I would like to express my shame that an extremely expensive force is being “appointed” for a few months during a pandemic, in a small country where more than 60,000 food parcels have been distributed, where people are fed daily through charity and private organizations. where people are still without water and where children, partly due to the dire poverty, have fallen behind because many cannot participate in online lessons.

  We live in a country where this government places most of the blame on the increasing positively tested people on the population, and that while you as a government are still unable to trace people.

  What a disgraceful government you are all, especially because many of the ministers still allow themselves to be photographed without masks while you are imposing this on the community. You are acting irresponsibly.

Josef Martina

Curaçao

Dear Editor,

  Nowadays there are three topics that dominate the news: Donald Trump's behavior, COVID-19 and the financial aid for St. Maarten as a consequence of COVID-19. And then there is what has become normal for several years now: the questioning, arrests and indictments with or without convictions of government employees and/or politicians.

  I believe that I have mentioned this before also, but Dutch politicians in the highest offices for years now have also been accused of criminal wrongdoing and also convicted. A few months back someone showed me a list of the names of 21 members of a certain Dutch political party who between 2007 and 2015 were convicted for bribery, driving under the influence of alcohol, embezzlement, fraud, manhandling, money-laundering, tax evasion, tax fraud, and more So, yes, politicians from Holland also are known to be bandits and corrupt.

  I will never say to anyone that he or she must not defend themselves.

  The difference between the politicians in Holland and the Antillean politicians is that the politicians in Holland when they are caught, accept the fate and take French leave. Our politicians try to defend themselves up to the highest court in the Kingdom, and even leave themselves without an ace in the hole, even though the majority of them end up being convicted, so that most of the people who were not aware of what was happening in the beginning eventually read about the whole saga at the end.

  All of this contributes to the fact that “Do what I say” is no longer effective while correcting children. Along with that as a consequence of modern technology (cell phones) more people physically see what is taking place as it is happening, so more and more the youth are following what they see. We take the bible out of our schools, but we go out of our way to engrave and print “God zij met ons” and “In God we trust” on our guilder and the US currency.

  Why is that not hypocrisy? Children taking their parents to court for inappropriate scolding. When this is permitted by law, is this not also hypocrisy? Is not the government stopping the parents from loving their children? The last time I read Proverbs 13:24 in which it is written that he who loves his son disciplines him promptly and if you hate him you spare the rod. The GNT reads “If you do not punish your children, you don't love them. If you do love them you will correct them promptly.” In Dutch “Die zijn roede inhoudt haat zijn zoon, maar die hem liefheeft, zoekt hem vroeg met tuchtiging”.

  So, can I come to the conclusion that the Dutch do not really care about us when for years they have employed “laat ze maar rotzooien”, which would coincide with “die zijn roede inhoudt, haat zijn zoon”?

  I have been asked several times if I do not like the Dutch and my answer remains I do not condone wrongdoing and I have a problem with accepting hypocrisy. I believe that if one teaches me anything but solely wants me to use it to his/her benefit, then there is something wrong there. Which boils down to “voor wat hoort wat”. What happened to “Doe wel en zie niet om”? A lot of good can be done in this world, why do we go out of our way to do that which is not good?

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  Hugo de Jonge as Dutch Health Minister needs to review the way responsible care is delivered by his civil servants from the ZVK (Care Insurance Office) on St. Eustatius and Bonaire. As a recent patient in need of support from these offices, I was treated with a lack of empathy, flexibility and communication skills.

  Diagnosed with acute appendicitis, I was faced by a life or death situation. The St. Eustatius hospital – with immediate consent of my Dutch insurance company – swiftly organised an air ambulance bound for Bonaire and an urgent medical operation.

  When it came to my return to St. Eustatius, it was suggested to me by several knowledgeable people on St. Eustatius and Bonaire to contact ZVK. It was a reasonable proposition. The ZVK operates two direct medical flights per week between the two islands and as a Dutch pensioner, resident and taxpayer, I thought it would not be unreasonable to ask for this service paid for by taxpayers’ money. Furthermore, I was prepared to pay for a seat on one of their sizeable planes.

  Previous non-ZVK patients were granted this favor. Why not me?

  “No!” came back the email from a dispassionate officer inside the ZVK Kralendijk office. This bleeped response was not accompanied by any explanation or sensitivity for my situation.

  I then turned to the crisis management “adviser” on Statia whose typical civil service advice was to ignore my crisis and deflect the problem higher up the chain to the Ministerial Czarina for the ZVK on Statia.

  And now the crunch: “I am not involved with individual cases,” this unfeeling and dismissive Dutch Mandarin informed me.

  So much for responsible care! Instead of a two hour flight to recuperate at home on the Historical Gem, I was obliged to spend a painful two week journey back via Curaçao and St. Maarten with all the inconvenience of infrequent flights, COVID tests, hotel and restaurant bills not to mention eventual quarantine.

  Given that Hugo de Jonge is a Christian Democrat, I am tempted to exclaim: Jesus wept! However, a choppy meteorology discounted a walking back to Statia on water.

  This is not the first time that the ZVK has been criticised for lack of responsible care and false economy. Over the years, the ZVK has squandered many millions on delaying the return of many Statia patients treated in Colombia and other medical destinations – if only to save a few nickels on cheaper flight tickets. Some patients have nearly expired before repatriation.

  My lesson for ZVK and its Minister de Jonge is to rely on personnel who are prepared to listen, care and respond accordingly. The skies of Statia are punctured by parachuted administrators from the mainland whose talents, experience and qualifications are rarely pre-checked even at the highest levels.

  As a Dutch taxpayer, I expect the State to work at the service of the individual and not the reverse. I shall take this matter further since it displays a complete lack of flexibility, communication skills and more importantly responsible care.

Chris Russell

Dear Editor,

  While we all sit in freneticism of the ongoing pandemic, many of us are urging to return to normalcy. However, the reality makes it clear that what was normal will never be normal again.

  As we gradually get into this new routine of “normal”, where protocols have been implemented at the various establishments, one that seems to be hanging with a huge grey cloud over its head is the reopening of schools. A fearful reality for some, whilst a Halleluyah for others.

  Whilst many school boards have reopened based on what they deem as the fair and safest way to do such, the question remains as to how much input the Minister of Education has into enforcing that indeed it is the safest way, taking into account the necessary precautions that are required island-wide by every other establishment.

  It is baffling to imagine that the public expect schools’ on-site staff to be able ensure that COVID-19 will not be a part of the environment. Furthermore, whilst some boards have taken the precaution to accept their students on a 50/50 alternating basis, unfortunately there are other boards who have blatantly chosen to receive all students per class on their school premises, classes comprising 24-30 students in many cases. People, do you really think that the manpower of a few teachers versus hundreds of students can oversee the social distancing and constant handwashing of its pupils, especially to a group that is in the phases of learning to “follow instructions” and “follow routines”?

  Additionally, the matter of mask-wearing, whilst some may disagree that students should wear masks, the reality is that many students, as old as high schoolers, even adults at times, cough, sneeze, some even “hawk up” cold, without covering their mouths. Furthermore, though students (at primary level) are considered not to be a target group for COVID-19, however can be carriers, what about their teachers … who cares for them? Does the government, the boards, the parents? What happens when an onsite staff member contracts COVID-19 due to loosely implemented COVID-19 safety protocols?

  Now let’s analyze some possible school facts.

  Unlike many establishments, where the Covid-19 Safety protocols may be manageable, a school houses its students for 5-6 consecutive hours, simultaneous populations of minimum 100 students at a time. And, yes, whilst other establishments are able to implement and enforce the social distancing, the mask wearing, and the handwashing, have we really thought about what this means for a school environment in St. Maarten per se?

Social distancing:

  How many students can actually fit in a classroom, whilst adhering to the 6-feet social distancing guideline?

  Can they have actual interaction, other than talking, with the mates? What does a recess look like? Do you really believe it is a social distanced one?

Mask wearing:

  Students and teachers should wear masks all day. No wait, students should not be required to wear masks, they are not susceptible, but can be carriers. No wait, the students should wear masks, they are the potential carriers, excuse the teacher, they practically use their mouth (for 5-6 hours a day). No wait, neither should wear mask … the endless discussion of the school mask wearing protocol.

  Now some “in the kitchen” facts. In using the mask, constant verbal repetition is most likely the new normal, the “say it again” syndrome. Students can’t hear the teacher well because of the mask, teachers can’t hear the students well because of the mask.

  Now let’s say the students were to wear no mask. Little Johnny, whose parents are so busy, they really have not had the time to teach Johnny to wash his hands or cover his mouth when sneezing or coughing. Little Johnny sneezes, droplets reach the teacher’s chair, teacher reflectively turns around and says, “Johnny go wash your hands,” not realizing that she touched her chair handle where the droplets may have reached.

  And like this, many other scenarios exist.

Handwashing:

  Whilst onsite staff work tirelessly to ensure that the guidelines are followed, in addition to pushing a curriculum, the truth is that in order to implement handwashing, a regular supply of water, soap and paper towels is needed. Do the boards really have the monies to continuously fund it? Hmmmm … .

  To the Minister of Education, whilst it is obvious that there is no law that requires the abovementioned safety guidelines in order for schools to be open, the reality is that schools are a nesting-ground for any contagion. And whilst some tend to make it seem like everything is under control, the truth is obliviously obvious.

  Your responsibility is to safeguard all stakeholders within the education, and ensure that the safety protocols are being enforced at all times at all schools. Your task is to hold every board accountable for their actions and infractions, if any. Your task is to make a legal decision that holds everyone accountable, school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents! Put it in black and white, now!

  Additionally, the FbE [Foundation Based Education – Ed.] exams for all group 8 students should be cancelled and that should be made known now. What mental state do you think teachers and students are in to really understand and remember concepts, whilst being in constant fear because of COVID-19 and constantly having to remember to hand-wash and wear masks. Allow time for schools to devise a remediation plan for when the students are placed in high school.

  To the school boards, your task now should be to ultimately safeguard your teachers; if your teachers are well, trust that your schools and students will be well, too. Implement the safety protocols as they should be done, not because you are going to eliminate the possibility of COVID-19 spreading, but to minimize it. Safeguarding your teachers’ mental wellbeing, it is a real thing.

  Remember, your teachers are the ones who have bent over backwards to ensure that all students were given the possibility to continue their education since March 18, and are still doing so, and chances are, with minimal to no materials provided by you. Whilst many were on lockdown, education never stopped, at the expense of the teachers’ mental health. With extra added demands and complaints from everybody, but many knew not the weight or the value of the task that was and is being fulfilled.

  To the parents, teachers want schools to open and remain open too. Online classes were not “another vacation day” for a teacher. As a matter of fact, it was the teaching load seven-fold, added with complaints and demands from every possible angle.

  To the general public, it is your duty, our duty, to do our part in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Enough of the blame game! Teachers didn’t ask for this. Teachers are doing their best with what they are given! Teachers are at the bottom of the command chain, they are merely following orders from above (unfortunately at times). Teachers love your children and by extension you. BUT, teachers are human beings too, with families of their own, fears of their own, and concerns of their own. Give them some grace and respect, they never stopped having your child’s best interest in mind, despite the crappy treatment they receive.

  Let us hold hands in harmony and battle this pandemic, whilst taking care of our fellow brothers and sisters, teachers included!

A teacher, a parent, a civilian, a human being

Name withheld at author's request.