Dear Editor,
The race to elections is on and candidates are flirting with vulnerable party leaders who are desperate for power. Everyone is trying to get a piece of the pie. All of a sudden, these specialists have the solution to every problem when they themselves have managed and supported the same proclaimed failed parties. In addition, contenders who have government in a choke-hold are swinging from one party to the next. Even those who questioned the party’s leadership still trekked on to fill the same list; the ones who damned the bridge that they crossed are returning like wounded little Chihuahuas. Never in the history of St. Maarten have we witnessed such audacious exploitation designed to achieve massive confusion.
What’s fascinating is that party leaders have complained bitterly about the phenomenon of ship jumping. In fact, this unprincipled manoeuvring is viewed with scorn because it continuously cripples the proper functioning of government. These defectors have used this free movement as a bargaining chip for personal demands. If this is the case, then why would party leaders accept the same candidates who took pleasure in destabilizing every single government? Is it not the lack of moral principles that has caused them to go in that direction? So what is the difference between now and then? People are who they are; all they need is the right platform to express their true self.
The sad reality is that many persons would get caught between now and Election Day because they will be influenced by fancy talk, religious affiliation, family ties and illusions. Many will not take the time to investigate the background of every candidate. It is disheartening to see how hypocritical some potential candidates are, before even being elected. They have written and spoken publicly about their moral upbringing, but behind closed doors it is heart-breaking to see how cruel they are to children. Furthermore, right in this newspaper and on air a certain individual pretends to be so upright, when many persons have complained how this candidate took thousands of dollars from them to file their resident papers and to date nothing has materialized. These are just some of the characters that will manipulate the minds of the electorate.
Moreover, people need to pay close attention to the political development of the country. Follow it step by step. Look at what has transpired; who are the players; monitor their behaviour and listen carefully to what they say. Do you remember the politician who said that she is only responsible for the persons who voted her? What did the television host say? If she (I am paraphrasing) has this behaviour now wait until she gets into Parliament.
The former Minister of Health refused to go to Parliament when he was called to clarify issues that pertained to his portfolio. Then, he undermined the hard work of his coalition partners when he made a last minute decision to take up a seat in Parliament. Do you see how he has disgraced the image of “The People’s House” by disrespecting one of the Ministers and the Chairlady of Parliament throughout his entire term? Now that election is near, he and his pal are trying desperately to tame their temperament, but the damage is done.
I can recall clearly listening to the grandfather of the UP leader. He said that now the grandson is in politics he does not look for him anymore and that he regrets introducing him to the people of St. Maarten. The grandfather died since 1998. The pertinent question is: why would he make such a statement so long ago? When the five parties came out late last year to contest the expected February election, which party leader asked if he could be of assistance to them? Why would he do that and why all of them and not one or two? People, you need to wake up! Get over the bling and quit making the same mistake over and over.
If one goes back to the end of September when there was a motion of no confidence towards the then Council of Ministers. Do you remember the reactions of these parties that sprung up like wild mushrooms? One candidate remarked that she was at the Chamber getting ready to register her party. There she met another party leader who asked her to merge their parties and immediately she accepted the offer. Just like that? Are we to believe that this candidate can be influenced by anybody, at anytime and anyplace?
As mentioned in a previous article, it is my conviction that these new parties are branches of a bigger party. I have also stated that if election wasn’t due in short this government would have fallen already because there was a serious attempt to interrupt this governing process. Based on the political environment there is no guarantee that any government will last a full term. The people must come to the realization that the outside influences are much greater than the will of most of the candidates. So, now is your time to scrutinize, before you finalize!
Joslyn Morton
