Dear Editor,

As a parent and concerned member of the Saba community, I believe it is important to bring to light the growing concerns surrounding Saba Comprehensive School (SCS). For years, many have pointed fingers at the elementary school, diverting attention from the equally troubling issues at SCS. However, ignoring these problems has only worsened the educational environment for our children, and it is past time we address the challenges openly.

Since the school year began in August, students have yet to experience a fully functioning school environment. It is now November, and SCS is still operating below 100% capacity, with a persistent shortage of teachers that has led to an alarming number of free periods. The lack of adequate staffing not only disrupts students’ learning but also compromises their overall educational experience. Every missed class period represents lost time, and it is unfair to ask our students to sacrifice their futures because the system is failing them.

The school’s principal plays a significant role in this crisis. Instead of providing effective leadership, there is a troubling pattern of responsibilities being shifted onto her coworkers, which leaves critical tasks neglected. Furthermore, there are concerns about frequent work-related travel. While professional development is important, it seems disconnected from the pressing needs at SCS. With the school facing financial constraints, the allocation of funds for repeated travel leaves many parents questioning its priority over classroom resources and teacher recruitment.

Attempts to raise these issues have largely been dismissed. Parents who reach out to the administration with questions or concerns are met with a lack of responsiveness, or no response at all, as the principal appears unwilling to engage in constructive conversations with regard to current issues and meaningful changes. Our voices are ignored, our concerns trivialized, and our children’s education suffers as a result.

The community deserves answers, and our children deserve a functioning school. I urge the leadership at SCS, the school board (if there even is one), and relevant authorities on island and in the Netherlands to take immediate action. Addressing these issues transparently and directly will not only restore parents' trust but, more importantly, will improve the educational experience of every child attending SCS.

A very concerned parent

Dear Editor,

And dear Members of Parliament of St. Maarten,

The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” has been embedded in our community for centuries. Today, this phrase has practically lost its meaning and relevance.

Over the past months, we have witnessed atrocities and atrocities committed to children, and in particular, our special needs students at our special needs school Prins Willem Alexander School (PWAS). Parents appear to be oblivious about what is happening with their children in school, educators become compliant about the day-to-day activities fearing for the safety of their jobs, and political leaders enable the situation to promote their agenda.

The only special education school in St. Maarten has not received attention from anyone from the beginning of the school year 2024/2025.

In August, as published in the media, WITU [Windward Islands Teachers Union – Ed.] called on the Minister of Education to reinstate two highly skilled education workers who were reassigned to another school. As reported, WITU issued “a formal appeal to Education Minister Lyndon Lewis, urging him to reconsider the reassignment, citing the potentially devastating impact on the specialised education provided to children with diverse abilities at the institution.”

To date, this matter has not been addressed by the minister nor the Parliament of St. Maarten. Where is the investigation into this matter? Has the SG been made aware of this and what is the report? Where is the stance of the Ombudsman in this matter?

What is happening now at PWAS? It has been reported that there is one person in management. How is this possible? Does the assigned individual have the necessary qualifications in special education? Is PWAS equipped with the special education teachers, music teacher, physical education, home economics teacher, handicraft teacher, Dutch teacher? Is the office equipped with a Director, Assistant Director, Student Care Coordinator, Social Worker/Counselor, Psychologist/Nurse and functioning administrative assistant? Why are there so many teachers out? Who are the substitutes when these teachers are out, taking into consideration the students are special needs and need individual attention, accommodations and modifications? Are the students receiving the necessary sensory materials to advance their learning?

How are the students treated? Why are they being pulled, pushed, kicked while no one in authority is investigating these matters? Why are the students being denied water to drink? WATER, a basic human need.

Why are there reports of special needs students being sent home without their shoes? Why are the students unsupervised for extended periods? Who is observing the teachers and guiding the new teachers? Why were the police officers called into the school to deal with threats among teachers? Why are parents being asked to keep their children at home because the challenges of these special needs students cannot be handled at school? What are the Truancy Department, Inspection Department, Student Support Services Department, and Ministry of Education doing for our special needs students?

MPs of St. Maarten, if you truly love Sint Maarten, do for our special needs students what they cannot do for themselves. Do not be intimidated by the threats and victimization of others, use your voice, and champion the cause of our students. Help Prins Willem Alexander School become the school that special education students deserve.

Return the skilled professionals to carry out exemplary work at that school for the sake of our special needs students. Ensure that the care and attention needed for our students is being received.

Do not go on hearsay, investigate, we beg of you. We plead with you.

On behalf of all Special Education Students and parents, thank you.

Concerned citizens

Names withheld at author’s request.

Dear Editor,

Why do our representatives find it so difficult to tell the truth? This has been a non-stop trend that keeps raising its ugly head, elections after elections. But, no matter how much they try to conceal it, the truth, in its purest form, always finds a way to reveal itself. Because politicians know that a huge part of the population is low-informed, they use this situation as a springboard, to pursue their goal of power and control.

This mentality brings me to examine the character of certain politicians, who are trying to convince the public that they have integrity, but still take the liberty to fool the people of this country. I will start with MP [Member of Parliament – Ed.] Sjamira Roseburg, who recently became Vice Chair of Parliament, and chair of the Justice and Integrity committees, respectively. All three are viewed as honourable positions, and should be treated as such.

MP Roseburg, to be the Vice Chair of Parliament demands the highest level of integrity. And, to seek the positions to be the chair of the above mentioned committees, they also require the same amount of reliability. Because, this consistency, which boils down to honesty, is the foundation for possessing this rare quality, that is called integrity.

Here is my dispute with you, MP Sjamira Roseburg. If I were an MP, you could have never gotten my vote to be chair of the Integrity committee. I could support you for the Justice committee, but only because of your educational background. You know why? On Monday, September 30, 2024, in your interview on air, you had every opportunity to come clean with the people, regarding the real reason why URSM does not have the Justice portfolio.

MP Roseburg, I will be the devil’s advocate, to test your level of integrity. Is it not a fact that you were offered the Justice ministry after the January 11, 2024, elections and you refused? And, for the August 19, 2024, elections, is it not the truth that you proposed your dad to be the next Justice Minister? In my article of August 26, 2024, when I brought this issue forward, I was not specific. I only said that you suggested a family member. Do these scenarios sound familiar?

Only after your supporters insisted (according to you) to take up the position, you think it over. The real upset came when the SAM party was awarded the ministry of justice. When you realize this, you wanted your party leader, Luc Mercelina to renegotiate the portfolio. Is this not factual, MP Roseburg? Now you wanted to take the position, because MP Frankie Myers had everybody in suspense, with regard to who will represent his ministry.

Just Friday last week, you were still lamenting that your followers are disappointed that you were not chosen for the post. Was it not on Monday September 30, 2024, you proudly announced that you will work with the incoming minister, Attorney Nathalie Tackling? MP Roseburg, why can’t you be contented with the reality that a colleague from your field, was offered the privilege to serve in that capacity?

MP Roseburg, I think that you are jealous of the recommended minister. Do the issue of votes and running on a list, still haunt you, like your colleague, MP Richniel Brug? A person with integrity, would have reassured her fans that the position is already taken, and that you have pledged to collaborate with her, to improve the standard of the ministry, in order to create a much better society.

MP Sjamira Roseburg (Madam 5 star representative), if you refer to yourself as being a leader (Vice Chair of Parliament, chair of the Justice and Integrity committees), your actions and your words must always be in sync with each other. Since you have pledged to be a collaborator, let your tenure reflect the characteristics of a renowned team builder.

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

There is an undeniable truth that the dismantling of the Antilles was a terrible mistake. The evidence of this disastrous consequence is the constant recycling of incompetence, pettiness, malice and monotonous dialogues. Regrettably, the people have gained very little from this constitutional change, which confirmed that the task group had limited foresight, when this new status (10-10-10) was constructed.

Due to this lack of prevision, this painful dilemma has led to the invention of this unrefined culture that exists in The People’s House – a culture that has been developed to weaken the legislative branch of government, mainly to serve the needs of unscrupulous MPs [Members of Parliament – Ed.] – a culture that is being created to control the minds of ministers, and to remodel the executive branch, for total exploitation.

Gone are the days when the population was eager to hear what our Island Council Members and Commissioners had to say – intellectuals, who could have debated and defended the issues at hand, because they felt a sense of accountability to the people – advanced thinkers, who knew that they were the regulators with the authority to hold the government liable for any mishandling of the people’s business.

Now that this high-level thinking has disappeared, it’s every man for himself, with the exception of a measly few. Parliament has become a lounge, where most MPs act as if they are waiting for a friend to have a drink, crack some jokes, and get drunk if they so desire. When I watch the parliamentary meetings in Holland, the MPs are so alert, and they debate with maturity, knowledge, interest, and a sense of purpose.

Here on St. Maarten, it’s plain to see that the MPs are there just for the money. They are not ready to work, nor are they willing to learn. So, they live on their phones as if they are preparing on the spot and are anxiously waiting for their friends and supporters to send them the questions and answers. This is why their level of deliberations penetrates no further than the surface.

This mentality has left them so blindfolded that their only mission is to destabilize the ruling coalition, at all cost. They can’t even find consensus among individual parties, when it comes to being an honest MP. Currently, there is a “dutty” game that is playing out in parliament, where MP Ludmila de Weever has voted against her party leader twice, in favour of MP Ardwell Irion and MP Daryl York.

Imagine, MP De Weever prides herself to be the one who is keeping PFP relevant, yet she backstabbed MP Melissa Gumbs on two occasions last week, so that Irion and York to be chair of the Finance and VROMI committees, respectively. In my article of September 23, 2024, I called MP De Weever an imposter, but this action is worse than a fake. MP Ludmila de Weever is a traitor, who has committed high treason.

After this move, I could never repeat that MP De Weever is a politician that I like a lot. I have lost every ounce of respect that I had for her. Wi Voice, this is your beloved queen, who could do no wrong, and some of you are afraid to call her out, because you all still have to meet them up the road. Definitely, the truth always finds its way out. Now it is clear what their private meeting was about.

As mentioned in my article on September 23, 2024, this is Ludmila’s last successful run, because if she thinks that the grass is greener on NA than PFP, she is sadly mistaken. Does MP Ludmila de Weever believe that these renegades on NA will welcome her just so? No! They have already measured her disloyalty, and for them, she is just a pawn in their political chess game. She needs to ask Kevin Maingrette about the price that he paid for salvaging his name.

People, this is the level of conspiracy that dishonest politicians will stoop to, and the “dutty” game that they play, when they cannot get their way.

Joslyn Morton