Dear Editor,
Maybe there is something I am missing here, but I believe that at a certain moment people have to realize for themselves, I should not let myself be used in this manner. I could add more to that but I will leave it to that sentence.
It is with a heavy heart that I have to write this, but when things are not going well for St. Maarten and it affects us all, I am included in the “all”. I am not the one to walk out of Parliament meetings, and the Minister of Justice is not the one on WhatsApp, dancing in the hall of Parliament, laughing and rejoicing. That member of Parliament should let us all know what that happiness was about because Karma is real, but like I stated before that this is written with a heavy heart, but “sorry” and “I tell yo’ so” usually come after something unpleasant has happened.
I used the word “petty” in my last letter to you concerning the behavior of members of Parliament and it is appropriate in this letter also. Which one of those members of Parliament can afford to rejoice while every time the people go to the supermarket they are getting much less for their money? I happened to meet a well-known person in the community this morning, who said to me that he has to do some shopping to be able to prepare Thanksgiving dinner at home because he cannot afford to take out his family like before.
By the way, there was an article in the paper in the past concerning the poor performance of the government of St. Maarten, and I stand to be corrected, but If memory serves me well, the Ministry of Justice was the sole exception.
In a letter to you I suggested you dedicate a little corner for words often misspelled or misinterpreted. Proverbs and sayings could also be added. For instance, if some of the members of Parliament would use some of their leisure time doing just that, they would know that “you cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs”. But then again if one is being used, and one does not understand that one is being used, one will not understand the reason and meaning of the proverb. But when one walks out of meetings or does not attend the meeting, one cannot be blamed, because that person did not perform. That person is collecting the people’s money for not performing.
For one to be accused of a punishable offence all the elements of that offence must have been violated, so I am not sure if I can determine whether such acts are fraudulent, etc., but there should be a minimum of hours stipulated for those members of Parliament to be actively present in Parliament in order to justify the reason for the kind of salary that they receive. Because if they were not present, they should not be allowed to claim anything. Show maturity, go to the meetings, vote for or against and bear the consequences.
When one does not want to be outperformed, one should upgrade oneself.. There is a Dutch saying “wie A zegt moet ook B zeggen”, and if one was not informed about B it will be difficult to proceed. What is one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence called? I would like for someone who works there and could know if dancing is permitted in the Parliament Hall?
By the way the person who filmed those who were dancing in the Parliament Hall and published that video should be considered guilty by association.
Russell A. Simmons
