By Alex Rosaria

Like many, I’m still taking in the images of the tragic death of George Floyd, an unarmed black U.S. man, in the custody of the police who knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes. As a man of color, this enrages me.

  But this is bigger than the color of my skin. We all have the right to be treated equally, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, class, religion, belief, gender, language, sexual orientation or other status. Yet all too often we hear heart-breaking stories of people who suffer cruelty simply for belonging to a “different” group, and we do nothing about it.

  Last year Christian religious leaders came together in Willemstad to denigrate LGBTQ people because they want the same rights as heterosexual couples. We pretty much stayed quiet and continued to go to their houses of worship. Daily we silently see and hear fellow citizens discriminate against people (especially women) from the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela. We get enraged when another race discriminates against us, yet discrimination among people of color based on the shade of blackness – the light-skin preference – is common practice in our community.

  Racism and discrimination against people who belong to a different group is not a “uniquely” U.S. phenomenon. Discrimination against homosexuals is ingrained in Russia and no matter how much Europe tries to hide it, the way it treats the Roma people (gypsies) is inhuman. Neither is it a matter of black and white or white and non-white. Just consider the Rohingya (Myanmar), the Tutsis (Rwanda), the black albinos (Sub-Saharan Africa), the Burakumin (Japan) or the Hmong (Laos).

  What to do? Certainly not keeping quiet or just airing our disgust on Facebook. We need to realize that we are not innocent bystanders. We should call out racism and discrimination not only when our group is the victim, but whenever someone is not given equal treatment or opportunity based on race, ethnicity, nationality, class, religion, belief, gender, language, sexual orientation or other status. If we don’t stop this evil we are guilty, we are accomplices.

  ~ Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia and the Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He is from Curaçao and has an MBA from University of Iowa (USA). ~

Dear Editor,

  My name is Ingrid and I am writing to the editor about what is going on that is wrong.

  There are St. Maarten citizens and residents that are in the USA who have been locked out and need to come home. The government page is stating to contact an email which we did but to no use.

  There are children up here, their school has been closed, even the place they were living some had to leave because lease expired or they can’t afford it. They are hardly making it, plus it has this epidemic and now protesting, and hurricane is upon us. They need to be in their homes safe, not stuck up here.

  Only God knows how some of them are making it. They are suffering.

  Come on now, the same way Delta came in and picked up the Americans that were there, the Prime Minister could have dealt with Delta to bring her residents home at the same time before they stay here and get sick.

  All other countries and islands are bringing their citizens home, only SXM keep blocking their people from coming home and be safe.

  When the PM is saying she loves SXM remember SXM is the people and the people are SXM – not the island, the people – and what you do today comes back to bite you tomorrow.

  Stop leaving the people out in the rain and not allowing them to come to their shelter, which is their home, like the government did with [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma, saying you cannot come to the shelter until the hurricane passes. By that time bad things will already happen.

  Learn to love our people, our youth, not just by words for people to say, “Good speech,” but by actions and feelings.

  Thank you.

Ingrid Grell

Dear Editor,

  Calypso is the folklore music for the majority of people across the Caribbean region. It is characterized by culture, poetry, humor, and a lot of love for the artists and their contributions to the music world. Calypso has been a type of folk music for a long time. It is truly a symbol of wonderful Caribbean inspirational music entertainment. Once ago ABS, ZDK, and Radio Antilles were the favorite radio stations promoting and playing calypsos on a regular basis across the Caribbean. Now, due to changes in operation calypso music hardly broadcast around the region.

  Today, calypso music is also under political scrutiny. If the artist chooses to sing against a political party, or certain politicians, a few radio stations will not play his tune, and others might ban his song. During the lock down crisis, I listened to a lot of old time inspiring calypsos. I even forget there were imposed restrictions on both sides of the borders. The lyrical contents of these amazing classical masterpieces made me very happy. I was so overwhelmed by the humor and musical rhythm of these tunes that I forget we are in a COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

  Many calypsonians expressed their stories in songs and poetry, presenting their thoughts and opinions in tunes the audience wants to hear. Calypso music connects to other beats across the world. The “Talking Drums of Africa” is an art expressing a form of folk calypso rhythm in story-telling. Calypso involved itself in commercial advertising activities, stage competitions, carnival parades, and many other social activities or events. It hurts my heart to see a culture of inspiration dying a slow death. The music is great for the young and the elderly. The older generation enjoyed the tunes for mostly listening pleasure. The younger folks used it for dance hall entertainment.

  Some calypsos expressed vulgarity, humor, fantasy, politics, identity and culture. Others about love, education, freedom, slavery, sadness, poetry and country. Here is a list of well-known memorable tunes from top calypsonians from around the Caribbean region for great listening pleasure: The Mighty Sparrow, one of the greatest calypso artists of all times. Song the “Death of Kennedy,” Verse: The world never missed a man so since the death of Christ; Lord, it was terrible, oh what a sacrifice; he gone and without a doubt not one word he said; when a Texan Gunman shot him in his head, and he dead; November 22^nd was the day he died; when I got the news how I cried; he was a man of great personality, brings lot of hope and equality; he was a man among men, we all missed a friend. Chorus: The world never missed a man so since the death of Christ.

  Other famous tunes by Sparrow are “Honesty” and “Education.” In “Honesty”, “If a poor man wants to find happiness, he has got to learn to be dishonest.” With his super tune in “Education”, verse: Children go to school and learn well; without an education in your head; your whole life will be in misery or you better off dead; there is no room in this whole wide world for a non-educated little boy or girl.

  His songs like “Jean and Dinah,” “May May,” “Congo Man,” “Salt Fish,” and “Mr. Ben Wood” are typical vulgarity tunes.

  Another serious calypso song came from King Elli Matt out of St. Kitts. His song, the “Poor can’t take no more.” Verse: If a poor man is right, he getting wrong; if he fights they shoot him down; father, tell me when the pressure will end. Chorus: The poor can’t take no more, that’s cried from shore to shore.

  Another big tune out of the Federation is by King Star Shield. His song “Justice on the Ole Hog.” Verse: If a man is caught exploiting the revenue of any island; no police should just warn him and set him free because of a high position; he should be treated just like any other man; he should be sent to jail and clean off his head, if he’s condemned; what a big disgrace! Chorus: This is a story of a man called Gunuh.

  Another superb calypsonian is Latumba, out of Antigua. His popular tune: “Liberate You Mind.” Verse: How can we be liberated, when we’re so confused; this country is so divided; there are so many different views; this system has got to go or we will suffer more; crying shame and shouting blame, we all are guilty just the same. Chorus: We in this little country must live in love and harmony, working for prosperity in this little country. Lust and greed is keeping us back, crippling the state, we have to rise to the occasion and demonstrate to the world that we all are one.

  De King Arrow, out of St. Maarten came up with this chart-buster here in Paradise. He called this one “Arise”. Verse: Would you stand up and see your country dying and never lend a helping hand; how could you sit by idly and watch your country politically with maladministration going on and on. Chorus: Arise, this country is yours, all yours, it is yours.

  Another bombshell to hit the world is “Mother’s love” by the Mighty Sparrow. Verse: Certain men should hide their faces the way they treat their mothers is a disgrace. They neglect their mothers for donkey years, and when she died they crying crocodiles’ tears, and hoping that their names come out in the will. Chorus: When their mothers were alive and now that she’s dead they want to buy a casket big like Hilton Hotel, and retribution will kill any man who treats their mothers that way.

  Calypsonians such as Lord Nelson with his big hit tune “Norman and Audrey,” Lord Blakey, “Hold de Pussy,” Lord Canary, “Dr. Beckles,” King Obstinate, “Children Melee and Fat-man dance,” are more on the humor side of calypso. Chalkdust out of Trinidad and Tobago with his super classic, “Identity and You can’t judge culture,” Gypsy, “Sinking ship,” and Mighty Swallow, “Children of the universe” are serious calypsos with excellent messages.

  Bahaula De Meek from Nevis took calypso music to a different level by producing his own Cadre beat. He said Cadre music is good for your soul, people should dance to beat to keep the culture alive.

  Calypso tells great stories and jokes of past calypsonians: In stories: Lord Nelson with “Dove and Pigeon,” and “Stella.” In jokes: Sparrow said if ugliness was sin Lord Melody couldn’t go to heaven, and Christo will be Superman. They usually sing about interesting topics and important situations like capitalism, slavery, friendship, coup de etat, carnival, and education.

  Many excellent tunes have been lost because some of the artists could not afford to put their songs on wax, cassette tape or CDs. The main reason for this was the lack of capital. In real life, some people who are familiar with some of these lost tunes have many regrets they can’t listen to them or purchase them anymore.

  The late Maestro once said, “The first thing that is a shame is African people with European names,” and urges Caribbean people to change their names to form a true historic state.

  Many people of the Caribbean region love the inspirational lyrics of old time calypsos. These classical songs inspired people across the region and other parts of the world. I must pay tribute to the Gay-lords of Dominica for their three wonderful tunes that shook the Caribbean and made them famous. Their tunes: “Pray for the black man”, “Hit me with music,” and “Dreams of Africa.”

  People of the Caribbean listen to calypso music for pleasure, advice, inspiration and love. Kaiso Genius out of St. Maarten with his tune, “Stay home” was a super hit. King Stunky, “Where’s your culture gone” is another serious hit. Other St. Maarten greats: King Bratt, “A model nation.” King Bobo, with “Broke again,” and King Timo, “White wash” are fantastic tunes for listening pleasure and for paying serious attention to the lyrics of these songs.

  In summary, in the years ahead, calypso music will live on. Institutions of further and higher education should see the music as an important part of Caribbean history and culture. Profiles about the artists and their songs should be studied and presented to students to help keep the culture alive. Calypso outlived spooge, merengue, rocksteady, and cadence music. It also outlasts other original dance hall music such as la pachanga; the twist; the ska; samba; rumba; and the bossa nova to become the number one dance hall music in the region. Long live calypso music!

Joseph Harvey

Dear Editor,

  Let me start my letter by stressing that there is absolutely nothing personal directed at no one. but I believe if we should be in this together, then together should be the key word.

  There are certain letters written to you, of which just by reading one or two paragraphs I have an idea by whom they were written. I try to avoid reading the name of the person writing to you before reading the letters to avoid being prejudiced while reading.

  On reading “We are all in this together” I recognized the genre. I can clearly remember my father asking me when I became a policeman, “Did you look up the meaning of the word policeman or police-officer in the dictionary? You are just 19 years old. Before you go out there beating on your chest telling people that you are a policeman you should know the meaning of the word and what it stands for.”

  Those things from my parents have always lingered with me, so using my dictionary and Googling is not strange to me. I am trying to avoid using the term “politician” because when I googled the definition of the word “politician” it is stated “a person who acts in a manipulative and devious way typically to gain advancement within an organization.” When I Google the word “devious” it states, “showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals” and the explanation given is “he’s as devious as a politician needs to be.” Reason why I usually write “people in government”.

  Emergency loans from Holland have always been necessary and as we should know, with Holland nothing is for nothing. For that matter there have always been conditions when countries lend others money – for instance, “you have to support me in the UN”, etc.

  I believe that as time went by, moneys allocated have ended up in the hands of the politicians, among others, so Holland knows who to touch for certain things to be exposed and here we have politicians trying to use the guilt-trip tactics on the civil servants.

  I am not a politician in no sense of the word and when I do not agree with certain decisions taken by government I usually look for someone close to government and let them know, before I write to you about it. I would expect if we are all in this together then we should get together and enlighten each other of how it has happened in the past and let each other know who we are dealing with.

  COVID-19 does not discriminate neither should we. What I know is that if I have 10 guilders and the other person has 1,000 guilders and both of us lose all our money, the person with the 1,000 guilders lost much more than me. That is my explanation for “the bigger you are the harder you fall.” There are some points in the last paragraph of that letter that I agree with, but as I mentioned before, yes, we are all in this together. “Together” being the key word.

  Speaking about together, there are a whole lot of “small supermarkets” in every corner of the island, which really have not been affected by the pandemic as other businesses were. When I look at who is working in those “small supermarkets” I do not or hardly see someone looking like me working in those “small supermarkets”, but we know who the owners are, and that is a type of business that we all have to patronize, whether there is price-gouging or not. Is the new normal going to be stringent (price) control on all businesses and permit holders?

  I have also noticed that there is an increase in the cement business and the drivers of dump trucks with particular nationals with two specific speaking accents. The new normal should become “St. Maarteners first” and nobody should dare accuse any St. Maartener, or for that matter anyone who is of that opinion, of discrimination.

  Do not we expect more people to be locked up? Do not we really know that Holland knows where the moneys have been going? And who is partners with who? I will repeat: The bigger you are the harder you fall.

  Share, do not hoard. I did not say “bad spend”, I said “share”. People’s patronization enables one. Share.

Russell A. Simmons