Dear Editor,
I have never stopped going to a church service at some time during the week. I have heard at least 3,700 hundred sermons in my life. As the years go by and life evolves some sermons come in just at the period in time when it is most appropriate.
Well, on Sunday, June 18, 2017, I listened to one those sermons. This one was most appropriate for Father’s Day. I know that the sermon from the Sunday service at the Anglican church is aired on that same Sunday at eleven o’clock on PJD-2. It is a sermon which is appropriate for fathers and could be repeated all during the year, so I’m wishing that that sermon gets more airtime during the year to awaken the responsibility of those for whom the shoe fit. That was not the original intention for writing to you, but since I know that it is more than necessary I had to mention that.
It seems as if this letter is going to be in bits and pieces so here we go. Someone asked me what good does being a member of Parlatino do for us? Meaning, what are the benefits of St. Maarten being a member of Parlatino? I was explained this in a nutshell at one time, but I told that person that he should get someone from the newspaper to interview those who go to those meetings and from whom we do not get any feedback, and ask the important question so that we also can get an idea what our money is invested in and what the returns should be.
Another person stopped me in the parking lot and told me that my government is showing off with a building that the pensioners paid for from their savings while the Minister of Finance is letting us know that our pension fund is in jeopardy. I told him that I had already written about that several times. He told me that I should take a ride at night to see it lit up, and he wanted to know why waste the money that the lighting is going to cost, while the finance minister is complaining about we do not have any money. A few flood lights would do the same job. What I know is that those lights are not safe during a hurricane.
When it comes to government saving money and definitely lowering the gasoline bill all government has to do is get smaller cars, and yes, not only from Motor world. The majority of the car dealers have several models of which the prices do not vary that much so that the wealth could be spread and not only one person get the lion’s shear. Government has to make sure everybody lives.
If we keep a close eye on what is happening in traffic on St. Maarten we would notice that beside the gypsies, police, ambulance, fire trucks and customs department, eight out of every 10 cars in the traffic is occupied only by the driver. Stand by Air Lekkerbek and monitor it. This also is the case with government driven vehicles. Only one person in each vehicle, so why do we need SUVs. Get smaller vehicles and with the worsening traffic congestion, because we refuse to regulate public transportation in the adequate way for St. Maarten, I would suggest acquiring motorbikes. Let’s save some money people. By the way, young ladies are riding more and more these days also.
The Minister is telling me that my pension money is in jeopardy so I have to show him that there are more ways than only collecting that measly 13 million to help the government coffers. I was told that effort is being made to get back the money from whoever is responsible for government having to spend large amount of moneys because of litigation. I believe somehow that money should end up where it belongs and those who are not responsible should not have to be punished for incompetence and irresponsibility of others.
Permit me to ask this question – If government put seven sleeping police across the Soualiga Road, does that mean that those drivers who pass you on that road because you are adhering to the intention of those sleeping police, have the right to look at you as if you are the criminal or even blow at you because they mean that you are driving too slow over that road?
Russell A. Simmons
