Dear Editor,

  What Marcus Aurelius, a staunch adherent of Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, would have done for humanity in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? Regarded as one of the five good emperors of the Ancient Roman Empire, Marcus would have probably recommended as an essential quarantine read his personal journal which was posthumously published as Meditations. Meditations was one of the books smuggled onto Robben Island for Nelson Mandela which helped enormously to replenish his spiritual resources providing him with daily doses of inspiration and spiritual energy to continue his long struggle for freedom.

  To gain perspective, Marcus Aurelius wrote Meditations while being surrounded by the horrors of the Antonine plague (165-180 AD) and in the middle of the Marcomannic wars (166-180 AD). Now almost two millenniums later here we are faced with the COVID-19 pandemic the symptoms of which are eerily similar to the ancient Antonine plague and which threatens to upend countless lives. In passage ix.2 of the meditations Marcus states, “Even the pestilence around him is less deadly than falsehood, evil behaviour and lack of true understanding.”

  Daily we witness the manifestation of the foregoing, people are continuing to adopt a cavalier approach to what still remains a serious global threat. In her report on the banality of evil Hannah Arendt posed the question, “Can someone do evil without being evil?”, a thought-defying act or thoughtlessness which occurs when someone becomes morally disengaged and is unable to think from the standpoint of someone else.

  As we know or I assume most of us know, asymptomatic persons are fuelling the COVID-19 pandemic. And with an incubation period of around five days prior to the onset of symptoms no one can say with any degree of certainty during this period whether he or she is infected without first being tested.

  It can be inferred then that this places a lot of us in a very peculiar and dangerous position as potential carriers. It’s rather unfortunate that this invisible terror evades sensory perception as none among us to date have been able to pinpoint its presence solely with the use of our sense organs. So, to mitigate the chances of further contagion it becomes absolutely necessary that we employ the most effective method that is entirely within our control, and that is the complete observance of all preventive and health protocols, foremost among which are social distancing and proper self-hygiene and sanitisation.

  I imagine Marcus Aurelius with feelings and emotions repressed saying to his subjects during the Antonine plague, “Be calm, plagues have been with us from time immemorial and will continue to be with us indefinitely.” Marcus would have gone on to remind citizens of his empire that plagues are a part of the cycle of nature and are largely outside of their control; however, he would have been quick to point out that how they respond is totally within their control. He would have advised his subjects that the best chance they have of remaining healthy within nature is to adopt a rational approach by practicing virtue, doing what’s good and right for humanity.

  Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs continues to plea, instruct and remind all and sundry of their roles and responsibilities and I sense this is coming from a genuine place of love and sincerity. Information from the World Health Organisation and other credible sources is abundantly disseminated to governments and citizens alike around the globe.

  Given this level of awareness how can one reasonably absolve oneself from personal responsibility for failing to observe the contents of preventive measures, which can result in others becoming infected or even killed? Ignorance of the law is no excuse and cannot be used as a procedural defense in criminal law. Let’s conduct ourselves in a manner that doesn’t give consideration to the legislation of criminal laws to fight this pandemic.

  Falsehoods continue to abound during these times, in the process inviting and harbouring denials, irrational explanations and alternative remedies. Presently there is an overkill of “treatments” and prophylactic medicinal potions circulating on the World Wide Web. These “miracle brews and concoctions” were revealed to a “chosen few” whose spiritual apprehension of divine cure and knowledge somehow seems to be eluding the inhabitants of all the laboratories currently engaged in tirelessly pursuing cures.

  So, while the world is forced to patiently endure awaiting the eureka moment from our heroes and heroines of medical science these “healers” and “soothsayers” will be immersed in aggressive marketing and distribution of their elixir. And I anticipate this will incur greater costs than benefits, some as severe as permanent physical damage or even death. Nevertheless they will continue to champion their healing prowess, but I am confident they will be unable to prove if it was as a result of the potency of their concoctions or just a case of placebo effect.

  Marcus Aurelius while on his dying bed said, “Weep not for me, think rather of the pestilence and the deaths of so many others.” Marcus would have entreated us to keep calm and carry on, nothing is unending you just need to be strong and gracious to get through it. He would have invited us to invoke the spirit of the Stoics; remain virtuous and continue to do what is good and right for all of mankind.

Orlando Patterson

Statia, a small island in the Caribbean Sea, first claimed by many: The Dutch, the Spanish, the English. But finally became the prized possession of the Dutch state. Yes, a true colony, characterized by the mass exploitation of a group of people, all in the benefit of the Dutch! 

  Then came the Kingdom Charter, with promises of a brighter future. Finally, six autonomous islands in the Caribbean Sea, initially not “created equally”, for only after many battles fought, Statia managed to obtain its own seat within the then-Netherlands Antillean Parliament.

  Islands, due to the dictates of history, merged in an artificial union, that led to semi- brotherhood, threatened by continuous discord over goods. A climate of increasing distrust set the stage for the islands, except for Statia, to opt for the dissolution of the now defunct Netherlands Antilles. 

  But Statia, they said, could not remain an Antilles of one. Statia, they said, needed to fall in line. So, despite Statia's protest, the island was forced to become a Dutch Municipality. Followed by the anchoring of an unwanted status within the Dutch Constitution. The return to a physical state of colonization? Or simply the manifestation of that which always was?

  The anchorage within the Dutch Constitution paved the way for the dissolution of a democratically elected government, for “disobeying the Dutch order of things”. They used the Dutch constitution to legitimize this brutal and undemocratic act! But you see, when a country has the power to make all kinds of decrees, there is no such thing as “illegality”!

  Statia is now a modern type of colony, with handpicked Kingdom Commissioners whose mandate are to build roads and improve finances, while robbing a people of their democratic right to elect their own Island Commissioners.

  Now there is one final act ready to be executed, during this time of the Corona Crisis: the ratification of a law within the Dutch Second Chamber that would postpone Statia’s democracy for another 3 years. Until 2024, they said! This final act, which no doubt will be embraced by all members of the Second Chamber, will in their minds lead to the “total re-education” of the Statian people.

  One final word to my people! Where is the outrage? Where is our pride? Will we continue to allow ourselves to be blinded by Dutch generosity? Or do we believe that we are too small to make a difference? Do we believe that no one will listen to us?

  Others will only listen when we take ourselves seriously. Yes, I know we are all fighting for survival during this Corona Crisis. But my people, despite the current human tragedy, Dutch politicians are still pushing to ratify this undemocratic decree. So, don’t get mad at me for highlighting this reality. Yes, let us continue to show gratitude for each new day, but please, let us also fight for the restoration of our local democracy, for in the Netherlands, the Dutch politicians are doing business as “usual” as they too fight for their own survival.

Xiomara Balentina

A daughter of the Statian soil

Dear Editor,

We all understand the situation of COVID-19 in this present time. And we want our government to succeed.

But let us be honest and deal with reality. In a time like this, we need people to listen and observe to see or find the best possible solution.

Phase 1 is safety, then phase 2 is economics and phase 3 should be the cure. The cure should be massive free testing to the population of St. Maarten.

Restriction and controlling people to stay home is a help but not the solution. I am very concerned our government wants us to accept this as a new way of life.

I am an optimist but optimism comes with reality and accepting truth. Our government is in denial and is not providing the real solution which is massive free testing.

They are hoping this challenge of COVID-19 just goes away, and that is not going to happen. The cure should never be bigger than the problem.

Our government is making a career out of this problem instead of tackling the problem with the real and only solution, which is massive free testing for the people of St. Maarten.

They should use a location be it a hotel or large guest house or sports complex to be a facility to house people who are under self-quarantine and isolation and are suspect and are infected with COVID-19.

Once you have that under control the possibility of spreading is greatly reduced. The next step is to continue with massive free testing.

This situation calls for funding, our leaders have to come off their high horse, humble themselves and ask the Netherlands for assistance.

The problem with us humans, we love making a career out of problems instead of tackling it head-on to get over the problem.

Conclusion: people of St.Maarten put pressure on your government to establish massive free testing of COVID-19. The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Choices have consequences, choose wisely and choose now.

The patriot Miguel Arrindell

I have recently learned of a tourist who came to Anguilla and has now tested positive for COVID-19. I was sorry to hear that this virus has spread to the island. I was recently visiting the island and had to abruptly leave as a result of the port closure announcements. I was forced to spend a huge amount of money to leave the island and avoid being stranded as a visitor in a foreign country.

  I am writing you because someone needs to urge that government to let stranded tourists leave and go home where they feel safe and can tend to their loved ones. I was lucky to get out just before the air and seaports closed.   

  There could potentially be many tourists still on the island (who could be infected with the virus) and they won’t let them leave and go home. This is a very bad situation for citizens of Anguilla and visitors alike.

  I will closely be monitoring the decisions made by the government of Anguilla and if they won’t let people leave, then I along with anyone that I know will likely never visit Anguilla again in fear of another situation like this.

Ryan Gentemann