Dear Editor,
If people follow my trend in the letters written to you, they would realize that I put the people first. Permit me to share an anecdote of 1971. I was on the job for 6 years. I was working out of the police station in Rio Canario, Curacao, when an American couple (tourists) came to the station and asked for directions to get to Punda. The desk sergeant of whom I knew that his English was shotty, tried his best to explain them how to get there.
Their body language and facial expressions told me they did not understand what was being explained. Knowing my desk sergeant, I had to evaluate which would be the better of two evils. I chose not to let the tourists leave without being able to get directions from a police station on Curacao, so I added my bit to the original explanation. The lady reacted by saying, "Oh, okay now we understand"
I left Curaçao in 1975 to come to Sint Maarten, and one of the last things my desk sergeant told me was, "Try not to show up your superiors, up there." I do not usually do the work of the political leaders, even though I am often accused of the same, but in this case I would not lose out of sight that Cliffy has chosen for what he campaigned and that is to serve the people. He is putting the people first. Do we not constantly repeat that politics makes for strange bedfellows? So why are we disappointed that Mr. Smith, who according to Joslyn's letter, is asking for Education and Prime Minister. Is he strange to those positions?
History of politics on Sint Maarten would tell anyone that this is the best solution for a semblance of hope for this government to last four years. What I did not hear from my cousin though is that the school children are saying that the same people who toppled the last government are the same ones holding up the process with unreasonable demands.
Frankly speaking, the public secret is that the DP side of the UD is demanding Prime Minister. I do not know if I am ready to attack someone’s character if there is no proof that nothing yet has gone wrong. When a choice between the lesser of two evils has to be made, one runs the risk of a back lash.
My cousin says it's the flavour of power, I say my personal interest must not jeopardize the people. I definitely agree with the beginning of Joslyn's letter to you, but whose foot does that shoe really fit?
Russell A. Simmons
