Dear Editor,
“To say that the just sworn in Ministers have their work cut out for them is an understatement.” The beginning of your editorial of January 16, 2018. No, I am not the devil’s advocate. The proof is in the pudding.
There is also “Sint Maarten now has sixth prime minister in 8 years.” I would add my own along with yours “Governor Eugene Holiday in Guinness Book of Records as governor with the most cabinets sworn in, in record time.”
You wrote “six prime ministers in 8 years.” You were being gracious. Pulling punches causes fights to be lost. I would say seven governments in seven plus years.”
Yes, I believe that the proof is in the pudding. When I look at the individuals, again I see reshuffling and recycling of Sint Maarten's government on both levels; I see the now made famous by Sint Maarten “ship jumpers.”
In the past I have stated that a Minister should have some degree of education pertaining to the portfolio that he/she is heading and I am still of that opinion. So I also see a weak government.
When I add this all up, a perfect recipe for the reason to elect an all new set of people to Sint Maarten's Parliament come February 26. I am sure that there will not be a difference in the ability to do the work and I am also sure that there will be sound advice coming from the Advice Council.
Since 10-10-'10 all governments of Sint Maarten have had their work cut out for them being a new country, and as we know, I might sound monotonous, but all they have done is jumped ship, toppled the government and reshuffled themselves.
Hence the proof is in the pudding. I do not think that I should create false hope, expecting them to accomplish anything else than they have so often proven not to in the past? So I have to say, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
The various lists have a good deal of able young candidates, starting with the brown list. Out with the old and in with new.
Russell A. Simmons
