Dear Editor,

  I am not an educator by profession but I can remember from the time I went to Sunday school and had to recite memory verses  and recitations, on occasions my father would test me to see if I knew my piece. From then already I knew the meaning of the word "intonation".  He would ask me if I knew the meaning of certain words in the recitation and we would look them up together in the dictionary and he would make me read the meaning. You should not speak about things you do not know anything about.

  As I grew older, he always insisted that I look up strange or difficult words. That is why I thought of the word symbiosis. If I happened to ask him the meaning of a word, I would get that well-known look, meaning, "you know what you have to do". One day when I dared ask him why he always insisted that I make use of the dictionary, he took the dictionary sat me down next to him and said, “If you ask me the meaning of a word and I tell you this is what you will miss by not consulting  the dictionary.

  ”You probably will not get the right pronunciation of the word from me (phonetics). I might not be able to explain you completely because many words have several meanings just as several words are written differently  but sound the same (hear, here, hair, hare).  Along with that, while leafing through the dictionary, you will come across some words that you did not even know existed.

  I do not have dictionaries in my car and I rarely use my phone to Google words at home. One would think that the word "symbiosis" is not an everyday word, how could I have recognized that word, and I would be the first to agree. The truth about that is that after looking up a word in the dictionary the thought came to me to check the meaning of Simmons.

  I could not find the meaning and wondered if the original word could have been symmons. That also was not the case, but I came across "symbiosis" among other words and checked out the meaning.  Googling is the same. One only sees one word at a time, whereas there are approximately ten words to every page in the dictionary.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  I would appreciate any information you or your readers could provide on the situation at the Diamond Resorts International – Flamingo Beach Resort, specifically why it is taking them so long to reopen.

  Initially, following Hurricane Irma, we were told that the resort would likely reopen in 2019 and that insurance would cover the reconstruction costs. Now, they are saying the resort will not reopen until June of 2020.

  Other resorts, like the Maho Sonesta Beach have completed their renovations and reopened. Why is it taking Diamond Resorts International so long to get the Flamingo Beach Resort up and running? Why is there little work being done on the resort? Why are we being assessed a Maintenance/Operating Fee of $544, and some owners more, for a resort that we cannot even use?

  There's also information suggesting that the resort is intentionally dragging their feet on reconstruction because they are collecting money from the insurance company each day they remain closed and are in no rush to reopen. We owners are becoming outraged with this and would like some answers.

  Does the Minister of Tourism, Stuart A. Johnson, realize how Flamingo Beach owners are being treated by Diamond Resorts? Does he realize how much money timeshare owners spend annually in Sint Maarten? Do timeshare owners in Sint Maarten have any rights? If so, what does the government do to uphold those rights?

Stephen Caravana

Owner-Flamingo Beach Resort

Dear Editor,

  Please allow me a little space in your newspaper to publish the following article which I think will bring about some awareness to those people who like to have domestic animals around them.

  I am a resident of Belvedere, and have been for some years now, but I notice the practice of some neighbors who have dogs in their yards of not taking care of their animal. They ignore their dog on a daily basis, not bothering to give it some food or even some water. Personally to me, this is abuse to the poor innocent animals.

  Others just think it's a good idea to let their dogs wander, maybe in search of scraps of food or rummage through the garbage bins. Some of these dogs are really bad dogs. Some German shepherds, bulldogs and some just local backyard dogs can be seen on a daily basis just roaming the streets and barking at passersby in a very fierce manner ready to attack.

  There is this next door neighbor who owns a bulldog, but neglects to look after it. He leaves the dog's poop in the yard for days and weeks at a time, where the dog is tied up. One can imagine the stench around the area, not to mention the big blue flies that it attracts. This is not healthy for the tenants who live around the area. Numerous complaints were made to the SMHDF but up to this time seems like nothing has been done to remedy the situation. Those who live nearby cannot open their doors or windows due to this situation, especially when cooking.

  This article is not to bash anyone who have dogs, because I am an animal lover myself. There is an old saying that a dog is man’s best friend, but that is not any way to treat a “best friend”. These situations must be rectified. If I am not mistaken, I think in the contracts of the SMHDF, there is a clause which states "No Dogs Allowed"

  So we are appealing to the management of the SMHDF to please address these situations as soon as possible. We, the residents have a right to walk or stroll through our area without having a fear of being chased by a pack of ferocious dogs or stepping in dog's poop.

  No, these are not stray dogs, I am sure their owners live somewhere around. If by chance some are strays, then the Animal Welfare should be called to take care of them.

  Seems like right now there are more dogs than residents, due to the fact some families think it's fun to have like 4 or 5 in a small space. This is also abuse to the animals, not having enough space to move around.

  We have to be kind to the animals and by all means try our best to take care of them, seeing that they are unable to take care of themselves. If this turns out to be too difficult a task for you, then leave the dogs alone, for in this housing complex there is a rule no dogs are allowed.

Thank you very much,

A concerned resident of Belvedere

Name withheld at author's request. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

  We started the Season of Lent with the ceremony of the imposition of ashes that reminds us of the fragility of our life with the words “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” and Jesus’ invitation “repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1, 15).

  Pope Francis’ message:

  This year Pope Francis dedicates the Lenten message to the theme of the goodness of God’s creation. This is to make us more aware of the power of sin that is destroying creation, but a creation that has been regenerated and completely renewed through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  The invitation of Pope Francis addressed to all of us as God’s children, creatures freed from the corruption of sin, is for us to become partners in his creation. “If the person lives as a child of God, if he lives as a saved person who lets the Holy Spirit guide his life (Rom 8:14) and knows and practices God’s law, beginning with the law written in his heart and in nature, this person transforms the creation with his goodness, he cooperates with his redemption.”

  Reflecting on the Pope’s message, let us celebrate and live this season of Lent to discover again “the destructive force of sin” … “the sin that has ruptured the communion with God, which has caused damage to the harmonious relationship of human beings with the environment in which they live, in such a way that the garden has been transformed into a desert.”  (Gen 3, 17-18)

  The Lenten period of God’s Son was an entrance in the desert of creation so as to transform it again into the garden of communion with God as it was in the beginning … “the way to celebrate Easter invites us to renew our face and heart as Christians, through repentance, conversion and forgiveness, so that we can live all the richness of grace of the Paschal Mystery.”

  Some considerations and questions from the Message of Pope Francis:

  Brothers and Sisters, I offer you some questions that will enable you to practice the signs of conversion, a program of concrete activities for the environment where we all live and work. It is commendable that in parishes, schools and homes, there is an opportunity to engage in some Lenten actions inspired by the message of Pope Francis.

  How can we be God’s partners in his creation? How can we restore its splendor and change the desert of our world making it a garden again?

  Lent provides us the possibility of becoming God’s partners in his creation by practicing fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

  Aware of what is happening nowadays in our world, in our islands and specially to our brothers and sisters in Venezuela, let us practice some signs of solidarity:

  The first sign is to collect groceries/food items to help the needy. I enjoin the parishes and schools to participate in this activity, like placing a basket or a box in the church where the children can bring food items (that do not spoil easily) to help the needy families. In line with this activity I encourage specially the children and young people preparing for first Communion and Confirmation to do works of charity as a manifestation of their faith.

  Another sign of popular piety is the Way of the Cross, which we can promote in our Diocese in different settings and places, like in the barrios. Along with this practice we enjoin the participation in the Eucharistic Celebration (Mass) of every Sunday and the reading of God’s word through “lectio divina” in schools by all the teachers and students.

  Another activity that helps us practice the “culture of encounter” is the priest’s visit and blessing of family homes with holy water. This is a tradition that other Catholic countries perform during the Easter season. It is a Paschal sign of renewal of our faith through the water blessed during the Easter Vigil.

  Brothers and Sisters, let us live our faith by following the message of Pope Francis to transform the desert of our world into a garden of charity. Let us start with ourselves practicing mercy and forgiveness. Saint Teresa of Calcutta said: “You are what you give.”

  May Mother Mary help us to be the good neighbors to those in need by sharing our material and spiritual goods with them.

Your servant in Jesus and Mary,

Luis A. Secco, SDB

Bishop of Willemstad