Dear Editor,
Road-kill accidents have sent shock waves through the community these days. More young people are dying in road accidents than ever before. I am sad by the fatalities of so many young adults who lost their lives in 2019 by road-kill accidents. It is extremely heartbreaking to their loved ones left behind, who care so much about them. Why are so many fatalities and how can they be avoided?
It will take the awareness of everyone in the community: the police, sociologists, psychologists, friends and families to provide answers to these questions. Sometimes babies are caught up in these accidents as well. In the fast lane many stray animals ended up in road-kill. Animals such as iguanas, mongooses, cats and dogs became victims of fatal accidents. Looking at these innocent creatures lying there makes you feel very sad by the death of these animals.
When it comes to young people as victims, it is always: how could this have happened to someone? Drivers on the road who are victims of substance abuse, or intoxicated drivers, do not let harmful substances take control of your brain during driving on the road. When too much harmful substances are consumed, it will act-up on the central nervous system and the driver may end up in hallucination.
During driving on the road, motorists must be conscious at all times in order to prevent road-kill accidents. Do not become a victim of substance abuse while driving: the life you save might be your own. Life is too precious to throw it away foolishly. Motorists using the fast lanes and highways must pay special attention to all road safety signs. There are many young riders on mopeds and motorcycles still ignoring traffic signs on overtaking. They should be aware of pedestrians crossing the roads, and collision can be fatal.
Too many deaths have been taking place lately, and if nothing is being done to prevent these fatalities, many more lives will be lost. We should respect all motorists and pedestrians using roads and highways in the country. Warning: running red lights and speed limits signs is a crime, and can lead to fatal accidents. Anyone involved in this act will be arrested and prosecuted, especially if found under the influence of substance abuse.
To protect lanes and highways, there must be proper markings on the road with posted traffic signs. Most of the livelihood depends on transporting tourists and local people for a living. If the tourists choose to drive themselves and the motorists driving passengers, or even schoolchildren for a living – there must be good roads with proper posted traffic signs to help all individuals.
The government must stop creating “Jungle Paths” in the country. Dirt roads used by drivers should be surfaced, and damage to asphalt roads and lanes must be resurfaced as well to help prevent road-kill accidents.
Highly paved roads and highways are very important to the local people and tourists. To prevent fatal accidents among people: do we have enough traffic signs posted along the roads, lanes and highways? Are there enough speed bumps and speed limits, right and left turns, and also no entries signs to guide motorists in the fast lanes and highways? However, life in the fast lane will continue its course, and members of the public should exercise caution along the way to prevent other fatal accidents in the future.
Finally, too many innocent lives have been lost. Two important pieces of information are listed here for consideration as follows: to those in education – “he who builds schools reaps men”, (Jose Marti). To the leaders of this country – “if you can’t run the country bring in POPOLANI”.
Joseph Harvey
By Alex Rosaria
Pay attention because this week the Caribbean will be the venue of an old dispute between the “two Chinas”. Two Chinas? Since 1949, two countries with the name China exist. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC) also known as Taiwan. The PRC claims Taiwan as its province, but doesn’t control Taiwan as part of its territory. Taiwan is recognized by only 17 countries of which 8 are situated in the Caribbean Basin.
The PRC over the last 10 years has spent USD billions in aid to those countries that recognize Beijing. The PRC doesn’t engage in diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes Taiwan. The PRC has been able to use its wallet to convince many countries over the years to dump Taiwan, including the Dominican Republic and Panama. Taiwan is, however, tenaciously holding on to its influence.
Adding to what I have described as the New Cold War in the Caribbean, enters Taiwan the stage. Taiwan’s pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen will spend four nights in the US during her trip to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Haiti from July 11-20. This has angered the PRC which urged the White House not to allow her to visit.
Taiwan’s visit to this area must be seen in a bigger perspective. First, we must consider America’s re-commitment to Taiwan under President Trump. Trump’s very first telephone call to a foreign leader was with the President of Taiwan. Taiwan’s presence here could be a jab at the PRC at a time when Washington is pushing Beijing in the South China Sea and is frustrated with trade negotiation with the PRC, concerns regarding Hong Kong and PRC’s unfettered support of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Additionally, the US is preparing to sell Taiwan USD 2 billion worth of military equipment.
How this will play out remains to be seen. Taiwan understands very well, however, that with Washington’s commitment, now is the time to re-engage the Caribbean Basin and shore up its diplomatic alliances.
Curaçao recognizes the PRC.
Alex David Rosaria (50) is from Curaçao and has an 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.
Dear Editor,
On the street the opinions concerning the dismissed Minister of VSA are extensive. It would appear to be that he has become “the story”, which should not be the case. What the story should be about is how his dismissal procedure occurred and what it says about the present and future stability of government; after all, that is what is going to affect us and our children moving forward.
The performance of Ministers is in our constitution entrusted to the governing party. Their range of tasks is wide and the portfolios often very complex and they also have to work in a team which is the COM [Council of Ministers – Ed.]. They deserve, like every employee, to have only one boss! That boss/supervisor/manager should, like any supervisor, be consistent and clear in respect to priorities and their expectations. That boss should not suddenly have the expectations switch on him or her.
In the political sphere that “boss man” can change at a moment’s notice with a change in majority, but whilst a consistent coalition is in power that should not happen. Any future minister should have the assurance that whilst the coalition that is in power remains in power, the performance targets and the execution plan remains as consistent as possible as long as this “boss” considers the performance satisfactory.
It cannot suddenly be that a temporary new “boss” terminates the minister.
The real story is what the governing coalition is doing about remaining consistent in supporting their ministers. The real story should be about whether all political parties are ensuring that their decision-making members are truly on board with their party’s programme and whether or not they will use short-term opportunities to advance their personal views or interests. If prospective ministers cannot be assured of that, we should not be surprised if the very best minister candidates, of whatever political persuasion or ethnic origin, will decline offers in this very difficult area.
Robbie Ferron
Dear Editor,
Greetings in God’s name.
Let me get straight to the point, every time you open the paper you hear Mr. Lee or Giterson or the Minister of Justice, but people do forget very fast. They say Minister of Justice is not doing anything when it comes to Mr. Theo. Do you remember when Mr. Fernando scandal his name of the Minister of Justice so bad and all was a lie? Then they lie so bad on Mr. Franc they even lock him up. Then it went on Mr. Johnson Minister of Tourism – then all lies and if they could have locked him up they would have as well.
Now come back to Mr. Giterson: I use to drink as well and nobody who does drink can tell me that they don’t know that you could of drink last night, went to sleep and the alcohol does not leave your blood right away; you get up, you are not drunk but the alcohol is still on your breath. Please stop the stupidness. I am using this because I know, I used to drink more than 36 years and sometimes I feel if I take a blood test rum will be there still and I haven’t drunk a drink for almost 4 years.
They say all kind of things on Mr. Lee because they want him to be their puppet and it can’t work. When they ready they are on the Prime Minister – they say she give away St. Maarten. When are they going to stop and work together?
They say so much about Mr. Marlin. They say Christophe gives away land, before he leaves office he wanted to fix the dump but they would not let him do it, when it has almost everybody dying to check how many people died after Irma and people still don’t have a home.
When Mr. Wathey was ruling people used to get help and then you hear that all kind of things bad. When are the people in office going to grow up and help people? I am homeless but I make my home in a container. God is Great.
I am begging all the ministers to help the people they say they love; they say they love their people and their country.
Stop fighting. Put God in your heart, so stop fighting, ministers. Luc Mercelina know that to vote against Mr. Lee so he did just what they wanted him to do; he forgot how he got on the list, who recommended him – he forgot.
Again the same person he is against today. God doesn’t like bad, he doesn’t like ugly. They have a saying: “Stop spitting in the sky.” Put your heads together and start helping the people. We need help, not only fights. When are they going to stop and care for their people?
From the Homeless
Avril Gumbs
Dear Editor,
Since Hurricane Irma destroyed St. Maarten there has been very little control over the traffic situation in Front Street. Cars and trucks are jamming up the main shopping street on the Dutch side on a daily basis with plenty of honking from impatient drivers.
Before Irma, Front Street was closed off during shopping hours and only some store owners and taxis were allowed to enter.
This restriction made for a peaceful and classy shopping experience, something you would expect as a tourist when you plan to spend thousands of dollars on jewelry or watches.
Another problem is the parking situation in and around Front Street. You would expect that at least a walk on the sidewalk would be comfortable, but unfortunately cars are parked illegally everywhere and tourists have a hard time manoeuvring through this maze of steel. Elderly tourists with a wheelchair or walker have a very difficult time passing through the street.
The sad part of all this is that merchants are already struggling to make ends meet and this kind of nastiness is totally unnecessary.
If you look for instance at the island of Aruba, the shopping street is fully closed off to any traffic which makes the shopping experience much more pleasant which elevates the incentive to spend money.
We all understand that the island is struggling financially but we're talking about simple law enforcement here. It doesn't cost money to place a barrier at the beginning of the street or to enforce parking laws. What is lacking is political willpower and the realization that if tourists stay out of the main shopping area the brand names will leave or stay away which will be devastating for this beautiful island.
Name withheld at author's request.
