Dear Editor,
On Thursday morning early, someone called me and told me that I am finally going to get my plastic bags. I explained to him that I was not in the plastic bags business and that he should understand what he reads. Check the paper, MP Sarah is taking over the plastic bag law from Frans and Janchi. After explaining him about the plastic bag saga, he finally understood why I continue to refer to that plastic bag business.
Then I told him since they finally decided to make a move, the next move should be the public transportation. I know that government is responsible for everything good or bad that happens in the country. Some directly, some indirectly and I believe public transportation is one of the direct ones. When someone is setting up what is known to be bus-stop-huts with or without permission all over the country, whether there is a bus stop at that spot or not, is reckless behaviour, and irresponsible behaviour on behalf of government. And government knows this and is leaving the reckless behaviour continue, again feeding the Dutch with more ammunition to mess with us.
Some people have asked me if the way they are put down, they could withstand a hurricane. I believe that VROMI is responsible for that part, but I want to know who goes to a bus stop to charge their phone? I have always said that one should copy the good things. Arubus, the Aruba public bus company goes to every point on Aruba and is also on a time schedule.
By now the people should have realized that I believe in fairness. When my letters to you make the opinion page, they are black on white, and I stand responsible because I am aware that it is your prerogative to print or not to print. I have also mentioned that I do not think it is correct for members of government in their official capacity should write letters to you, expecting you to print them. That in my opinion is delegating responsibility to you and you in that instance are deciding which can affect the community whether negative or not.
To me there is something wrong with that picture. I read a letter from Julian Ebenezer who quoted MP Sarah Wescot-Williams as saying or writing (I could not determine which) “It is sinking in with our local politicians that this isn’t an attack on Theo; it is an attack on the stability, prosperity and political sovereignty of St. Maarten.” And my answer to that is: “The same goes for toppling of our government so many times in so few years. In no form or fashion would I not make use of the opportunity to voice my opinion against blatant injustice, but how strong am I.
Who placed those signatures for 10-10-10? Did not we also throw our own young Sint Maarteners under the bus. One of those instances that lives with me is the head of VDSM. I have mentioned it many times and it has been proven time and time again that the Dutchman’s motto is: “Voor wat hoort wat” and “Ik zal je noch eens krijgen.”
When I was in the 7th grade one of the subjects was “Vaderlandse Geschiedenis” (History of Holland). Mouthy me asked my father how come we don’t know the history of Aruba, but we have to learn the history of Holland. My father, the diplomat, started with a story and my mother cut him off “Because they want to show who the boss is.” My father sailed so my mother was mostly in charge. I remember one time my father told me that the boss might not be right but remember he still the boss.
When I told my mother what “daddy say” she told me don’t walk around with that foolishness in your head, wrong is wrong. If it does not concern you directly leave it alone, but we teach you to respect people. Not because he is the boss that makes wrong right. I’m going to tell your father what I told you. I started out with being fair and that is because in my opinion MP Frans Richardson was not given the same attention and support as MP Theo Heyliger.
Why only now? I also read a list of names in another letter and no matter what, forgiveness is due to them, but were they right. And why did the list have to go on and on. Does not anybody care? What happened to “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me?”
The salaries of the MPs are exorbitant, not to mention the gratuities and two extra years if you were not re-elected. What more do you want? The Bible teaches that both power and money not handled correctly is destructive. When they see the results of not adhering to this teaching, all kinds of blame are going around. I can imagine politicians playing their games, but it is the people who put them there and it is the people’s money they are messing around with. So, no matter who lends from who, the people have to pay it back.
Devote energy on how to administrate that 4 billion in order to reduce that 70% of us who living just on or below the poverty line.
Russell A. Simmons
