Dear Editor,

  I believe that the editor of a renowned newspaper is one of the most accurately informed people in a community, because the letters to the editor are usually based on the true sentiments of the writer, even though the writer is aware that it is the prerogative of the editor to print or not to print. The Editor of this newspaper should know by now that I am an advocate of fairness and doing things right. My people are my people, but they can be wrong also, as well as people may not share my opinion. My assessment may not be always correct, but then again, I am big enough to accept my shortcomings.

  Because of circumstances sometimes I hold back in order to let others in the community comment on situations. Along with that, I believe that the government is  responsible for whatever happens in the country, whether good or bad. There are a few more things that I do not think should be taking place, and I maintain that it is because leaders of political parties chose party members they could manipulate, and that for me is robbing the people of good governance and lining their own pockets on behalf of the people.

  This has manifested itself in the community in such a way that because of lack of adequate controls there is no price control in the different places of business. What irks me most is the daily changes in the prices in the supermarkets.

  Every time a few cases of, for example, whole kernel corn are taken out of the original container where the rest came from the price is raised at least ten cents per tin and put on the shelf. But who cares?

  We just had elections and the data on the voting cards was a combination of  both English and Dutch  (Name .....Adres....,...Zitting:8:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M.).  but my real reason for choosing to write this letter to you is because on several occasions people (primarily foreigners) have written magazines with information about St. Maarten of which the information was not always accurate. I would always ask myself, “Should not there be someone from the Tourist Bureau going over this information before these books, leaflets or magazines are published?”

  I’m thinking of the word “sue”.  I doubt that there is anyone who doing this. And if they are doing it they are doing a very bad job. This happens. It is as if whoever gets the idea about it feels free to come to St. Maarten and publishes  magazine(s) about St. Maarten and what happens here, because no one from here checks to see whether what is written and published about us is good, bad or indifferent.

  On page 16 of a magazine WHERE’S, WHERE published by Robert D. Espitia it depicts most common traffic signs and emergency telephone numbers. There are 34 traffic signs with the meaning written below each sign. Of these 34 signs the explanation under five of them is wrong. The explanation is not only wrong, but can easily create dangerous situations. “Bicycle crossing” is written under the sign that means “prohibited for bicycles”; “speed limit” is written under the “minimum speed” sign; “no turn” is written under the “one way road” sign; “road broken or speed bump”  is written under the “speed bump” sign.

  Believe it or not, under the warning sign which means “be careful, you are approaching a playground, where children could be enjoying  themselves”, yes, “local preference crossing” is written. Local preference crossing tells the driver that he/she has the right of way at that intersection. What would we do to our tourists who adhere to that explanation of the meaning of that sign and as a consequence knock down a child?

  This magazine was published since September 2019, but I ran across it on Monday last, so I am hoping that my friends in the area of Lee’s restaurant do let me know that I missed the boat. But I believe that it is never too late to point out danger.

  My people told me that I should add some of those sayings from the old people to my letters to you, so here we go. “The only people you should get even with are those who helped you”, which should disqualify “Revenge is a dish served cold”.

Russell A. Simmons

Curaçao on the shirt of Ajax. Good for many interesting discussions, but also good for the most absurd discussions. However! The phenomenon Curaçao on the shirt of a Dutch professional club is not new.

  From 2014 to 2017, Curaçao was on the NEC shirt. There was no discussion then. Or would it be because at NEC the multi-millionaire Gregory Elias paid the bill and now the CTB?

  The point is that shirt advertising is an investment. Ajax attracts a lot of publicity, much more than NEC. And that’s what matters.

  Ajax will soon be coming to the training camp here in the sun. All football gods who take photos on Knip Bay and post it on their Instagram.

  That’s what it’s about. It’s not all that difficult. The only thing I would like to see is that the word “Visit” is embroidered. That would make it perfect!

Steven Walroud

Member of Parliament for PAR

Dear Editor,

  If there is not enough money on the budget created by the road tax, most likely the roads will not be repaired adequately. And the way things look, if the right steps are not taken to collect the road tax this would not be fair to those vehicle owners who faithfully and yearly comply with the laws governing motor vehicle taxes.

  To sum it up correctly let me begin by stating that I strongly believe that public transportation belongs in the hands of the public (government); government does not oblige anyone to buy a motor vehicle, even though government facilitates the use of the motor vehicle by  providing roads for the owners and also lays down laws and stipulates rules and regulations for the motor vehicle owners and users.

  One of those laws is the motor vehicle taxes which includes the license plates which distinguish the motor vehicles from each other.

  In addition to that there is a law governing the illegal use of the number plates and conditions under which the number plates should be returned to the Receiver. The number plates belong to government.

  We who complied and paid for motor vehicle  taxes for the year 2019 were short-changed by government  for giving in to the demands of those ignorant people who protested against putting “50 years of Carnival” on the number plates, which are not theirs. Fact is, St. Maarten did celebrate 50 years of  Carnival and those same people who protested against that number plate were front and possibly center during the Carnival celebrations I know this because some of their cars were parked along the Carnival route with their number plates from 2018.

  Because of the unprofessional manner in which government handled the matter by providing stickers for the protesters, millions of guilders in revenue was not collected, because of delinquency of both protesters and others. No money in the coffers, no roads maintained, the law-abiding citizens short-changed.

  Thousands of numbers were not paid for, but also no reason for not returning the plates that were not paid for was given. So, by rights no payments in 2020 for 2020 if payment for 2019 was not done without a valid reason should be accepted. In other words pay for 2019 and 2020. Ignorance of the law is no excuse  If one knows how to make illegal  use of the flaw in the law created by that protest against the 50 years of Carnival, one should also know of the law under which circumstances one should return the plates.

  If these steps are not taken by government, then government will be responsible for creating tax-evasion and tax-dodgers. We need that money to put back the signboards in the right places. I am constantly turning back tourists from  going up Back Street (L’Escargot alley), driving in the wrong direction by Hong Kong restaurant, straight through again to Back Street. Maybe some of that money used to put down those bus stop huts and the bushalte signboards could be used for “One way” signs that would help guarantee road safety..

Russell A. Simmons

Partnerships – between governments and between the public and private sectors – are key to delivering the quality infrastructure that populations across the hemisphere are seeking. The U.S. government is working to strengthen these linkages through a newly expanded initiative called Growth in the Americas.

  Latin American and Caribbean countries are partnering with the United States under this initiative to improve transparency, combat corruption, and strengthen governance. Through these partnerships, we will develop enabling environments for private sector investments in infrastructure that are sustainable, transparent, competitive, and in line with international best practices. The goal is to help the private sector create high-quality infrastructure of all types – energy, airports, seaports, roads, telecommunication and digital networks.

  We are focusing expertise and resources from across the US government to help the region identify and address barriers to investment. We know that many companies hesitate to invest for a variety of concerns, which leaves our regional partners with fewer options to bridge the significant infrastructure investment gap.

  Barriers can include lengthy permitting processes, opaque procurement processes, and burdensome regulations. The United States’ growing collaboration with the region on digital economy and cybersecurity priorities is just one example of the great opportunities for shared growth around shared values. I am proud to say we are expanding the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP) to the Western Hemisphere, helping us leverage public-private partnerships and technical assistance to support the digital infrastructure development that the region and its people need.

  Other examples of our partnership at work include our cooperation with Panama to improve its credit rating by two grades, resulting in more affordable energy infrastructure for the Panamanian people. In Argentina, OPIC announced in September more than $1 billion in loan guarantees to support energy and road infrastructure. Other resources include USAID’s Caribbean Energy Initiative, which aims to help the region create an enabling environment that promotes investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

  Additionally, the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative (CESI) Loan Guarantee program aims to mobilize $25 million in private finance for non-oil energy projects and small-scale renewable energy projects, improving access to capital for businesses to reduce energy cost and improve clean energy production, as well as promoting small- and medium sized enterprise growth and competitiveness.

  The U.S. government recognizes that more needs to be done together with regional governments and the private sector to promote growth in the region’s infrastructure. We share strong ties and similar values. Fundamental to those shared values are a belief in democratic government and peaceful self-expression, and fairness and equality for all.

  We look forward to working with you to expand economic growth and jobs by paving the way to quality infrastructure.

Allen S. Greenberg

Consul General and Chief of Mission to the Dutch Caribbean