Dear Editor,
Yes, St. Maarten government has done it again. From the time the new coalition government was formed after elections, I believe people were hoping for the best, however things still turned out again for the worst. I believe I can hear the old people say: “Donkey maybe peed on them, or too much goat mouth was upon them.” However the case dear editor, we are now seemingly back to square one. Should we now go back to the polls, form another coalition or what? It’s a shame!
Since St. Maarten obtained its separate status in 2010, yet now nine years later, our politicians still cannot get their act together when it comes to unity, agreement, interest of this island, and governing stability.
Dear editor, how are we going to prove to the people of St. Maarten and the Dutch, that we can handle things on our own, even if we may ever get independence? With continual breakup of government, I can say that the future of this island may not be too bright. What example are we setting for ourselves, our future generation, and the Dutch Kingdom? It’s like a marriage relationship that goes sour. In the end it will lead to separation or divorce. And who will suffer the most? The children who depend on a stable family unity to grow up and walk in the footsteps of their parents.
Over the last years since our Separate Status in 10-10-10, we have seen more disagreements, disunity, ship-jumping, greed, selfishness, even politicians continually being arrested, or put behind bars for committing fraud, money-laundering, cutting above- and under-the-table deals.
Dear editor there is now talk about a re-election, especially among the opposition’s members of course. But dear editor, the people of St. Maarten are not foolish. We have been deceived for too long. Having a new government will not prove anything. The majority of people of St. Maarten have lost their trust in our politicians. The ten to thirteen thousand guilders a month salary is sweet, so why not fight your way back in?
Dear editor, since Hurricane Irma, many people on this island are still suffering financially, emotionally, and socially. Also there are still many pending issues to be resolved since Hurricane Irma devastated this island almost two years ago. The people of St. Maarten deserve better than this.
Our politicians need to understand that since 10-10-10, because of political issues, misunderstandings, backbiting, and cut throats, little progress has been made or achieved as an island that has received more autonomy. The people of this island are greatly concerned about what is going on politically. This issue has become the talk of the day.
Dear editor what people want is a stable government who will be able to jumpstart this island economy, bring in investors, get our airport, which is St. Maarten’s main economical stronghold, rebuilt, provide jobs, and give them security.
Voting for a new government who will go into office and repeat the same mistakes like the previous one or ones, does not make much sense. I don’t believe many people might even want to go cast their votes, unless they have the assurance that they will get a government who they can depend on, a government who is able to help them, and provide progress and a secure future for this island.
Dear editor, if we cannot run our own country, then we might as well bring in the Dutch to run it for us.
Frustrated and concerned citizen
Name withheld at author's request.
With a seven to seven
Tight parliament
The man with the eight ball
Will make that final call
And remain standing tall
And will determine
whether the government
stands or fall
Thus giving the key
To none other than Frankey
The honorable MP Meyers
by his sudden but calculated
move has become a game
changer
Frankie ketch the dutchman
with a finger still in the dike
trying hard te block the
airport leak
While the crying Minister
Was out shopping
Like a plumber for stop
Leak
Parliament sprang ah leak
And Frankie gone
Yeh done know
Looking for Frankie
Where is Frankie
Nobody know
Now Frankie once more
holds the key
Whether we rise
Or fall
Frankie will make that call
And as far as I am concerned
Frankie haven’t said his last
Word yet
YEH DONE KNOW
HE AIN’T DONE YET
Raymond Helligar aka “Big Ray”
Dear Editor,
This is an article to clarify and clear the Club High Up owner’s name from the incident that took place on November 18, 2018, on Simpson Bay Road.
I didn’t testify or give a statement identifying no 1. I was working in the bar when the incident occurred on the road. I was asked to come in at the station about the incident.
When I was asked about a Rastafarian man, a skinny person and a broad-shouldered man, of which hundreds of people in the club fit the description, I told them I don’t know who they’re talking about. They brought a sheet of paper with six people on it, asking if I know them. I responded, “No, first time seeing them.” Then they told me two had died the following night in a different incident. I again told them I don’t know anyone in the picture. Then they said it was okay to go.
I didn’t have any knowledge of a court case nor have I ever been in the Courthouse to testify, so I just want to make it clear that I have nothing to do with that incident.
Owner High Up Club
Simpson Bay
Dear Editor,
On September 3, 2019, Red Cross St. Maarten decided to collect monetary donations to support the Bahamas Red Cross in response to the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. The storm battered the Bahamas and lingered there for more than a day, causing tremendous damage to the island’s homes and infrastructure. It’s vital to understand that Red Cross St. Maarten’s effort intends to complement the support of the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and other agencies that are also providing aid to the Bahamas.
Red Cross St. Maarten has learned valuable lessons about distributing aid locally, regionally and internationally in the past years. By sharing this information we hope to clarify the current process of emergency relief aid to the Bahamas, so St. Maarten residents understand why we focus on collecting monetary donations instead of in-kind donations. We owe all donors that same courtesy, and we aim for transparency at all times with all parties involved.
As Red Cross we aim to support the affected population as best as possible based upon their local and specific needs. The local authorities and the Bahamas Red Cross with support of the International Federation of Red Cross is currently conducting needs assessments among the affected population. Based upon this data specific requests for donations are already being made. So humanitarian aid is based on what is needed by the affected people first. Unfortunately, many of the well-meaning donations do not match the immediate needs of the people.
Processing unsolicited goods requires an immense amount of manpower and funds. All goods coming in need to be cleared through Customs, transported to local warehouses, checked for quality standards, sorted according to type, size and expiration date and eventually distributed. When you’re short on helping hands and funds you don’t want to be sorting piles of clothes while people have no access to safe drinking water. The aid needs to be well targeted and fast. This can only be done if we are absolutely certain that the goods coming in are actually requested and fit the quality standards of the affected country. We don’t want to burden the local responders with goods they haven’t requested at the moment, are not culturally appropriate or don’t match minimum quality standards.
The devastation at the Bahamas is enormous, this also affected the different supply routes to the disaster areas. Local airports have been shut, boats and harbors are seriously damaged, roads are flooded or filled with debris, warehouses are destroyed. Taking into account this limited local logistics capacity, the ‘pipeline’ gets congested quickly. During previous disasters runways were clogged with boxes of unsorted clothes and food, preventing essential supplies to be delivered. Therefore, priority is given to the most critical supplies first as requested by the local authorities and agencies.
We also need to think about the cost of transport of goods. Transport of goods is costly and time consuming. Why spending thousands of dollars on shipping water from one island to another while relief organizations can purify a multiple volume of water locally using less funds. Or why flood the local markets with imported food items if local markets or local production eventually re-established providing income to local merchants or farmers.
To ensure support to our sister Red Cross in the Bahamas, we are collecting monetary donations to give to the Bahamas Red Cross, via the International Federation of Red Cross, so that those agencies, on the ground, can react swiftly and appropriately to the most urgent needs.
Red Cross St. Maarten made a conscious decision not to send food and clothing supplies without a formal request from the Bahamas Red Cross to avoid burdening relief workers and volunteers with unrequested aid. Also, we believe that the provision of cash to local aid organizations helps them in adapting their response options based upon the local context, supporting their freedom of choice and dignity as local actors.
When can Red Cross St. Maarten send food and clothing supplies?
We will send food and clothing supplies when there is a request from Bahamas Red Cross.
Why are we collecting monetary donations locally rather than having the money sent directly to Bahamas?
Red Cross St. Maarten acknowledges that the Bahamas services will be interrupted after the storm. Receiving cash donations or bank transfers is to ensure that we can provide funds for purchasing items that are based on a Needs Assessment.
Why is it necessary to do a Needs Assessment?
A Needs Assessment ensures that Red Cross and other agencies are collecting and providing the correct type of aid to affected people.
What happens after a Needs Assessment?
Usually, agencies on the ground submit formal requests to cohorts regionally and internationally for assistance in meeting the needs captured in an assessment.
Duane Robin
Netherlands Red Cross – St. Maarten
Dear Editor,
The following is a prayer we say during the hurricane season every Sunday at the Anglican church. "Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of Heaven and earth, grant unto us, your suppliant people, protection against hurricane, earthquake, volcano, tsunami, tornado and other calamities, that in tranquillity of weather we may rejoice in the comfort we ever desire, and may always make right use of your bountiful goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen,"
We have had our share of hurricanes over the years. As has become customary at the end of every hurricane season, we come together in a combined service to give thanks to our Lord for taking care of us during the past season. I have seen the ravages of Dorian and I am calling on the people of this island to not wait until the end of the hurricane season, but to repeat that prayer daily.
I am aware of scepticism and also of atheists, but I am also aware of the saying: "Nothing beats a failure but a trial" or "No you have, yes you can get" . So, with that faith, if we say that prayer or whatever other prayer for protection and tranquil. By doing this as often as possible with dedication and conviction during the hurricane season, hopefully we'll make more believers.
Russell A. Simmons
