Dear Editor,
I have called for a National Government consisting of a non-politically-affiliated Council of Ministers to be supervised by a Parliament consisting of all the political leaders. In addition to their short-term recovery plan, they would cover these areas in their long-term holistic approach, in addition to those I wrote about previously:
* A new agriculture policy to maximize the potential for farming and fisheries in a sustainable fashion. We need to be innovative and seek to implement new methods.
* A new health care policy which should not only include a new hospital, but which should revisit the sustainability of the proposed National Health Insurance plan.
* A new law for tertiary education and the development of a state-of-the-art accredited University. It is time we develop Sxm as the BRAIN HUB of the Caribbean to attract students from around the region and the world.
* An amended immigration policy to address the land-size limitations of the island and the availability of jobs.
* A Sxm development bank to facilitate soft loans for local entrepreneurs as well as assist in the development of affordable homes.
* A new tax system such as going to indirect taxes so that the tax burden is spread out over every single citizen and visitor on the island. This policy should include incentives to boost investment in the island locally and internationally.
* A redevelopment of our sports and cultural facilities so that the island can be promoted In those areas. Sports tourism can be a great source of revenue for the island if managed and promoted properly.
* A definition of the Sxm identity in our constitution taking into account our heritage as well as our present social demographic reality.
* A Unified Congress between the French- and Dutch-side local governments with honorary observer positions for Holland and France. An idea mentioned by the present President of the Collectivité. Please note that the reconstruction of the Dutch side absolutely needs to be carried out in synergy with the French side. All attempts should be made to unify forces to combat so many of the common ills plaguing both sides. Both local governments already control many competences such as fiscal affairs, social affairs, transportation, tourism and urban development.
SMCP does not feel now was the appropriate timing for an election but the constitution has played out. We believe our constitution is sacred and should not be trampled on every time our immature and self-interested politicians decide to use it to spite each other or grab power. For the last 40, 30, 20 years, our people have been misled and taken for granted while our politicians have enriched themselves.
Since we have received Status Aparte on 10-10-10, we have seen every single combination of the NA, DP, US and UP coalitions with no tangible results for the island. It is time that we break the political indoctrination which has destroyed our fabric of life, our strong middle class and show the world we can evolve as a people and embrace change. SMCP asks our people to reject vote-buying. Do not sell your future and that of your children.
For this reason we feel it is our duty to contest the elections on February 26, 2018. We are more than ever energized to fight for the people of Sxm and bring about the much needed stable government the island will require to rebuild and reintroduce a strong middle class among our people.
Integrity, Transparency, Accountability and ethics should not be used as words only during a campaign or on a rubber wristband. Instead they need to become our way of life as a people and definitely for our leaders of the future.
With stability in mind, we will be asking the population to WAKE UP and vote for a change. It is time we introduce new blood into our political system. After 6 governments in 7 years, it should be more than evident that the present older party leaders and older politicians from the Island Council days are the very same politicians failing the island year in, year out for decades.
If given overwhelming support, SMCP will seek to form a Multi-Partisan Coalition majority of Parliamentarians across all party lines who will in turn appoint a non-politically-affiliated Council of Ministers to rebuild St. Maarten over the period of 2018-2022. Only the Prime Minister position could be selected from the parties if that candidate can receive unanimous support from this coalition.
It is time we end the fighting to own a Minister and focus on becoming an island with an exemplary Government apparatus, Parliament and Soceity. Both the Multi-Partisan Parliamentary Coalition and the Non-Political COM will seek to work in an accountable and transparent manner with the Kingdom Government (including Aruba, Curaçao, Saba and Statia), the Collectivité of St. Martin and the French government.
Now more than ever it is time all four governments to honor our forefathers and exemplify the spirit of the Treaty of Concordia which was based on the cohabitation of our people.
The Post-Irma Legacy for our future generations should be a new St. Martin/St. Maarten: one island, one people, one destiny forever!
Claude Chacho Peterson
St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP)
