Dear Editor,

I am calling on all nations in the Caribbean, especially the Caricom nations, to be wise, never let down America, Great Britain, France and Holland military presence in the Caribbean.

Caribbean people, please read my lips: let Donald Trump liberate Venezuela and its people, majority of Venezuelans depends on Trump to liberate Venezuela.

Millions of people around the world supported and supporting Donald Trump to do the best for the Venezuelan people.

The entire world nations should never accept a political party or a leader that want to remain in power forever.

Such as all those nations that so believe in Russia, China and dirty Iran are not helping to fix the world.

My great excellent God keep blessing America, Great Britain, Holland and France thanks to giving us a world police to go after those dictators in the world.

I had a dream for all those African nations that disrespecting Great Britain, France, Holland, Spain, America, Israel and especially those European colonise powers that will not be good for African.

Cuthbert Bannis

Dear Editor,

What right does it give people who have been in government to believe that they are above the law? Does not the lock-up rate for people who have been in government tell them anything? Where is it written that I am free to say what I want as long as it is true? I believe that that mentality is one of the main reasons for the decline in human behaviour in our country. It has been proven over and over that practically anybody who can vote can become Member of Parliament, become a Minister of Government, throw down the government and go home with a ton of money. The proof is in the pudding. One's level of education does not matter.

Ms. Joslyn Morton in her last letter to you demonstrated that she is a boxer who does not know how to "pull punches". Even though I believe that it's an uphill battle. Because like we accustomed to saying "Dain't got no shame". Not too long ago the Prime Minister finally exhaled while admitting that he does not know when last he got good news, on hearing that some young people on Sint Maarten had built a car from scratch. Say one say two. "If he can do it I can do it too" is what is leading our country today and when I have read that an ex-minister of government is taking people to court because the

ex minister overstepped his bounds I myself believe the results of that case is not going to end up in the voice of the people that (because he was a Minister) the ex Minister was right? There is an ordinance which I have referred to in the past, de Algemene Polite Verordening.

I believe that the Minister of Justice can make use of the laws in this ordinance, have the police enforce them and after sentencing make sure the fine is paid or following up by executing whatever the sentence is. There is a Dutch proverb, "Ledigheid is des duivels oorkussen" (The devil will always find work for idle hands). My strong advice at this time would be, that the Ministry of Justice rearrange their priorities where it concerns negative civic behaviour.

Russell A SIMMONS

Dear Editor,

We are presently faced with a serious uptick in crime, one that has shaken the very sense of safety in our communities. It is deeply unfortunate that I myself belong to a system that needs urgent reform – a political system that spends weeks trying to validate or justify crime trends instead of tackling them head-on.

Recently it has been said that the patterns of robberies have changed in 2025, suggesting that what we are experiencing is merely a “higher visibility” of crime rather than an actual increase. In August, it was stated that crime must be addressed with facts, not perception. Yet, as that “perception” has been dismissed, chaos has taken over our streets.

While it was emphasized that public safety must be guided by accurate data and called for an island-wide integrated approach, this reasoning conveniently ignores the reality that robberies are happening more frequently than ever.

Today, we are witnessing armed robberies almost weekly – sometimes twice a week. Guns are being pointed in faces. Shots are being fired. Robberies are taking place inside stores, on the streets, at homes and in broad daylight. It has become a complete disaster.

This wave of crime is not confined to Philipsburg alone. Supermarkets, small businesses, and even family homes have become targets. No one feels safe – neither the cashier closing up late, the homeowner sitting in their living room, nor the individual walking home from work. Our people live with anxiety, constantly looking over their shoulders.

We are an island entirely dependent on tourism. While these robberies deeply affect our residents, they also tarnish the reputation of our destination. Every act of violence erodes the sense of safety that visitors expect, risking a decline in both tourist arrivals and national revenue. On a micro level, one bad experience can prevent a tourist from ever returning. On a macro level, the perception of rising crime threatens our long-term image and viability as a safe, welcoming destination.

While I call on my own coalition members and Ministers to pay serious attention to this crisis, I must also highlight the state of our prison system, which has made our population more vulnerable. The recent release and deportation of violent offenders has, in effect, become a “go free” card – showing the world that we lack the capability and the will to punish crime with intent. We have diluted the principle that if you commit the crime, you must serve the time.

While we work toward long-term social solutions to address the roots of crime, short-term measures must also be enforced. Space in our prisons must be reserved for violent and sexual offenders. Meanwhile, non-violent criminals could serve their sentences through alternative means such as house arrest or community service.

But one thing is non-negotiable:

No violent criminal should walk free. Let crime pay with time.

As we approach the holiday season, I urge every citizen to remain vigilant. Be aware of your surroundings. Look out for your neighbours. Protect your loved ones. Some may criticize my tone or approach – but as a human being, I cannot stay silent while our people live in fear. Sometimes, even leaders must vent to awaken others.

We have to do better.

Member of Parliament (MP) Viren Kotai

Dear Editor,

As the long-time steward of Lotterie Farm, I read Rajesh Chintaman’s article, “Are We Saving Our Green?” with deep resonance, and, frankly, a sense of sorrowful familiarity.

For the past two decades, I’ve dedicated my life to protecting what remains one of the island’s last intact microclimate forest canopies. Long before “sustainability” became fashionable, I committed to a path that proves preservation and progress are not mutually exclusive. Through Lotterie Farm, I’ve worked to show that eco-commerce, when approached with intention and humility, can support conservation, not destroy it.

We didn’t clear-cut. We built around the forest. We let the canopy dictate the design. Every trail, every structure, every experience was designed to exist within the natural environment, not at its expense. And where trees were lost to storms or time, we replanted, thousands of them.

The forest at Lotterie Farm still stands because we chose a different path. Not an easier one. A slower, more deliberate one, but one that allowed nature to remain in conversation with the human footprint.

The article rightly calls out the unchecked developments scarring our hillsides, projects that erase tamarind trees, silk cottons, mangoes, and replace them with concrete and regret. That reality is not abstract. It’s real. And yet, this forest still breathes.

We’ve weathered hurricanes, economic pressure, and bureaucratic challenges. But through it all, we’ve held to one simple truth: You can build without destroying.

I don’t write this seeking praise. I write it because this model is possible, and it’s replicable. The question the article raises, “Are we saving our green?”, is not rhetorical. It’s urgent. And the answer depends on the decisions we make right now.

I stand in full support of stronger environmental oversight, transparent permitting, and a tree protection framework that’s actually enforced. But more than that, I believe private landowners and developers must step up, not as adversaries, but as partners in protection. I’ve spent 20 years proving it can be done.

The forest at Lotterie Farm is a living argument, that shade is worth more than shortcuts, that trees hold memory, that legacy matters. And as long as I am able, I will continue to fight for every root, every branch, every canopy that still has a chance to stand.

Respectfully: William Welch