Dear Editor,
First of all, Independence is a fundamental right for a country and its people under colonial rule. Many countries have suffered in order to achieved it. Now it is free, so why not take it. Right now in the United Kingdom the people are challenging the “Bill of Rights” of the Magna Charta handed down in the Year 1215 (Art.39) – the first 14 Amendments of the British constitution. The people are reminding parliament that they are their boss, and the people are the law, and there is no law if the people don’t want it.
In St. Maarten 60 per cent of the people voted in 10/10/10 to go under the Netherlands because fearing that they will lose their Dutch passport that gave them easy access of traveling to the United States of America. Nowadays, there are many restrictions traveling to that country. 10/10/10 was a huge mistake, it confused the population with the preposition “under” the Dutch, rather than a right, “yes” or “no”, “leave” or “stay”, or “in” or “out”. It is very hard to imagine how a group of people voted for a passport rather than for self-determination. There is only one solution, a call for a new referendum, and let the people decide.
Independence is a good thing for any country, and the people to have full self-control and responsibility over their natural resources. It is not a dream. It is a reality. Independence is also a combination of social, economic and political challenges. It means progress, and getting away from colonists who plundered the country for years. Independence is not for the idealist, but for the realist who is self-conscious of regional and family ties – with also the determination for self-control of their country.
The idea of independence takes us back to the old days of biblical times: Luke (15:11-32) – the prodigal son who asked his father for his portion to leave home. His father gave him his share of the wealth, and he went far away, and he lavished the money. Then famine came, and he had nothing saved. He ran back to his father, who welcome him back with open arms. His father was very happy because his son took the initiative to leave home, and it was a learning experience for him, and for the father to prepare his other son to leave home. In this passage it teaches the basic function of economics, that is, learn to put money in reserve for the future.
The United Nations Charter X1, X11, and X111 for Decolonization for people under colonial rule. The UN are encouraging the dependent people to set their goals and standard to achieve their independence.
The Monroe Doctrine established in 1823 also warned Europe against interfering in the internal affairs of American and Caribbean countries, especially where self-determination is concerned. America is also the protector of these islands regardless who claimed ownership of them.
The commonwealth also laid out certain conditions for countries achieving independence in 1958-60 as follows: 1. There should be a defense force. 2. There should be a diplomatic organization. 3. There should be a Customs union. 4. There is a complete freedom of movement of people within the union. 5. There should be a strong control administration with enough money to run the country smoothly.
The Black Empire – Haiti was one of the richest countries in the Western Hemisphere –exporting sugar to different parts of the world. In 1791 there was a rebellion of the slaves on the plantation against their owners. The slaves took control of the country. Haiti became independent in 1803.
The West Indies Federation Act was passed in 1956, and officially came to existence on August 16, 1960, with its headquarters in Trinidad. Unfortunately, the federation only lasted for one year.
The West Indies Federation gave rise to Caribbean unity, and for the territories to become independent. Jamaica was the first country in the Caribbean to break away from the union and became independent in 1962. Jamaica had its problems: In 1961 the Anti-Federation Political Party led by Alexander Bustamante, and representing the poor constituencies on the island, was told that the people from the smaller islands will come to Jamaica and take away their jobs. Bustamante and the Norman Manley government put forward a referendum to the people with a simple “in” or “out” of the federation, and 60 per cent of the people voted out, and Jamaica became independent in 1962.
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago followed and became independent also in 1962. Four years later British Guyana in 1966. Dominica in 1978, and Antigua and Barbuda in 1981. St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1979. St. Kitts and Nevis became independent in 1983. These Caribbean countries took ownership over their nations and also become full members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market founded in 1973.
Finally, self-determination is vitally important for countries and territories under colonial rule. It will take a lot of money to develop major industries and maintain social services. In my opinion the legal system of this country should change from the Coding system and be replaced with the statutes and case laws system. The independence process should start now. It should be debated in schools, the workplaces and the communities.
Joseph Harvey
Dear Editor,
Anguilla's upcoming election is very critical where it pertains to the future of Anguilla. We hear the cries of everyone within our society, except the cries of those we ignore; and those are the cries of the youth and the prisoners. We have been paying attention to the correlation between both of these parties. Hapgood came to our shores and was subsequently charged with "manslaughter". Not only was he granted bail for this charge, but he was allowed to leave the island under this condition.
However, it is appalling that the indigenous people of the island face a great degree of difficulty when obtaining bail, because they are regarded as a "flight risk". To add insult to injury, our indigenous people wait for years on remand before the preliminary investigation process is completed, while they continue to give special treatment to Hapgood. Did it ever occur to anyone that the police force might be using this remand tactic to wrongfully put an individual on remand to suffice as a sentence in their mind?
If some of the cases that individuals served multiple years of remand time in Anguilla, only to be released, made it onto the desk of a prosecutor in other jurisdictions, the prosecutors would tell the police force to get that tomfoolery off their desk. Where are the checks and balances that are necessary for stopping such travesties from occurring?
Young men today are thrown into institutions that barely have the resources to rehabilitate them. There are no vocational classes in the prison; that is a glaring issue that needs to be addressed. Why does a prison have a CXC program that is hardly prepared to groom its inmates? These prisoners are humans too. All of the prisoners who have taken the CXC exam in the past were entered into the prison system already equipped with the skills to sit the CXC exam, but just never took it prior to being incarcerated. Which politician and or highly influential people in the society will help to contribute financially to a vocational class?
Idle hands are the devil’s workshop, so if they are learning skills that teach them to use their hands productively, it is a win-win situation for the society and the individual. Our checks and balances are the visiting justice; however, these people are elderly folks and it is clear they only occupy the position for a cheque. They are unconcerned with the voices of the prisoners.
Who do we go to? Particular officers within the staff abuse their powers and there is no one to come to our aid. We endure verbal abuse on a daily basis and all some of us can do is shed tears because if we try to express our opinions respectfully, it is usually held against our trial date. Why does our society continue to neglect our youth, knowing that if we do not prepare them for a tomorrow without those that came before them, they will perish? When the pressure searches for a release valve, I hope the end results do not come as a surprise. A simple-minded person would hear that statement and immediately imply a threat. I acknowledge and understand that it is logic.
To the Anguilla society at large, please water the seedlings in the youth and the incarcerated, so the island can be bountiful during harvest time.
Concerned resident of Anguilla
Dear Editor,
Congratulation to Middle Region supermarket owners. The good, great, excellent ambitions, and performance you are doing in Middle Region are highly appreciated by Middle Region people.
Bar owners in Middle Region: keep warning their deejays please don't play music with dirty lyrics.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
A Sint Maarten Police Force KPSM Simpson Bay patrol was despatched to my home on Billy Folly Road early on Sunday morning to investigate the burglary. I was devastated. I was relieved that I was not at home at the time of the crime. Now I felt violated and unsafe in my own home. I was distressed and frustrated at why it was so hard to just live peacefully in my own home, where I harm no one and pay my dues.
Thieves had broken into my home, defiled my sanctuary and taken whatever they liked. They even drank my milk. I had to throw away everything in my refrigerator.
Now I awaited the police. I unconsciously felt that this was to be the second offence against my person in just a few hours, that I was to be interrogated and dismissed with a crime number by an overworked patrol officer, and never hear from anyone again.
I really could not have been further from the truth. In fact, the reason for my note today is to atone for my preconceived fear of this police visit, and to share with everyone my experience.
The officers arrived very promptly. They were immediately courteous, sympathetic, considerate, professional and wise. There were Detective Officers and Forensic Officers, all taking careful note, and specimens of the whole scene, inside and out. I was soon reassured by the strength of their ability to comfort victims like me and their calibre of police work to quickly assess and detect the whole scenario.
They felt sure that this person(s) had left enough evidence that they would soon be identified. They were a great source of information in how to better protect my home so that these thieves would not succeed in their vile business again. They recommended robust, reliable solutions that not only protect my home, but when considered in conjunction with my neighbours’ efforts, will make our community more secure.
I cannot thank the Police Force enough. It may have taken a horrible burglary to wise me up, but our Police Force was wonderful. I thank them sincerely and I can assure them that I have followed their expert advice in protecting my home to the letter.
Nadesha Wallace
Dear Editor,
So I opened up the Herald online to read updates pertaining to our island. Not the Bahamas. Us, in St Martin,
I am sorry they suffered what they have. Truly I am. I suffered the same. I lost my house and my business. So many many of us did.
Has St Martin forgotten what Hurricane Irma did to us? What little help we received?
Sorry, I never received more than a bottle of water after Irma tore off my brand new roof. I begged for water as I was breastfeeding my son. I needed the extra hydration. I was ignored. I will never forget how this island treated me after Irma.
My brand new roof blew off, which the developer (Koozie Development) ran away from honouring a verbal guarantee that he would replace. Buyer beware from them with A&A Supplies. Very shady people … .
As I sat under the bathroom sink with my 11-month-old child. My entire roof disappeared. I was told by his lawyer that “something hit the roof” again, a brand new roof. Buyer beware of this developer.
Not one charity gave us a tarp for our roof as Maria rained on it and flooded my house.
I will never give to a single charity on this island after struggling as a single mum rebuilding. Two years later I still rebuild.
I don’t look like a charity case. I don’t present myself as a charity case. So to this date my family rebuilt with zero help from this island. Don’t you dare ask me for charity for others. How dare this island ignore us and now ask for handouts. Shameful. I am disgusted.
You charity organisations should be ashamed of yourselves. Red Cross, I have words for you that cannot be published. Look within first. Where were you when I had no roof? Where were you when I needed help? Right … I don’t fit the charity “profile”. You charities, all of you, make me sick. I rebuilt from my own pocket. Now you want a penny from me to help others?
I remember calling the police for help, I called the fire department for help. All they said was, “Am sorry we cannot help.” They gave all their handouts to their family. Rice, water, generators, etc. – all the donations worldwide. Where did they go? To their family. The police and fire department gave all donations to their family.
I actually have a neighbour who bragged about her fire-fighting brother who gave her bags and bags of rice for life from China! She never even offered me a bowl of rice. Imagine that.
Friendly Island …
I have lost complete respect for the police and fire department on the Dutch side since Irma. They never helped the layman during hard times.
Bring on the Dutchman, they also never helped. They will never help. They only help their own kind.
I do believe that is called “bigotry” “racism”.
Mary De Francesco
