Dear Editor,
To will a life devoid of preferences for particular subjective experiences, a life which remains unaffected by the chaotic, unpredictability of existence, is to welcome a life with its myriad of inherent misfortunes and disruptions. It is tantamount to what Friedrich Neitzsche referred to as the eternal recurrence of the same – a willingness to embrace and relive the gamut of one’s past life experiences over and over again: in essence it is to equally affirm pain and suffering as a given of life.
To exhibit this sort of courage which liberates us from the fear of suffering, the courage that relieves us of the fear of exposing our sheltered vulnerabilities, the courage to expose the contents of one’s psychological make-up, the courage to allow the free play and stimulation of every human faculty, the courage to become consciously aware of and experience the whole range of our sensibilities and sensitivities, essentially the courage to develop a healthy desire to feel every feeling and think every thought, is to display the courage which epitomizes a life which approximates fearlessness.
In this state of fearlessness, courage then becomes the beacon which beckons us to its presence, inviting us to exercise and consume its restless internal capacity which promises to bestow upon us unquantifiable intestinal fortitude. Tempted by its daring and the possibility for us to become potent human beings we ought to then allow courage free reign within our psychological milieu, thus enabling us to transcend the limitations of its binary opposite – miserable paralysing timidity. Transcending the life diminishing boundaries delineated by fear propels us to the apex of what Maslow’s pyramid of hierarchical needs refers to as self-actualisation.
In this mode of self-realisation having earlier ascended the lower rungs of the stairs of anxiety built on our basest of needs and the fear of the unknown we are now elevated to the summit of our human potentialities which were once inaccessible to us and fiercely guarded by fear.
Having ascended during our internal pilgrimage we now have a friend in courage and can confidently call on it to flex its spiritual muscles to disallow any future attempt from its flighty weaker accomplice – fear – to reverse our ascension displacing us from atop the plateau populated with beings experiencing the highest modes of human existence. We are now courageously well formed to incorporate Carl Jung’s partially diabolical shadow into our consciousness. We are no longer unafraid to probe the depths of our unconscious psyche, but are instead hastening to bring to the surface for peaceful coexistence all the dragons and demons that were once lurking in the shadows of our unconscious.
We can now denounce the Greek God Phobos severing ties with his fearful, panic stricken and flighty nature, embracing and celebrating instead the spirit of Ares whose brave nature now possesses us. We are thankful to the Greeks and remain unfazed by the fact that in spite of their mythology being irrational, it nevertheless offers inspiring insights, comfort and courage to the feeble, in particular those who are unable to face the perils of life. We are extremely grateful to Ares for possessing us during our daring quest to discover what it truly means to summit the mountain of human potential despite the presence of fear.
Medals of valour are now in short order for the gallant spirits who dared not remain perpetually imprisoned by the terror which once shackled their fearful minds. Valiant souls whose spiritual adventurism fuelled and sustained by stubborn determination bravely resolved to experience the heights possible for anyone riding on the back of courage. These enlightened, heroic self liberators who are now in possession of such a coveted virtue as courage now have an understandably loathsome distaste for subjects cloaked in fear.
The newly badged soldiers of fortitude having persevered, in the process becoming fully liberated from the dread that once impeded and threatened their entry into the promised land have now joined the ranks of the eternally resolute in spirit. While residues of fear still remain amongst the courageous victors it nonetheless exist in such insignificant proportions that any attempt to rear its head will be adventurously devoured. Hail to all the bold psyches whose odysseys have resulted in their victorious souls becoming transformed beyond the shores of those who fear to dare. Once gripped by fear these newly-minted pilgrims of valour dared to seek and so were spiritually rewarded with a life that will persistently pay homage to courage.
Orlando Patterson
Dear Editor,
I invite you to have a look at the anchorages in Simpson Bay and Great Bay and then have a look at the anchorages in Marigot and Grand Case. With any reasonable level of eyesight you will see that there are minimal boats on the Dutch side and a huge amount on the French side.
If the arrivals at Princess Juliana change hugely that is news is it not ?
Why should the major change in yacht arrivals not also be news ?
The fact that these statistics are controlled by an NV on the Dutch side should surely not detract from these obvious facts. You may not want to consider yourselves “investigative journalists” but the reasons for this major shift do not require much “investigation”.
Robbie Ferron
Dear Editor,
The state of healthcare in St. Maarten has reached a critical point, and the negligence of the Minister of VSA is exacerbating the crisis. The long wait times at the SMMC Emergency Room (ER), inefficient costs of emergency care, and the continuous financial struggles of healthcare providers paint a troubling picture of a system in distress.
Despite repeated warnings and calls for action, to this day, the Ministry of VSA has failed to implement sustainable solutions. Urgent Care services, which provide a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to the ER, remain unsupported. Patients seeking treatment at the ER are met with excessive costs, while those covered by SZV insurance suffer from delayed or denied payments, further deepening the healthcare burden.
St. Maarten’s Prime Minister has admitted that to this day the current system is unsustainable at the current rate. However, his Minister of VSA has taken no meaningful steps to address the ongoing crisis. SZV continues to complain about financial burdens while simultaneously refusing to support a more cost-effective healthcare model, leaving many healthcare operators unpaid for over a year.
Members of Parliament have urged the Ministry of VSA to support the continuation of the HAP operations since 2024, yet these calls have been met with resistance. The St. Maarten Diagnostic Center (SMDC) has been awaiting a response to HAP-related enquiries for over six months. Due to a lack of funding and government support, SMDC’s Urgent Care services have now been forced to close for the second time, further depriving residents of essential medical care. SMDC Urgent Care was the only after-hours care option for non-life-threatening cases on the island.
The contributions of SMDC, particularly the efforts of Dr. Michael Y. Dennaoui and his son, Dr. Danny Dennaoui, have been consistently disregarded and disrespected. Both doctors, with deep ties to the island, have dedicated their time and resources to improving community healthcare, only to face baseless scrutiny and defamation. Rather than receiving support for their preventive first-response care initiatives, their reputation has been unfairly put under fire.
Dr. Pedro Arrindell, in a recent interview, echoed these frustrations, stating that the ongoing neglect and apathy towards healthcare providers must end. The government must acknowledge the contributions of local healthcare professionals and take immediate steps to ensure that accessible, affordable, and efficient medical services are available to all residents.
Additionally, recent interviews have highlighted VSA Minister’s intention to enforce stricter training and qualification requirements for General Practitioners (GPs). However, it remains unclear what percentage of St. Maarten’s current GPs lack formal training and whether they will meet the new legal stipulations. If they do not, clinics may face fines or be forced to close, drastically affecting the local healthcare landscape. Many patients could be left without access to their trusted house doctors, increasing the burden on the remaining clinics and the main hospital still allowed to operate. This move could further strain an already-struggling healthcare system, exacerbating wait times and limiting available medical services.
The people of St. Maarten deserve better. The Ministry of VSA must take accountability and work towards tangible solutions before the healthcare system collapses further. We call upon the government, SZV, and all relevant authorities to act decisively and responsibly in addressing this pressing issue.
Dr. Danny Dennaoui
Dear Editor,
Just a few days ago, I got the opportunity to watch the radio interview with Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling that was aired on Friday, March 21, 2025. Minister, the discourse commanded my attention, as your answers to the questions were clear, precise and very informative. I appreciated your quick responses that were articulated with such ease and a spirit of calmness. But most of all, you’ve echoed your gratitude once more, for the privilege to serve, in this esteemed capacity.
Despite the adverse remarks to disrupt and tarnish your legacy, you’ve disciplined your emotions and rose above the adversaries, and spoke to the population from a place of dexterity and sincerity. This was a very rare performance, which surfaced automatically, because of your genuine commitment to reintegrate the core values of trust, fairness and integrity, as the cornerstone of the Justice organisation.
For this reason, I applaud you for addressing the many concerns of the public. Even though some of your plans may not have yielded the results as quickly as you have anticipated and the community has expected, in due time everything will fall into place. Contrary to what some believe or wished, Napoleon Hill sums up the situation beautifully when he said, “Setbacks are not signs of weakness. They are the testing ground of your strength.”
This quote solidified the quality of your demeanor throughout the interview, because it was evident that you were not bothered by the external noise and that your approaches to the solutions were strategic and intentional. Napoleon Hill further emphasized that, “True leaders are not noisy. They are dense. They control their emotions. They learned how to feel without being ruled. They pause, instead of react. They stay focused, when things go sideways.”
As I became drawn into the interview, it reminded me of the recently concluded tennis tournaments: Indian Wells Open and Miami Open, where two rookies snatched the trophies from their idols and left them stunned. It wasn’t that the superstars were unprepared for the game; their opponents, Mirra Andreeva and Jakub Mensik approached the finals with a mindset that was meticulous and consistent, regardless of the circumstance.
I know that you are a tennis player and that is why I have inserted this very familiar terrain that can be connected to your function. With this in mind, it appeared that you have analysed your opponent well and have adjusted to the weather conditions. To be successful like Andreeva and Mensik, all you have to do is to keep at mastering your footwork and your serve (the critical aspects of the sport), as you maintain that positive and aggressive mindset throughout the match.
As indicated in a prior article, the population needs to be kept in the loop, but does not need to know your every move. When the time is appropriate, surprise us with your results. Again, Napoleon Hill coins this situation quite well when he says, “Unpredictability is Power.” He continued by saying, “The strongest power in any game are those whose moves cannot be anticipated; whose strategies are revealed only when they choose to show them.”
Minister Tackling, you cannot imagine how much the prayer group has grown. Consequently, as you proceed on your journey of exploration, may God give you abundant health, strength and wisdom, to lead your ministry in the manner that incorporates all faucets of the Justice chain, so that no section within the organisation is left unattended.
In conclusion, always be true to yourself and to the people who have given you the opportunity to serve. Once more, I leave you with words of wisdom from Napoleon Hill who says, “The power to endure and evolve lies within you. Embrace every difficulty, not as a detour, but as a design, crafted to awaken the strongest, most resilient version of yourself.”
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
The mega announcement of mega tariffs around the world took place in the Rose Garden on Wednesday, April 2, at the White House in Washington DC.
Trump’s tariffs have created economic anxiety and it’s already leading to a decline in U.S. consumer confidence which is impacting how Americans are spending their money. There has been a decline in spending on airlines, hotels and other trip components.
St. Maarten received over 332,000 stay-over visitors in 2024 and close to a million cruise passengers, more than a majority from the US market. Regional and local tourism reps will be watching the figures closely for 2025, but a strategy is needed to counteract the potential decline that we are facing as a nation.
In February, according to data from Bloomberg Second Measure, U.S. consumer spending on air travel and hotels dropped by 10 and six per cent year over year. In addition, from the same source, every week in 2025 through March 24, Americans have spent less on airfares and hotels compared to the same period in 2024.
The Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) this week released its March 2025 Economic Bulletin which said that St. Maarten has demonstrated resilience by recording a stronger recovery from the pandemic than initially anticipated by maintaining steady economic growth throughout 2024, and this momentum is expected to continue into 2025.
St. Maarten’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was described as “moderating slightly to 3.5 percent in 2024,” and CBCS projects that real GDP for 2025 is expected to expand by 2.6 per cent.
CBCS warns that “…trade policies by the U.S. administration could result in negative spillover effects for both the global economy and the monetary union (Curaçao and Sint Maarten).” CBCS further adds that, “This scenario may disrupt supply chains and cause sharp increases in international commodity prices, further fueling inflationary pressures in Curaçao and St. Maarten.”
CBCS: “To reduce risks from tariffs and potential trade conflicts, businesses in Curaçao and Sint Maarten should diversify supply chains away from reliance on the U.S. market. The governments of Curaçao and Sint Maarten can support this by strengthening trade relations with alternative partners through, for example, collaborative advocacy with CARICOM.”
According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. exports to the country in 2023 was valued at US $847 million. This is what local import businesses, wholesalers and others forked out. The time has come to diversify our supply chains and our reliance on the U.S. market as suggested by the CBCS.
CBCS adds that, “… promoting local production in agriculture …,” is one of the avenues that should be explored and developed. The government of St. Maarten Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) is pursuing this avenue.
With the tariff war now in full swing, small island nations like St. Maarten and others in the Caribbean will be planning a response while others may already have been planning ahead once Tariff Trump was sworn in 10+ weeks ago.
The tariff war is a wake-up call for St. Maarten’s tourism-dependent economy and sole reliance on the U.S. market for goods and products. The country’s economic diversification is more essential now than ever.
Roddy Heyliger
