March month COVID-19 madness is almost behind us. Ahead, however, await many uncertainties as we continue to work in an effort to mitigate the negative effects on our economy and on our way of life, since this apparent “man-made” virus hit the world.
It is only a matter of time before we will know the exact and undisputable facts that led to this pandemic costing both innocent lives and economies to crumble or paralyzed in worse cases.
Payrolls are due for most companies, excluding the public sector which includes government-owned companies. A stimulus package is being worked on locally, according to news reports. This proposed package is aimed at the unemployed, those who lost or at risk of losing their jobs. The objective is to alleviate the expected strain on our economy due to the government-mandated closures.
A closer look within the Kingdom of the Netherlands tells us what steps governments have taken for their respective constituents.
An emergency relief package has already been debated and agreed upon in the Netherlands for Holland, Bonaire, Saba, Statia. Note Holland as well as other countries outside of the Kingdom choose the SZV system to administer the relief on companies’ payrolls.
Curaçao approved a “solidarity” package for its citizens.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister for Kingdom Relations Knops recently publicly disclosed that the larger islands Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten will not be left out and be considered to receive a financial relief package.
It is of essence that our governments, Council of Ministers and Parliament approach Aruba and Curaçao in order to submit post-haste a joint or unified request for support unrelated to the Trust-Fund relief St. Maarten received post-Hurricane Irma. The joint stimulus package would be similar to what the BES islands are about to receive from the Netherlands.
Our local government presented a proposal which includes food vouchers. The proposals are yet to be debated and approved by Parliament. In the midst of this all, current interim ministers are leaving office as newly-appointed members enter the public arena. We wish them much wisdom and fortitude to act expeditiously on the stimulus package for businesses.
These are not easy times and all hands are needed on deck to overcome the challenges we face together.
Constructive criticism is healthy for everyone involved.
It is important to note that the approach of our government (Minister of Finance) should be intense on its relief purposes towards energizing (businesses) to be pro-active.
Keeping most people employed should be a collective (public and private sector) main objective. Those who are or have been un-employed prior to the COVID-19 virus pandemic would rightfully be eligible for the voucher program.
Food vouchers do not fall under the category of stimulus. Food vouchers are part of our safety net, especially geared towards sustaining the most vulnerable among us, including elderly, pensioners, homeless.
Employers should not be (un-intentionally) motivated by government to lay off staff. Hopefully, our government will apply the meaning of the word “stimulus” literally when it decides on the final financial package of measures to be taken. This decision is not a minute too soon.
St. Maarten is a small beautiful island. We can manage our issues when they arrive. When we plan ahead and consult in a timely fashion our stakeholders, we can overcome our challenges. Once again, our social security structure (SZV) is in place to handle the disbursement of the financial stimulus package on short notice. Time is of the essence.
Gracita Arrindell
Leader, People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA)
As a citizen of St. Maarten, I would like to use this public forum to thank the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Government of St. Maarten for their outstanding job to date in keeping St. Maarteners safe.
On March 16 I decided not to join my husband and youngest daughter on their flight to the U.S., but rather to remain in St. Maarten with my eldest daughter, parents and employees, who preferred staying on island or did not have the option to leave.
Now I know it is likely to be weeks or months before I can reunite with my loved ones. Not only am I separated from my family, but my life, safety and economic future rely on the decisions and actions of Prime Minister Jacobs and the Government of St. Maarten.
Like every citizen, my only option is to stay indoors and follow the coronavirus guidelines to ensure my own safety and that of our community. I know that governments worldwide are working tirelessly, making hard decisions and taking necessary measures to protect all citizens. As a citizen of St. Maarten, I hope and pray our elected leaders can work in unity, with strength, knowledge and compassion, to make the right choices to overcome COVID-19.
Since my life is now largely in others’ hands, I am communicating my concerns publicly, hoping that Prime Minister Jacobs will see my letter and take time to address them.
My major questions concern the specific steps being taken by St. Maarten Medical Center in the face of the coronavirus pandemic:
- SMMC has six beds for COVID-19 patients, and there now are now three patients admitted at SMMC. What preparations, if any, are being made for more beds?
- How many ventilators are available at SMMC? If we expect to receive more, how many and when?
- What medication is approved for administration by SMMC to fight the coronavirus? What level of supply is available?
- I understand that a person who has tested positive should isolate at home. At what point does SMMC accept a COVID-19 patient?
- Prime Minister Jacobs has invited retired medical staff and local medical students to assist at SMMC. How many staff doctors and nurses are available to care for COVID-19 patients, and what steps are being taken to hire more medical professionals?
- How is the safety of first responders being protected (with masks, gloves and other protective gear)? What levels of supplies are available on island?
- Patients are usually flown off-island for medical care. Is this an option for St. Maarten citizens infected with the coronavirus? If so, which countries or islands would patients be allowed to fly to? At what point will SMMC authorize patients to seek medical care elsewhere?
I have questions related to security:
- Prime Minister Jacobs has stated that government requested military support. Has this been authorized, and when do we expect support to arrive on St. Maarten? Will the military provide medical support?
My other questions relate to the economy:
- I believe all commercial businesses will suffer greatly and in some cases landlords will be unable to support their tenants; this may trickle down to businesses being unable to pay staff. Can government intervene and insist that all banks relieve businesses of loan payments for at least three months? This would avoid extra stress and conflicts within our business community. Banks can send the confirmation of the moratorium directly to commercial loan customers.
Government of St. Maarten has done an amazing job communicating with the public, but I feel that there is a need for a platform where citizens can list their concerns and questions. I look forward to a press release addressing my concerns, which are also the concerns of the entire community of St. Maarten.
I hope our community will learn from others suffering around the world. As Prime Minister Jacobs mentioned many times, isolation is the only way to slow the spread of COVID-19. It will make a big difference if everyone would stay home to safeguard their families. It is our duty as citizens to protect and respect each other during our battle with the coronavirus.
Madame Prime Minister, I’ve known you my entire life growing up on St. Maarten, and I know you have the people of St. Maarten at heart. I wish you much strength in the coming weeks and months while you work to assure the wellbeing of St. Maarteners. I’m proud to have you as our leader, and may God bless you and your family during this time.
Huguette Halley
Concerned Citizen of St. Maarten
Wow! what an ambitious headline. But hear me out, if I am wrong feel free to blast me in a response.
The big blessing in this whole worldwide calamity is the time delay that this virus took to reach our shores. Because of this we have had the novel opportunity to learn from the mistakes and successes of countries before us. Sure, Mr. coronavirus seems invulnerable with limited test kits available and no cure. Treatment to mitigate its effects such as hospital beds and ventilators are woefully short on our beloved island, and no-one could have foreseen this event. So not finger-pointing here, authorities are doing the best they can.
But what if I told you the key to defeating the virus has been literally under our noses the whole time, and with a unified effort we could take out its most dangerous weapon, its stealth attack. You should also know that this defence been successfully implemented in places such as the Czech Republic and Asia and is insanely cheap to implement. Just wear a mask when in public. If everyone does this in conjunction with the social distancing already being adopted, the virus will be effectively contained.
The word went out initially that wearing masks was not necessary, but I think this was largely due to the fear of a run on masks, if everybody went out and bought one, there would be none left for the medical personnel who desperately needed them, But if people make their own, this problem does not occur.
Why the masks are effective is because it protects the contaminated from spreading the disease, rather than the more obvious perception of you wearing it to protect yourself. Since we do not know exactly who is infected as apparently healthy individuals are prime culprits, a blanket measure ensuring that all persons in public be made to wear masks, ensures everyone’s safety, as all droplets, the main means through which the virus spreads, will be caught in people’s masks and not the atmosphere or even on the streets.
Personally I had initially dismissed this idea until someone shared a WhatsApp video to me, so I would like to give credit to this young lady from the Czech Republic who provided it. But I had to adjust my thinking from an individual point of view to a more community-based perspective. I only hope I have done justice to her suggestion.
Again, Government should mandate that anyone in public be required to wear a mask, in particular persons crossing the border. Mandatory wearing of masks might even encourage people to stay home as many won’t want to wear them for long and will be itching to get back home.
One of the best pieces of advice to date is to act as if you have the disease. Rather than reacting to the disease we should be proactive. Maybe groups like the Lions, etc., should be allowed to roam the streets armed with hand-out masks, or we could even make them cheaply available at the groceries, you can even make one out of an old tee shirt or a paper towel, instructions available on YouTube.
Another blessing that we have is that we are a small country and should be agile enough to respond quickly to a common-sense measure. Let's not waste the precious few advantages we have. Come on, Sxm government, evaluate this suggestion and if it makes sense, implement right away.
In the coming months we will be faced with a lot of agonising and expensive decisions, some moral and some social. But we could seriously mitigate this disaster if we act in unison now. People, stay home, but if you must go out, wear a mask.
The solution has been under our noses all the while. We just have to put it on “over our noses”.
M. Vieira
Dear Editor,
I am concerned for all our collective health. In addition I am very concerned for the people that were already hurting after [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma and for how many people will lose their jobs or see their pay reduced.
I am concerned for the businesses that will not survive this crisis and will have to shut down their doors if this time around no aid is received. Remember not one cent after Irma was assigned to economic support for businesses big or small.
I sincerely hope that government and its leaders are doing some of the following:
1) Negotiating receiving financial support. We all know the government cannot afford to provide support from their own funds. They don’t have it.
2) An assessment of the amounts needed is being done that includes components of payroll and businesses financial subsidies.
3) Mechanisms for a quick and efficient distributions of whatever funds are received are put in place. Businesses can handle disbursements to existing workers via their normal payroll systems. No need to reinvent the wheel, they are ready to go. All they need are the rules mandated. Other not registered employees and businesses can be handled by other government entities.
4) As already said by the NL, sacrifices need to be shown. Reduce government expenditures, reduce government salaries including the MPs’. Show that you are taking the same blows as the rest of the citizens.
All of the above should be happening concurrently by multiple teams. These teams should provide daily progress reports to a designated “crisis Zar”; maybe the new Minister of TEATT [Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication] can take that role?
I sincerely hope my comments are redundant and all of the above is taking place, we just don‘t know about it.
A very concerned citizen and his family.
Ricardo Perez
Dear Editor;
I am grateful for the opportunity to once more highlight the situation in our community involving a now-former employee of VROMI whose actions are now having a detrimental effect on the lives of two local families living in the area.
There is this piece of property situated in Philipsburg supposedly extending from Back Street to Cannegieter Street, which has been inhabited by these families for 5 generations now. It is domain land and a request was made to the Government in 1993 for a long lease title.
A short while after, the families observed an employee of Kadaster surveying the area and when they questioned they were given the impression that it was being done on their behalf. The first name of the person making the request was mentioned. On receiving our reply, we realised that the whole section closer to Cannegieter Street was cut off and given in title to a parent of this same employee. Is that not a. conflict of interest? Are there not any laws in place to combat this kind of wrongdoing?
There are allegations circulating in the community about this same (and now former) employee of Kadaster having orchestrated the acquisition of over half a dozen parcels of domain land including this one, titling them in family members’ names and selling them off to interested buyers. Several came to inspect the area but after being apprised of the situation involving the families, they never returned.
The property was offered to us for $50,000 US dollars, but we could not and did not want to facilitate what we considered an illegal act.
Now here comes this greedy businessman, a multi-millionaire who owns vast amounts of property along a section of the main road leading into French Quarter with two huge dwellings on them and a yard in front so wide that it could probably house the whole of Philipsburg, who saw a deal too good to be true and impossible to pass up. He acquired ownership and was issued a building permit.
How is that even possible when it is against the law to sell off domain property prior to any investments being made to it? And being maintained for decades by the families who should have been given first choice in the long lease title. After being transferred to the VROMI Department, this same individual is affixing his signature to documents requesting approval for an address for this same property, while acting in his capacity as head of that department during his senior’s supposed vacation. Is that not a conflict of interest? And in his haste to approve for the numbers all wrong.
The building permit was approved as one request together with another project which had been ongoing for a while already at the head of town, over half a mile away. How is that possible?.
When the gentleman first approached us, we explained the situation to him and overheard his son asking him to go back for his money. But I guess his greed got the better of him. And here we are today facing high-priced lawyers sending threatening letters to an 83-year-old who has since passed away. Sorry to disappoint you. She cannot answer your summons from the grave. We were forced to defend ourselves in a court of law on short notice without legal representation.
The area in question is low-lying and is easily flooded with any heavy shower, made worse by the erection of a three-storey building next door. There is no infrastructure in place to channel the running water and its overflow is spreading onto our area. Our homes got flooded during the last hurricane and those before. The water was flowing into our yard like waves on the seashore during the passing of [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma.
The area is being used as short-stay parking by visitors to the surrounding small businesses and for car detailing. Just imagine what would happen if a huge building were allowed to be built there. It would add to the existing problems that we face on a regular basis. It would stop the flow of water coming from the sea side during a hurricane and the water would rise rapidly, threatening the lives of children and adults alike.
A protest was filed with the Government and we were granted an audience with the then Minister of VROMI Mr. Emmanuel who took time to listen to our plight. The government fell not long after and the incoming minister, who was selected from among staff of that same department, quickly took a decision against us. That in itself should be considered a conflict of interest. It would be expected that he would not side with a protest lodged against a department he has to return to after his short tenure as minister is up.
The last three ministers all came from that same department. Is that a new trend? Will any of them be interested in uncovering corruption if it exists at all?
We were awaiting the opening of the Integrity Chamber but that seems to be delayed for whatever reason. I will not be surprised if this office is flooded with complaints similar to mine on its opening. The perception of corruption is out there but here is the reality in black and white.
I am appealing to the Honourable Judges who now have the power in their hands to help stem the tide of corruption and abuse of office that have existed in our community for too long.
R.J. Stakelborough.
