Dear Editor,

  We all agree that ship-jumping is a major problem in Sint Maarten. It seems to me that it is worthwhile to find out why ship-jumping does not occur to the same extent in other jurisdictions in which multi-party options are available to the voter. One of the obvious reasons is that with a tiny Parliament and a relatively large number of parties, the effect (and possible benefits to the parliamentary member) are much greater.

   Statistically the impact of one ship jumper in a Parliament of 15 members is much more than one person doing the same thing in a Parliament of 400 members. But the Sint Maarten ship-jumping is about more than this. It should be that a member of Parliament is a member of a party that has a clear political vision. It should be that this vision matches the vision of his party which is clearly stated and documented.

  It should therefore be that a politician leaving (ship-jumping) his party would feel embarrassment when suddenly taking on the vision and platform of another party. His political colleagues would consider him with suspicion in that he “suddenly” adopted a new vision. It should be that his political career would be over and his rationale questioned.

  It should also be that any party who receives an application for membership from a recently “jumping” parliamentarian would like to know why this parliamentarian has suddenly had a change of vision, and would ensure that the applicant’s new vision matches the party’s vision. It should be that such a membership application would be regarded with suspicion.

  It should be that ship-jumping is a painful exercise for a politician, both in respect of his or her personal reputation and the acceptance into a new one. It is not so in Sint Maarten .

  As long as party election lists are made up on the basis of who can deliver the most votes regardless of their political vision, the social  pressures described above will not be effective. We will end up with the sort of lists we are currently faced with where it is abundantly obvious that the political visions of the persons on the list are highly diverse. The lists are made up largely on the basis of what votes can be delivered and not on the political vision. Fertile ground therefore for ship jumping .

  The driving forces for ship jumping have not gone away. 

Robbie Ferron

In these festive times let us not forget the small minority of Saint Martiners, Sint Maarteners and mixed people. You see, unlike many other places in the world, in Sint Maarten you may see a black Sint Maartener and think he is pure black, or on the contrary a white Sint Maartener and think he is pure white.

My fellow St. Martiners, residents of this beloved island, we all agree that Christmas is a special season of the year. It is a time for family, friends and loved ones to come together to make merry.

  Two years after the nightmare of [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma, perhaps we should ask ourselves: what is it really that we’re celebrating? For me, the answer is very simple: we are celebrating life! Being alive to witness another Christmas is the greatest gift God has given us.

  I know and feel the pain of those who have lost loved ones and cannot spend Christmas with them. I know and feel the anguish of those who are in hospital beds, fighting for their lives, or trying to recover from some illness. My family and I have you in our prayers.

  As a nation that has gone through and is still going through its own share of trials and tribulations, we know it is not an easy road. But it was not an easy road for the Holy Family, who could find no room in any inn and had to end up in a manger to deliver the baby Jesus. Now, if the Messiah, the Saviour, had to go through all those hardships from birth, perhaps the real lesson we should draw from that story is the triumph of life over all obstacles.

  That biblical story also emphasizes the importance of family; of sticking together regardless of the circumstances, and of never losing hope, of always keeping the faith.

  That is my wish for you and your family this Christmas season. While we drink up we rum or guavaberry, and eat up we ham and turkey and tart or a delicious bowl of sousse, we must remember those who are less fortunate and who are still without roofs over their heads, who have to bring out the buckets and place them under leaking tarpaulins whenever it rains. I urge you to invite them over so that they too can know it is Christmas on St. Martin.

  On behalf of my family, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Spread the love.

William Marlin

Chairperson of Parliament

Dear Editor,

  I sit and listen for reactions to news articles. I read editorials and opinion letters and I am still waiting for someone or some instance in authority to address two rapidly increasing very clearly visible traffic infringements, which cannot be disputed when attended to. Illegal lighting on motor vehicles and dark-tinted glass.