Dear Editor,

  The rights of older persons to social benefits and to an adequate standard of living to support their health and well-being, including medical care and necessary social services, are laid down in the major international human rights instruments, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), 1948, and (in more general terms) the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),

Oh, yes, l told our parliamentarians and ministers since from 10/10/10 when St. Maarten left Curaçao, let’s have our own central bank and please give the clients of CKC credit union back their money. They all put blind eyes and deaf ears to my crying.

  Because l knew Curaçao will get poorer when all the islands left them, so from February 1, 2020, let’s demand our shares and have our own central bank for St. Maarten and for its people.

  And l say to the Minister for Finance, please help get CKC credit union clients’ money for them as soon as possible from the central bank. CKC clients want their money.

Cuthbert Bannis

By Alex Rosaria 

Exactly 9 years ago (January 19, 2011), the financial director of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) stated that the lack of a coordinated macroeconomic policy between Willemstad and Philipsburg poses a threat to the stability of monetary union between Curaçao and St. Maarten. In the meantime, this coordination is still lacking, with the result that the two countries are increasingly further apart. The current CBCS financial director, a former Minister of Finance, said as early as 2015 that this coordination of the monetary union is not a priority.

  However, no coordination is not an option. A monetary union is the most advanced form of economic integration between members.

  From 2008, as State Secretary for Finance, I have expressed my objections to a monetary union that was politically imposed by The Hague and accepted by the government of the Netherlands Antilles, the governments of Curaçao and St. Maarten and the Bank of the Netherlands Antilles (precursor of CBCS). This forced monetary marriage should never have taken place since it was not supported by any economic foundation.

  The challenges that Curaçao experiences as an international financial centre should stimulate a sense of urgency. CBCS is an important link in this, but it has been in a negative light in recent years (pending a possible prosecution for breach of confidentiality, insolvency of the Girobank and probably also its questionable role regarding Ennia).

  Hopefully our monetary union will receive the necessary attention as soon as possible. We cannot afford a monetary drama right now

  ~ Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia and the Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He is from Curaçao and has an MBA from University of Iowa (USA).

Dear Editor,

  I believe that the editor of a renowned newspaper is one of the most accurately informed people in a community, because the letters to the editor are usually based on the true sentiments of the writer, even though the writer is aware that it is the prerogative of the editor to print or not to print. The Editor of this newspaper should know by now that I am an advocate of fairness and doing things right. My people are my people, but they can be wrong also, as well as people may not share my opinion. My assessment may not be always correct, but then again, I am big enough to accept my shortcomings.

  Because of circumstances sometimes I hold back in order to let others in the community comment on situations. Along with that, I believe that the government is  responsible for whatever happens in the country, whether good or bad. There are a few more things that I do not think should be taking place, and I maintain that it is because leaders of political parties chose party members they could manipulate, and that for me is robbing the people of good governance and lining their own pockets on behalf of the people.

  This has manifested itself in the community in such a way that because of lack of adequate controls there is no price control in the different places of business. What irks me most is the daily changes in the prices in the supermarkets.

  Every time a few cases of, for example, whole kernel corn are taken out of the original container where the rest came from the price is raised at least ten cents per tin and put on the shelf. But who cares?

  We just had elections and the data on the voting cards was a combination of  both English and Dutch  (Name .....Adres....,...Zitting:8:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M.).  but my real reason for choosing to write this letter to you is because on several occasions people (primarily foreigners) have written magazines with information about St. Maarten of which the information was not always accurate. I would always ask myself, “Should not there be someone from the Tourist Bureau going over this information before these books, leaflets or magazines are published?”

  I’m thinking of the word “sue”.  I doubt that there is anyone who doing this. And if they are doing it they are doing a very bad job. This happens. It is as if whoever gets the idea about it feels free to come to St. Maarten and publishes  magazine(s) about St. Maarten and what happens here, because no one from here checks to see whether what is written and published about us is good, bad or indifferent.

  On page 16 of a magazine WHERE’S, WHERE published by Robert D. Espitia it depicts most common traffic signs and emergency telephone numbers. There are 34 traffic signs with the meaning written below each sign. Of these 34 signs the explanation under five of them is wrong. The explanation is not only wrong, but can easily create dangerous situations. “Bicycle crossing” is written under the sign that means “prohibited for bicycles”; “speed limit” is written under the “minimum speed” sign; “no turn” is written under the “one way road” sign; “road broken or speed bump”  is written under the “speed bump” sign.

  Believe it or not, under the warning sign which means “be careful, you are approaching a playground, where children could be enjoying  themselves”, yes, “local preference crossing” is written. Local preference crossing tells the driver that he/she has the right of way at that intersection. What would we do to our tourists who adhere to that explanation of the meaning of that sign and as a consequence knock down a child?

  This magazine was published since September 2019, but I ran across it on Monday last, so I am hoping that my friends in the area of Lee’s restaurant do let me know that I missed the boat. But I believe that it is never too late to point out danger.

  My people told me that I should add some of those sayings from the old people to my letters to you, so here we go. “The only people you should get even with are those who helped you”, which should disqualify “Revenge is a dish served cold”.

Russell A. Simmons