Dear Editor,

  Please allow me to share the text below with you, because I liked the way of thinking about possible steps to go, on a path of hope, a possible direction for a resilient future:

  So far, the focus has primarily been on overcoming the COVID-19 health crisis, and rightfully so. But we also need to understand the root causes of the systemic corona crisis and plotting a part of the future. The […] measures from governments and central banks will determine economic developments in the years to come.

Root causes

  [Viruses] like corona are far more likely now to transfer from animals to humans than they used to be. Rampant deforestation, uncontrolled expansion of agriculture, intensive farming, […] infrastructural development, as well as the exploitation of wild species, have created a perfect storm for the spillover of diseases from wildlife to people.

  The COVID-19 disease and the crisis it triggered have exposed societal inequality and weaknesses in healthcare. Not everybody has access to affordable healthcare; not everybody can afford to stay at home.

  The pandemic has laid bare fundamental flaws in the way we have organized our economy in our unrelenting efforts to strive for economic growth. The speed and severity of the economic impact on (global) enterprises and value chains are significant. The supply-side restrictions and the fallout of demand demonstrate the absence of buffers and a lack of resilience in big parts of our economy.

  The recovery from the corona crisis is not simply a question of putting the “old” economy back on its feet. The reset we call for, addresses the root causes and [proposes] three key building blocks:

  redefine; working out what matters most;

  revalue the way we live; mixed economy and public values;

  redesign our economy; open, circular and diverse markets.

  This health crisis, rooted in how we, as humans relate to nature, has translated very quickly into an economic and social crisis. And, given the policy reactions so far, it will also transform into a debt crisis. Moreover, the crisis […] demonstrates a fundamental lack of resilience in our ecological, social and economic systems.

Redefine

  We have known for a long time that human progress cannot be reduced to annual [gross domestic product] GDP growth. Declining ecosystems are a threat to our wealth. We first have to redefine what matters most. It is time the concept of well-being became the foundation of government policies and business investments.

  And as we have seen in the past decades, economic growth without adequate levels of equality ends up excluding people from basic needs, human dignity and resilience. People, planet and prosperity should therefore be the central values upon which government policy rests and business investment decisions are judged. Economic growth must make way for wellbeing.

  Redefining how we think about progress in a market economy is essential to broaden policy and corporate agendas so that they encompass all vital aspects of wellbeing.

  We suggest the following combined alternative for GDP, based on:

1. The framework of ecological boundaries as the hard, non-negotiable boundaries for economic activities. The easiest one to start with is the carbon footprint (climate change). The other eight planetary boundaries (biodiversity loss, biogeochemical, ocean acidification, land use, freshwater, ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosols) […] can be made concrete for countries or companies and local or regional scale (Steffen et al., 2015)
2. The achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an indicator for wellbeing of a country. This is the global strategy for well-being in 2030. The aim should be to try to optimize SDGs, keeping an eye on the inherent trade-offs, where, again, ecological boundaries must be respected.
3. Gross domestic product (GDP) can still be used as an important indicator for production aligned with the other goals. In the same spirit, profits and financial accounting frameworks for companies will and should be used, supplemented with other frameworks.

  At both country and company level, this combined set of indicators will help policy-makers to find the balance between ecological boundaries and social foundation. A holistic view on well-being does more justice to the inherent complexity of the interaction between the ecological, social and economic dimensions of sustainability.

Revalue

  Public policy and the economic activities of companies should reflect the common shared values in each society. Revalue how governments and markets interact. Governments and institutions need to support social cohesion, not just market transactions.

Redesign

  The notions of well-being, a values-based economy and public institutions and investments are building blocks for a redesign of the economic framework. We have to redesign our economic system: to make it more resilient, with higher financial buffers, diverse sourcing and more local and circular production chains. We need business to be more resilient and business models to be more diverse.

  The general framework of redefine, revalue and redesign provides the right context for concrete measures that work towards a resilient, sustainable and inclusive economy. This is truly a collaborative effort by governments, businesses and communities. This is a defining moment for a reset. If we make the right choices, our economy can become more resilient, we can create better prospects for a lot of people around the globe and in the end build an economy that is also sustainable in the long term. The direction we choose over the coming 10 years will define our future. If we make the right choices, future generations will also enjoy their lives.

  This interesting text above is from a paper, written by Triodos Bank Netherlands, called: “Reset the Economy, an agenda for a resilient and inclusive recovery from the global corona crisis”, May 28, 2020. It can be read and downloaded for free from the Internet.

G.B. van der Leest

Dear editor,

In my opinion this one isn't a difficult question to answer when you can support the consequences of the answer as we all know in our hearts what the answer should be.

  Our country is cash strapped and presently I don't see much more funds coming into the country from any donor or lender just like that anymore. Effective July 2020, the Netherlands will start the capital expense projects/programmes through at present a still unknown entity, but not one statement thus far that says payroll support etc. will continue through the entity moving forward.

  So depending really on which side of the fence you are the answers are quite different and emotionally charged. For those that have some sort of income, savings etc. from which they can survive for a while longer, the answer I believe is keep the place locked down for American tourists untill we have a better grip on the USA virus spread.

  When you have no savings or income and you are completely dependent on financial support from a third party or work the answer is much more complex. Get sick and survive or starve as food isn't being shared anymore as before either. That too dried up. The picture is grim and I hate that we are placing persons in these positions. I personally do not believe we are ready to handle American tourists but then again I have an income presently so I do belong to the group that will normally say don't open.

  I do believe though that we should also look at the region for tourists but more so for the experiences they are having with the American flow of tourists. Antigua is now being confronted with tourists taking legal actions against the government regarding testing and quarantining. We need to be very cautious that we don't harm ourselves more than we help ourselves.

  Lastly, I'm extremely disappointed that the public meeting scheduled for today in Parliament at 10.00 am to discuss this so important yet extremely secretive opening with its protocols and all its safeguards is postponed last minute for a walk through of the TEATT committee at the Airport. I just don't get it.

  Nevertheless, I'm sure when the pressure mounts properly there will be an urgent (oops this was already an urgent meeting), lets say a SUPER urgent meeting to discuss the matter. One love.

Claudius A. Buncamper

Member of Parliament of Sint Maarten

Dear Editor,

  Community Language Learning has ceased to exist momentarily because of the serious threat of COVID-19 affecting the lives of people in the community and around the world. People in the community should not give up language learning, because of its importance in Science and Technology, Business Studies, and Religious education. I am one who believed in community language teaching and learning. Language communication is one of the greatest gifts associated with mankind. The way we speak, write, listen, and read will help to develop the basic language communicative skills needed to conduct new businesses on the Internet, and the World Wide Web.

  Language focus and writing styles are also essential in expressing cultural thoughts, feeling, and ideas. On the other hand, most people in the Caribbean region and in the Western society are faced with new development in the digital world of technology, where a new virtual economic system is on the rise as a result of COVID-19. With this development bar-code science is playing a huge role in tracking individuals’ movement in diverse communities. The establishment of cashless societies designed for faster business checkouts at e-commerce centers. All these advanced technologies are controlling the lives of people in different parts of the world, and in the way businesses are conducted.

  Lately, I came across a piece vocabulary in The Daily Herald newspaper describing social standard behavior of professional individuals. Words not only have sound but motives as well. In reference to “Abrupt,” meaning “rude or unfriendly,” should not be used to described certain social standard behavior of professional people. Instead of using word like abrupt, it is much better of saying “strange or unusual”. Always remember! It’s not what you said, it is the way you say the word. Descriptive adjectives such as indecent, abrupt, or even erratic should never be used to describe social behavior.

  Furthermore, simple vocabulary is the best way to decode meaning. Most people never forget words used against them: Once I was standing at the entrance of a cemetery. As the coffin with the dead man passes by, a group of six men were standing under a tree. One of the men turn to the others and said, “When that man was alive he used to call him ‘stupid’.”

  Similarly, there’s an old story I read not too long ago entitled: “Trouble makes the monkey eats pepper.” This story indicates how words or phrases can be misinterpreted at times: An old lady was walking selling Guava jelly-jam and sugar cakes. As she arrived at the entrance of the village she stumbles and lose her balance, and all her items fell to the ground. Luckily, only one of the jam was smashed and spilled over the ground. There was a monkey sitting in a tree just across the street when the incident happened. “Trouble eh?” cried the old lady. The monkey thought that trouble was the name of the jelly-jam, so the next day he went to the village asking the villagers where he can buy some trouble. The villagers didn’t like monkeys because they were destroying their crops. So, in the end the villagers sent two vicious dogs after him. The monkey took off with a speed and climbed into a sandbox-tree for rescue. Of all the trees in the forest, monkeys do not like sandbox-trees, because they have a lot prickles all over them. For days he was stuck in that tree, the villagers had to rescue him. The phrase “monkey knows what tree to jump on” came from this story.

  Never before in the history of politics on St. Maarten there are so many problems and confusion in reporting vital information correctly to the general public. Many elected officials ran their campaign on false promises, with the intention if they are elected, they will help the people, and amend laws to bring prosperity to the country. By now it seems like pure fantasy. Many are now criticizing the leadership styles of government. Others are looking at different ways of diversification. Not too bad at all, but it costs money to execute the process, which the country doesn’t have at the moment.

  The Dutch, on the other hand, are using the law of diminishing returns to help bring about financial stability to the island, by establishing a series of stiff conditions referred to as cost cutting measures. These so called measures are too difficult for the poor people to accept right now. These come at a time when the people are struggling from a hurricane disaster and a global pandemic.

  “COVID-19 or COVID-20 is not really the issue right now,” someone said. What is it then? The biggest problem is to get a stagnant economy moving again. There are too many negative factors affecting the revenues of the country. One good lady minister tabled a motion to stop other unemployed ministers from collecting a salary. This motion was not carried. Something like this is very useful to save money. This can also help in stop begging for payroll support.

  Most of the politicians are saying, “Country above self” but the motion can’t pass. Some of them are like wolves in sheep clothing. Some are saying one thing and doing opposite. All the pensioners are receiving pure deception from their own leaders of government.

  Final consideration: During the lockdown crisis around the world, we have seen the rise of a new economic system referred to as the virtual economy. This system will need people with the necessary basic computer skills, smart phones operating techniques, a smart phone, a bank account, credit or money card, and a standard exchange currency to pay for international transaction and receive money. A study skill program for this new system should be introduced into the school program in the computer and business classes from third form to form five level students.

  I am asking people to read Animal Farm, Trail of Tears, and What Color Is Your Parachute – this one is mostly for young adults.

Joseph Harvey

Dear Editor,

  I regularly read on social media that persons believe that other countries receive loans without conditions whilst we in Sint Maarten are challenged by onerous conditions of the Dutch aid.

  Not only is this not true but the conditions attached to loans and investments by many countries are the subject of interesting and devious sad histories that have dramatically impacted the lives of millions in developing countries.

  The stories typically start with a government requiring to cover deficits or obtain capital for a popular investment. The funds turn out to be available, but the conditions are often onerous and extensive. The government typically publicizes the loan, boasts to the population about the great things that will be achieved through the loan but strategically refrains from informing the public of the onerous conditions.

  Some years later when the investment projects do not produce or the deficit is not corrected by cost reductions the people get to find out that what they thought were investments that were owned by the people turn out to be taken back by the investors because the properties had been pledged under the previous loans. Famous examples are a major port in Sri Lanka and the airport in Zambia. The awareness of this happening has fortunately increased and there is a greater awareness of this happening.

  The transparency we enjoy in the Dutch Kingdom and the structure that avoids hidden debt and collateralization is a huge improvement on this often-experienced risk that has been seen in developing and deficit-challenged countries all over the world and certainly in the Caribbean.

Robbie Ferron