Dear Editor,
In Dutch we say "waterdicht " and in English "airtight". Anyone can go back to the letters that I have written to you and they will not be able to show me where I have insulted anyone. When I declare anything I am always open to be corrected. Someone sent me the 'talk' of the prime minister in which he elaborated on the density of the traffic.
Even though criticizing politicians and other government officials is fair game I will not react the way some people suggested. What I will mention though is that, that part of his talk was not airtight.
The prime minister who gave a dissertation on the reasons for the density of the traffic and along with that the amount of main roads leading to and through the different districts and villages, either omitted or forgot to mention one of the reasons that one of every two residents of Sint Maarten is able to purchase a motor vehicle. Which is that more and more both auto dealers and banks are making it easier for citizens to be able to buy a motor vehicle. It reminds me of campaigning.
I will not state that this was done intentionally, but history will show that too often we neglect or forget to mention the affluent in not so pleasant matters. Many years ago on Mamma's Pearls program, traffic congestion was also a topic. At that time I suggested 'car pooling'. Another caller responded "If I leave my car home and my wife who don't have a driver's licence, take in sick, what you want me to do?"
I answered him: "That is why we have an ambulance and police departments". For many years, whoever was in government knew and never stop knowing that the motorised traffic was intensifying. I and a great deal of your readers know this because I have written to you about it on several occasions.
That was not good enough. All of a sudden after March 13th, we have to look how we going to get over Marigothill. My father used to tell us "If you can't find a solution for something, do not criticize it." I believe that part of the solution could be, have different departments and entities, work night hours. Heavy equipment and trailer trucks should work from 6pm to 6am and nobody holding anybody hostage with pay for night hours.
Also government should seriously look into the maximum size of all buses, regular as well as tour buses and school buses. And of course regulate public transportation, so that inhabitants of all villages have access to public transportation. Intensify the control on gypsies.
Russell A SIMMONS
