by and watch the population get poorer and poorer? What is bothersome is the moral decay that has become acceptable when so many are also demanding his release. They claimed that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes and nothing is happening since Theo is not there.
If these are the reasons to free him, then all the child molesters, thieves, wife beaters, murderers and every other offender should be released from the prison, because no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. With reference to nothing is happening, are they confirming that the economy is at a standstill and that the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication has failed?
Is this the narrow-minded perception that the community has of their elected and appointed officials – representatives of the people who swore to uphold the rule of law? If this behaviour is acceptable, then there should be no need to fuss when the pattern is repeated, election after election. And, why condemn the scooter riders and the gun and drug pushers? After all, no one is perfect and everybody makes mistakes. So, give them a break.
I wonder if all those who are demanding Theo’s release are the same ones who are insisting that this government reduce or do away with the fuel clause and bring down the price of gasoline at the pumps. I remember not paying for the fuel clause until a certain commissioner entered politics. The question is: Under whose tenue was this fuel clause introduced, and who is benefiting from this tariff that has the population suffocating for years?
No politician should be eligible for early release! These are the persons whom the population trust to abide by the law. So, when they break the law and still expect to get privileged treatment, then it makes no sense to have a prison. If Theo Heyliger is released as being demanded, then every single prisoner should also be released. Empty the prison, because it will be much easier to construct the new one.
As I conclude, in my article of Monday, November 3, 2025, I asked Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten what is it she wants from Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling, when she does not do anything for free. My question came when Minister Heyliger-Marten declared on air that she assisted the justice minister financially (from her budget), because Minister Tackling’s budget is not enough.
I continued to name two possibilities for Minister Heyliger’s generous offer: “Is it that she wants the justice minister to give Theo an early release, or she hopes that Minister Tackling will side with her whenever she needs a vote that would benefit her in the Council of Ministers’ meetings?” I stretched a little further by asking: “What else is in the mortar besides the pestle, Minister Heyliger-Marten?” Eight months later, everything came back, full circle.
You know what is so troubling about this situation? The population adores corruption. Every time someone is selected to carry out the rule of law, the public always rejects that approach and the individual, who sticks to the policies and procedures. That is why it is so fitting to say: whoever does the crime, must do the time.
Joslyn Morton
