Dear Editor,
As long as I have worked on St. Maarten, people from all over the world have sought out St. Maarten for either a steppingstone or to better their life as in the case with Venroy Cargill. Looking at his record I would assume it was/is to better his life.
This happens all over the world. What I do not agree with, and I hope that the competent authorities would also see it in the same light as I do, is that no one who has come here to have a better life, should be so “bold faced” to have a story boasting of their illegal behavior (gypsy taxi driver) printed on the front page of the local newspaper. And to top it off, letting the people know that every night he sleeps in his car across from the Police Station.
This reminds of your editorial of a few months ago in which you cited the consequence of complacency. I have an idea why Gargill would feel free to do what he himself claims to be doing, but no one should be compensated for doing wrong.
I do not think that story was exaggerated and I hope that Gargill cannot claim that he did not know that that article would be printed, but what I know is that this behavior should not be unattended to.
My first reaction was that this should serve as a wakeup call for all the people in government. Especially those who are not showing the political will to do the positive things, but are only there for self-enrichment. The fact that that story is on the front page tells me several, but not so pleasant, things. A slap in the face of government came to mind, but then again this is my opinion.
This was long in coming, because time and time again we have seen and heard that the majority of the members of Parliament execute their tasks based on “not losing votes” and in doing so, not neglect to, but refuse to take a stand against whatever is not popular (remember this next election).
A 67-year-old Jamaican who was granted permanent residency is showing the St. Maarten government that because they are not taking care of him, he is going to do whatever it takes to survive, whether legal or illegal.
I must say this. This past weekend the Jamaicans on St. Maarten got permission to organize a parade and fête to celebrate the independence of Jamaica. This tells me that they are organized. So, taking into account the blame that Venroy Cargill wants to pass on, my suggestion is this. Whichever citizen of whichever nation who can organize themselves to celebrate should also organize themselves to avoid embarrassing situations caused by their fellow countrymen.
I know of thousands of people worldwide who are still saying “Thank you, St. Maarten” today.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
Middle Region and all the rest of those who live, work and sometimes visit loved ones and relatives on the east side of the island want our hosts to invite the transport minister, St. Maarten United Bus Drivers’ association president and members to the radio and TV stations for interviews concerning the lack of bus service at the east side of Dutch St. Maarten, so that the public can hear and monitor their plans and hold them accountable for not having buses running on the east side of the island.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
St. Maarten was blessed with a strong commercial branding in its early years of tourism development. This branding was achieved by a natural talent by its people in the field of hosting, marketing by a range of commercial interests, a collaborative government and a smart choice of content: “The Friendly Island” together with the French-Dutch story.
In those early years, competitive destinations were not yet spending money developing their brands. There were also less active tourist destinations. Today, destinations are competing more actively and more financially in promoting themselves.
We have also learnt that in the case of pure commercial branding there have been many lessons learnt about brands declining as they are not actively supported. We have learnt that brands decline in recognition numbers as they are left unattended, and not supported by regular support activity. There are many commercial examples.
We are all dependent on the brand “St. Maarten” in all its forms. Everyone on the entire island is dependent on the strength of this brand, because it is a factor in the choice of potential visitors that could trend both up and down.
It is a brand that is grounded as a geographical reference, but, that by itself does not make it a brand (The Falkland Islands are well known but not as a tourist destination.) For the branding to be effective for us, the brand “St. Maarten” needs to link to the potential visitors’ concept of what is attractive for a tourist. Our communal task is to ensure that the brand “St. Maarten” holds all the positive associations that will ensure a strong tourist economy.
There are many ways to keep this branding at a high level. The most cost-effective ways will be found by creative parties with a good understanding of the communication issues. It can be achieved through media purchase, media management, events, content management and a fast-evolving variety of methods that online options have precipitated. Branding is like a plant; it needs care and stimulation.
Are we ensuring our valuable and crucial brand remains strong?
Robbie Ferron
Curaçao is currently going through a very serious economic crisis. It is therefore understandable that not many people listen to any kind of solidarity with the many Venezuelans who have fled to our country.
But is it wise not to show solidarity with the victims of the catastrophe in Venezuela? Would it not be better, for example, to think of a temporary work permit? Below are some reasons why that is also in the interest of Curaçao.
Life expectancy: The costs of public services in a country like Curaçao are high. Financing this is becoming increasingly difficult for two reasons. First of all: the local population growth is shrinking. This is due to emigration, especially to the Netherlands, and a low fertility rate of on average 1.7 children per woman during her lifetime, while that must be 2.1 on average to keep the population stable.
The other reason is the increase in life expectancy: it is 78 years on Curaçao and continues to rise. It goes without saying that having fewer people of productive age and the increase in the number of retirees poses financial problems without increasing taxes. The alternative is to levy taxes on those who do not pay taxes as follows: the average age of people who have arrived from Venezuela in recent years is between 25 and 40 years. That is an age where people are in their most productive phase of life. An ideal group to contribute to taxes without incurring excessive health or pension costs.
But in Curaçao there is a fear that these Venezuelans will take the jobs of the local population. A survey by the International Organization for Migrants (IOM) at the turn of the year shows that almost all of these Venezuelan migrants are already working. Only they do not pay taxes, because that would be more attractive for employers. The same research shows that a high percentage of them want to return to their country as soon as the circumstances change. Perfect candidates for a temporary work permit, and perhaps a residence permit without building up residence rights.
The cost of detaining someone in the barracks for “illegal immigrants” costs Curaçao 350 guilders a day, according to the minister of justice. In addition, there are costs for the immigration service and for the deportation of immigrants.
Wouldn’t it be better to use those resources to increase security on our island? Don’t forget that various international organizations and countries finance a large part of the costs of hosting Venezuelan refugees such as Brazil and Colombia. A good humanitarian plan in Curaçao can also count on such financing.
No country is safe: The people who are currently leaving Venezuela do not simply do so because they are looking for better economic or social opportunities. They do so in order to survive because they leave a country that, even though it is not at war, does have all the characteristics of an armed conflict.
A few years ago, no one could imagine that such a situation could occur in a country with as much wealth as Venezuela. Unfortunately, no country is safe from a similar collapse, either for natural or political reasons.
A migration crisis such as that of the Venezuelans is a problem for all humanity. This is also seen by various UN organizations that have published about this crisis. Unfortunately, Curaçao is not doing well in terms of human rights protection in these reports. It is high time to do the right thing.
Alfredo Limongi
Curaçao
By Alex Rosaria
There are times when one single story makes us understand evil. This is about how a whole population was forced to live 1,600 km away while their island was turned into a secret military base. It’s about how all their dogs were killed, and the population threatened with the same fate if they didn’t leave. At this point you may think this is an article about some brutal dictator like Pol Pot. Think again. The perpetrators were the UK and the US. Neither did it happen in the dark days of colonialism, but in 1971. The victims: the people of Diego Garcia.
Diego Garcia, a small Overseas Territory belonging to the UK, once a paradise-like coral island, lies in the Indian Ocean midway between Africa and Asia. Secret encounters between the US and the UK in the ’60s led to a deal making Diego Garcia a top-secret US military base. All the 2,000 inhabitants, the Chagossians, had to be deported as part of this deal.
In response to the unwillingness of the inhabitants to leave voluntarily, they were first deprived of basic supplies. Then in 1971 all the pet dogs on the island, about 1,000 of them, were gassed to death.
The Chagossians, threatened with the same fate, had to board the ship Nordvaer with only one suitcase per person. When they arrived in the Seychelles they were imprisoned before leaving again to their final destination of Mauritius; 1,600 kilometres west of Diego Garcia. In files later discovered, the Chagossians were described by top UK officials as, “people with little aptitude for anything other than growing coconuts.”
When they arrived in Mauritius, not surprisingly cases of suicide, abysmal poverty and prostitution abounded. In 1981 each evicted islander got US $4,000 from the British Government. Their homes on Diego Garcia for a great part are now overtaken by the jungle.
Today, Diego Garcia is seen by the US as an “indispensable platform for policing the world.” It was pivotal in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Diego Garcia there are about 2,000 US troops, 30 ships, including nuclear-armed aircraft carriers ready to jump into action.
The British High Court in 2000 ruled that the Chagossians were wrongly evicted. But four years later this decision was nullified by the Queen.
In November 2016, a UK-US deal was struck to keep the secret military base, named Camp Justice, until 2036. In 2019, the UN affirmed an earlier 13-1 verdict at the International Court of Justice that found Britain’s rule in Diego Garcia unlawful.
The subsequent UN resolution ordered Britain to withdraw within six months. Still, the UK and the US look set to ignore the eviction orders.
No protests on any streets in the world. No Je suis Diego Garcia T-shirts. No mention of these people in the Pope’s sermon. All the Chagossians want is to go back home. The world looks on as injustice prevails.
~ Alex David Rosaria (50) is from Curaçao and has a MBA from University of Iowa. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. ~
