Dear Editor,
Foundation Nos Ke Boneiru Bek (We Want Bonaire Back) recently went to our sister islands, Aruba and Curaçao, on a mission of information and raising awareness and to solicit support and solidarity and also funding, to contribute to the struggle and trajectory to re-enlist Bonaire back on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories.
Both in Curaçao and Aruba, fruitful meetings were held with various influential leaders and political and civil society organizations, all of whom showed their concerns for the alarming situation of Bonaire after the constitutional re-structure of 10-10-10.
On both islands, what was very remarkable was that, up to today, the majority of the people of the 2 islands are under the impression that we, ourselves, the Bonerian people, have chosen and want what we are suffering and going through now. However, brotherhood and compassion were shown and that they are in solidarity with the Bonaire people and will monitor the developments from close by and in the future, when needed, will reach out to our people.
On Curaçao, Foundation NKBB together with the Movement Kousa Prome, led by Mr. Rene Rosalia, have realized an accord of cooperation that had been initialized last December with the objective to unite forces and continue to work together in the Caribbean Progressive Alliance(CPA). The CPA alliance was founded by Mr. James Finies, president of Foundation Nos Kier Boneiru Bek (We Want Bonaire Back), in Sint Maarten in March, 2017.
Simultaneously the organizations Brighter Path Foundation and Progressive Labor Party of Sint Eustatius and The Independence Sint Maarten Foundation of Sint Maarten joined the Alliance. Today, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Archipelago San Andres, Providencia, Santa Catalina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Grenada are now members.
The ultimate objective of the CPA is to support and cooperate in the struggle to self-determination of the islands. The similar objective that Kousa Prome wants to realize for Curaçao; to support and cooperate to end the five (5) consensus laws, and to respect the vision and spirit of the U.N. Charter, in the same way as it respects the treaty of Lisbon regarding the European Union and to implement the U.N. Charter to self-determination of our peoples.
On Aruba, Foundation NKBB has achieved the same success to broaden the front of the Antilles and Caribbean cooperation alliance with the organizations Group of 7, led by Mr. Rocky Kelly and with the Status Territorium Platform, led by Mr. Orlando Croes.
The objectives that these organizations call for Aruba to realize are: to support and cooperate to evaluate and if possible, offer a discussion about the possible change of the Constitution of Aruba to enforce our Constitutional Laws in the Dutch Kingdom; to support and cooperate, to demand equal treatment from Holland for Aruba as equal partners in the Dutch Kingdom; to support and cooperate with the Caribbean people in their struggle for self-determination; and to fight colonialism and all kinds of discrimination in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Foundation NKBB looks back on the very successful mission to our sister islands, Aruba and Curaçao, and is very proud that the front of cooperation between the islands, the Caribbean.
James Finies
Dear Editor,
Nine years into Parliamentary processes and procedures leaves much to be desired of the performance and level of preparedness of our members of Parliament. The overall behavior of many MPs in and outside of office lacks professional behavior and is bereft of respect to the office they hold – MPs who are neither “fish nor fowl” because once elected regard their office as a free pass to attend meetings when convenient, while enjoying a full time excellent salary and benefits, and when they do manage to reluctantly show up, signing in only to leave to attend other “urgent” matters. A slap in the face of folks who work hard and still struggle to make ends meet.
MPs who do not work should be held accountable by the people of St. Maarten. What can be more pressing than attending to the issues that require the full attention of Parliament, especially two years after a devastating hurricane?
Members of the Council of Ministers fortunate to be appointed have the audacity to display arrogance and disrespect towards Parliament.
This misguided behavior lacks respect to the institutions of government and of governance. In other words, Ministers by account of their undignified actions in Parliament, show contempt towards the people of St. Maarten.
Ministers are dead-wrong in their assumption that an MP can be “talked down” to. In Parliament, professional and ethical behavior applies both ways. It is not who is in front of you, but what you represent.
Parliament rules of order and Parliament handbook can be updated to include some guidance in these matters.
Any Member of the Council of Ministers who defiles the House of Parliament with his/her diatribe and who publicly refuses to retract statements unbefitting for public consumption must be duly noted in the minutes of the meeting for the public record. Do not walk away.
The Council of Ministers must officially be informed in writing of such misconduct displayed by the Minister concerned and the (possible) consequences thereof. Ministers who do not sincerely apologize during the meeting for their misconduct, or those who act against their oath of office, must be served with a vote of non-confidence. It is high time for Parliament as a whole (Government-supported and opposition) to act in the general interest of this country.
Our island deserves better in all aspects of its existence. Unruly Ministers as well as Members of Parliament missing in action should spare the public their theatrics. It is time to give citizens systematic account of their actions in terms of the policies and projects that are beneficial for future generations.
This is Hurricane Season. Before MPs rush to leave town for the July “recess”, it behooves them to stay home and call each Minister one by one to Parliament to give account (not in a press conference) regarding the state of preparedness of St. Maarten. Above the surface, most seems like business as usual. Looking closer reveals much anxiety among citizens and businesses alike.
Finally, many matters require undivided attention of Government and Parliament, including but not limited to:
* The status of rebuilding existing hotel properties, including, Great Bay Hotel, Mullet Bay, Summit Hotel, Diamond Resort, former Caravanserai, while new properties are being announced with much fanfare. Is there a delay? If yes, why?
* Debate the merits of excluding taxes on civil servants’ pension and pensioners in general.
* Approve money-laundering laws. Avoid Sint Maarten being blacklisted. Not doing so affects our overall good standing in the world.
* Update rental committee ordinance to include rental fee per square meter per area.
* Government-owned companies concession fees should be reinvested in the budget towards school infrastructure and school-fees
When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled. We must redirect our attention away from detractions and rise above the fray, as we are still faced with serious issues facing our young nation. These matters are not insurmountable. We can get it right. We all have a stake in forging a great future for our island starting now.
Gracita Arrindell
Leader, People’s Progressive Alliance
Dear Editor,
FACT: The St. Maarten Shipyard NV (SSY) and 3 local families in 2006 were issued a 12-year short-term “Long Lease” ending on September 21, 2018, for 8 parcels of land and 1 parcel of water. The 3 local families were given explicit authority to sublet their parcels to the SSY.
Dear Editor,
We read with great interest the front page article in Saturday’s The Daily Herald regarding Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin’s reminder of the importance of preparation for the 2019 hurricane season. As residents and business owners in the Cupecoy area, we first enlisted her help to assist with the clean-up of what was once Ocean Club.
Dear Editor,
Well. Just when you think you’ve seen it all in St. Maarten politics you learn something new every day. And every day there is somebody from the old guard getting exposed about how they built their wealth on the backs of the people of St. Maarten. Years and years of self-enrichment allowed by people who kept voting them back into office over and over again.
