Dear Editor,

I recently travelled via PJIA [Princess Juliana International Airport – Ed.] as I often do and will endeavour to share some details of this trip. Before that I would like to preface some important facts.

Since the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, SXM has had many heroes in their aftermath: our folks at GEBE, TelEm and numerous entities, both public and private sectors worked tirelessly to restore conditions for our life to continue; you did a great job, a debt of gratitude is owed to you.

This work continues at a great financial and personal sacrifice to you. PJIA is the driver of our economy and suffered massive damage during Irma/Maria. These effects continue to be felt by all users of PJIA, both local and our tourists (who will travel via St. Maarten to our region). Their presence and importance to St. Maarten is paramount and contributes to the rebuilding of our economy. We need them more now than ever in the history of this country.

One more important fact, this is not intended in any way to be a slight or recrimination of those involved in the restoration of our once beautiful and efficient PJIA (the former showcase of the Caribbean). We understand the congestion at PJIA is a fact of life until she is completely restored to its former self.

One thing I observed was that the staff and all employees public and private at PJIA are working against the odds, the facility remains damaged, bandaids are being put in place in an effort to make PJIA more acceptable to the users. To point fingers or assess blame is not the answer and will not rebuild our badly needed PJIA. Every day it is like putting 20 pounds of potatoes in a 10-pound bag.

Each entity (airlines, handlers, immigration, security, taxis, porters, FBOs, everyone) has changed its processes, hired additional employees, changed locations in a concerted effort to make the airport experience better! We collectively would be remiss if we did not publicly thank these heroes who for 2+ years continue to work diligently against challenging odds to provide service to our local and foreign visitors.

This is a fact, we see it daily at PJIA, our thanks to all of you. For several years you are coping against insurmountable conditions, which is not an easy task, no one can ask any more of anyone. This work, current and future challenges will continue for the upcoming season and foreseeable future, your efforts are clearly noticed by Winair and the people who call St. Maarten home.

Michael Cleaver

President and CEO

Windward Islands Airways International (Winair) N.V.

Voice for the children/kids/teens of SXM

Dear Editor,

  As most of you know that I started my business Coffee Lounge for the love of all the children of St. Maarten when I saw someone trying to sell the wrong stuff to a teenager. I realized that we need a nice safe chilled out place for them.

  When I went to drop a 17-year-old at 7:00pm she told me that she could walk from the supermarket to her house which was right behind the supermarket. I insisted to take her bags and drop her to the house in my car. It was pitch dark and in an area (Sucker Garden) where there are many houses, but all the road lights were off at 7:00pm. On asking her she says it’s always this dark. I was shocked because these teenage girls are walking up and down and what if something happens to any one of them. Who is responsible? Is this the kind of security we are giving our children walking on the streets?

  Secondly, Three Palm Plaza is an area where teenagers hang out after the movies to grab Domino’s pizza and I realised that a lot of them are sitting again in the car or standing in the open and smoking the wrong stuff. Other smaller kids are being exposed and influenced to second-hand smoking.

  Can someone in authority please make it a safe better environment for the children since they are our future and next upcoming generation for the betterment of our Country St. Maarten.

Seema Mirchandani

Dear Editor,

Article 45.2 of the Constitution of St. Maarten has to be amended to immediately reflect the current makeup of the population of St. Maarten.

In its current state, it reads as follows: “Any increase or reduction in the number of members of the Parliament arising from changes in the number of residents in the country shall only take effect at the next periodical election of the Parliament. The words that should be omitted or taken out are, the words “only” and “periodical”. The article should read: Any increase or reduction in the number of Members of Parliament arising from changes in the number of residents in the country shall take effect at the next election.

It has been confirmed that the population of St. Maarten has exceeded the 60,000 threshold, so in actuality government is functioning with a deficit of 2 Ministers. An argument can be made, stating that it will cost the taxpayers more money. At the same time, however, it can also be said that the taxpayers are being underrepresented.

This brings to the forefront the matter of people/businesses paying their share of taxes. What needs to be seriously addressed also is “The National Ordinance on Tax collection”. It is outdated and has to be amended to deal with the compliance issues, among others, and the taxing of pensioners.

The reason for again mentioning the compliance issue has to do with the WODC report in Dutch “Wetenschapelijk Onderzoek en Documentatiecentrum” that came out sometime in 2007 in which it lamented the fact that although the economy of St. Maarten showed consistent growth over the years, this growth was not reflected in government coffers. So again this matter has to be looked at posthaste.

As to the increase in the Parliament from 15 Members of Parliament to 17, I believe, after the elections on January 9, 2020, serious attention should be paid to this. I would suggest that after the necessary amendments are made, that the Health Ministry be separated from that of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and that Education should be separated from Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.

One of the reasons for increasing the numbers of the Members of Parliament from 11 members that made up the Island Council (Curaçao and Aruba maintained the numbers, 21 each) to 15 was to create, and I quote, “A good broadly-based and well-equipped system in which the checks and balances can be realized to the full” end of quote.

George Pantophlet

The public has the right to know.

Dear Editor,

  It is incomprehensible how politically-driven decisions hamper progress of our country. The business community and all our citizens are convinced that tourism is our biggest source of income and that a well-functioning airport is the cornerstone of the rehabilitation of tourism and the growth of our economy. Everybody talks about it and sees the urgency to rebuild PJIA.

  The Minister of Finance had already arranged for the financing of the reconstruction of the airport. He did so by means of a loan with the European Development Bank, the Trust Fund and the Netherlands. A deal was reached with the bondholders to release the insurance pay-out for the reconstruction. The only pending item was signing of the contracts with the lenders and the agreement with the bondholders and jumpstart the reconstruction.

  So not so!

  Here is where political games are played in parliament against the interests of the country and the people. The highest political institution that ought to act on behalf of and for the people of St. Maarten, is now boycotting its progress.

  First and foremost a motion that was passed against the Minister of Finance prevented him from signing any agreement with third parties, including the lenders for the reconstruction of PJIA. Because of this impasse and uncertainty, the bondholders now required that parliament give instructions to the minister to sign the agreements. Without those instructions they would not be willing to sign any agreement and release the insurance pay-out. Subsequently, a motion was submitted to parliament by MP Claude Peterson to give the minister that mandate to sign all contracts and agreements, in the interest of Sint Maarten.

  What happened next is mindboggling and nothing short of sabotage. During the handling of the motion the current coalition MPs played down the motion in a purely political attempt to prevent the minister from starting the reconstruction of the airport. They told the minister that he had already received the mandate when the budget for 2019 was approved. Again, completely ignoring the requirement of the bondholders, that parliament pass a motion that mandates the minister to sign. During the voting of the motion the coalition MPs simply walked out, confirming their self-interest, dishonesty and disloyalty with the country’s priorities and best interests.

  As a consequence, the reconstruction is delayed once again for months.

  I am appalled with these elected officials in our highest chamber, willingly sabotaging the reconstruction of the airport and the rebuilding of our economy.

Skledo Kirindogo