Dear Editor,
People sometimes say to me that I must not waste my energy on those members of Parliament because none of them is better than the next. Eventhough I see where they are coming from, that is not exactly my way of expressing myself, because to use a Sint Maarten expression "Some of them have a conscience". Eventhough I grant everybody good, that does mean I agree with everything good that happens to a person. I can comment about this because that is what I officially did for forty one years and because I continue to live here I have never been out of the rhythm of things.
I am very much aware that order has deteriorated. Simple because the conscientious inhabitants of Sint Maarten are continually letting us retirees know that we are dearly missed. And you know what is sad, instead of the one in command, whether hands are tied or not, demonstrate concern they go out there and gets himself elected
President of the Association of Police Chiefs of the Caribbean I was reading the article and reacted "I can't believe this". A gentleman sitting at the same table with me and who also was reading the paper reacted saying "You mean John?" I didn't answer him, but I was relieved to know that it was not only me who was curious.
Believe it or not, my first reflection. more of the people's money being wasted again? Because no matter what those meetings will be about, no police chief is footing the bill. I think John should stay here and show concern for all of the deadly traffic one behind each other accidents like to see theirs.
What I know is that no way I would be a gloating and showing off as president of the police chiefs of the Caribbean knowing that the crime rate and fatal accidents are at their highest in my country. Another pressing situation on Sint Maarten today is traffic jams. Eventhough it is a sad situation, in the back of my head I am thinking "Boontje komt om zijn loontje" (you reap what you sow) because eventhough I know he does not like to be in the spotlight, retired Commissioner. long time chief of the Traffic department Commissioner B.A. MARTINA had a complete plan and layout for a ring road which would have swallowed up all the traffic coming from Cul de Sac via the Brouwersroad to the Kruithoff round about and spitting it out into Colebay, Simpsonbay and Marigot via the Unionroad.
Orangegrove, the Wellroad etc. But as practically everything here. If certain people are not involved, it is very difficult to get things off the ground..Now this As I was leaving the parking lot infront of the receivers office a tow truck towing a motorvehicle entered the parking lot and went to deposit the towed motorvehicle on the land destined for towed away vehicles. A gentleman stopped me and said to me. Mister Russell you have to find out who does collect the money for those cars they tow and park by the receivers office. I know he was not pleased, but I told him right there and then. "That is not my concern. But it has been proven over and over here on Sint Maarten, that whatever happens in the dark, comes to light". I am not deciding anything, but I believe if the Minister of VROMI would have a person to person talk with retired Commissioner Martina, we would see solutions. Would they be realised, that is left to be seen.
Russell A SIMMONS
