Dear Editor,

Amidst the present atmosphere of negative news, l recently woke up to the news that our very own from St. Maarten Imran Amjad McSood has been appointed Independent Director of West Indies Cricket. Big news indeed and here’s why!

Mc Sood is Guyanese by birth, but a true St. Maarten patriot. Locally where our news has been a constant barrage of negatives stories, Mr. McSood’s appointment was a huge and timely reminder that in spite of all the negatives, we have some talented people in our midst – people who have given so much of themselves and are able to contribute significantly to this island’s development and who make a difference.

Imran McSood is one such person. Over the years he has contributed in so many areas – in business, in sports, and in other areas he has been there. Mc Sood’s imprint and contributions are on many sports tournaments throughout the island and throughout the Caribbean. For years he has singlehandedly sponsored the cricket tournament at Caribe Lumber Ballpark on St Maarten.

One remembers years ago he proposed his own money to partner with stakeholders, government and business to build a multi-million-dollar multipurpose sports stadium where the present unsightly and unhealthy dump is located.

This multi-purpose facility would not only host international and local cricket matches, but also international soccer matches and other sports. In spite of much work and money put into this venture, his efforts were not followed up on.

One can only wonder what would this area where the dump is located would be like today had it been transformed into a sports stadium.

Even more importantly from an economic standpoint, the news of his appointment is welcomed by many of us who want to see St. Maarten take that all very important step to get into sports tourism and bring big time sports to our shores.

His legacy in sports and business in St. Maarten/St. Martin is well documented. He not only talks sports, but studies and inspires with his sports rhetoric which brings us to his present appointment.

Mc Sood will bring fresh inspirational and workable ideas to West Indies Cricket, albeit, he is not the director of CWI. In time we will see his input. The President of CWI Mr. Skeritt knows him well and thus at this point when West Indies cricket needs inspiration, this mammoth little man and his ideas are what make this appointment intriguing and interesting.

What can we, on St. Maarten, take from Mr. McSood’s appointment? I firmly believe that over the years we, the people and the authorities who talk economic diversification, are being given another chance. We have spoken of diversification of the economy from as far as I can remember, my hairs were jet-black then. Today they are silver grey, but the same people who spoke diversification then are still in authoritative positions and the economy is the same.

McSood’s appointment gives us another opportunity to bring big time sports to the “Friendly Island”. Ever wonder what 8,000 travelling English Cricket supporters would do for the economy of St. Maarten? Or what the Indian cricket team coming to St. Maarten would mean to the millions of Indians in the US? Ask McSood or Barbados, ask Antigua, ask St. Kitts.

We were left behind through politics and sheer ignorance, but his appointment can help change that. Let’s ask Mac to work with us. I am certain what he will do for West Indies cricket, he will do for St. Maarten.

Clayton J. Felix

Effects of the worsening crisis in Venezuela can be felt throughout the region. As reported in Saturday’s paper, Statia Terminals is being sold for US $250 million. Immediate reason was the US sanctions in January forcing outgoing owner NuStar Energy LP to wind down its contracts with “Petroleos de Venezuela” PDVSA by the end of February.

Management reported that despite “diligently” looking for ways to make up this “significant loss” it soon became clear that a new business model was needed. Investment firm Prostar now intends to make use of its acquisition’s strategic location to take advantage of changing global crude oil trade patterns.

This is no doubt a big deal for St. Eustatius. The transhipment and storage facility remains the island’s biggest private-sector employer and income-earner.

NuStar said the new owners will be required to keep all employees in their current positions with comparable pay and benefits. That sounds like good news, but the reality is that all ultimately depends on the future results.

The deteriorating situation in Venezuela obviously has a huge impact on the so-called ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) directly off its coast, in terms of not just their respective oil industries and related shipping activities, but also tourism, food imports and illegal migration. The embattled Maduro regime in Caracas seemingly tried to divide the three Dutch Caribbean territories by announcing it would reopen the closed border with Aruba but not the other two.

Aruban Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes quickly declined the offer, mainly because it could spark a new flow of refugees the country can’t handle. However, her government also expressed solidarity with Aruba’s “sister islands.”

Besides, she correctly argued, there is in fact only one single border between them and the troubled South American nation: That of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Dear Editor,

Dr. Mercelina has shown outstanding dedication to our country and the people. He has proven his love for the people by his relentless dedication to each and every one of us who have been his patient and even those with emergencies, at all hours.

He has shown the same honour and unwavering commitment to us as a parliamentarian, his concern is truly for the people. He is a man honouring his responsibility as a fine doctor while at the same time serving as a parliamentarian with only one thing in mind: His people…. us…. you and me.

He is not a businessman, he is totally independent of the business community, being a doctor. His job is to heal and what we need right now on Sint Maarten is a healer who owes no favours, has no need to do any favours, because he is a professional doctor, whose income comes as a result of his hard-earned profession.

His moral character cannot be challenged…. his commitment to us cannot be doubted…. his motive cannot be challenged. He has proved that over and over again, putting his personal life aside to help those in need.

These are the God-given gifts of a true leader.

Cheri Batson

Dear Editor,

  Recently I read a ‘Dear Queenie’ post, dated May 7, titled “Impatient patient” Now, I never respond to these; I normally shake my head in shock and disgust or laugh off the nonsense.  However, this time it struck a nerve. Actually, it was utmost disgust towards the individual who wrote the post and to the individual behind Queenie giving an “opinion”.

  Opinion: “An opinion is the lowest form of knowledge”. I’ll leave that “down” there with you.

  It’s so easy to sit back, observe others, gossip, and nit pic. “He said, she said” and judge a parent trying to do her or his best, when you are not in their shoes or paying their bills, isn’t it? Fun times, eh? Here’s a shout out to all the religious, judgmental, hypocritical fanatics (notice I said religious, not spiritual … big difference) On Sunday, when you’re all pretending to be perfect, (hence my sarcasm), let’s remember this: Luke 6:37 and John 8:7.

  None of you are Jesus, that I know as a fact. (And that’s a special shout out to all my neighbours.) Take care of what’s behind your wall before you throw stones. Be careful, sometimes stones bounce … I believe they are bouncing now!!

  Back to the issue at hand. Firstly, to the person who wrote the question to Queenie. How dare you sit there and judge this mother. This female who sounds like she was having a hard day, sitting in a doctor’s office with two children? One is enough for me. I feel for this mother.

  This is exactly what I recently wrote about … mother shaming. Solo parent shaming. The person wrote about a child kicking a water bottle around a doctor’s office. Was it a bomb? A Molotov cocktail? You, the writer, stated it was water … let’s read this together, water … well, I pray everyone in that doctor’s office survived being splashed by water. Water, not juice, again. Together let’s say it, water.

  She, the mother, apparently then gave it to her other child to drink the water. Ok, did the child lick the water off the floor in a puddle form like a dog? If so, yes, unsanitary. I admit, at that point even I would have an issue with it, but writing to Queenie about it would not have helped.

  To the writer: who gave you the right to judge this mother? Do you know if she was a solo parent just trying to keep her children alive, at the same time sitting in a doctor’s office trying to get service for either herself or her children? Did this mother sleep the night before? Does this mother have sufficient food, clothing and housing for her and her children? None of that crossed your judgemental mind, right? Goodness,  you were so worried about being splashed by water.

  Curious, was the writer a mother? A mother with a husband or a baby daddy doing everything for her? Ha! Or a man, a man with no children or a man who abandoned his own children leaving it easy to judge? Double Ha, Ha! No solo parent would ever judge another parent (man or woman) for something so frivolous.

  Furthermore,  what exactly was the writer’s question? I am still searching for the question in her or his post? What exactly was this person trying to achieve by writing to a newspaper therapist after the event passed?  Obvious, to shame a woman, a mother.

Suggestion:

  To the writer, who sat there in a doctor’s office and your life was  turned upside down over a water bottle; I hope you get therapy.

  To the individual behind Queenie; I will leave this blank.

  To the entire population of SXM who actually cares, Here’s my advice. Should you find yourself in a situation with a “wild toddler” and a mama or father who looks tired and ready to give up, it’s simple. Ask them if they need help. Do not be condescending . Do not judge them. I promise you; they are exhausted. Make a joke, lighten the mood or just make conversation. Talk to them. You never know, maybe you will be the first adult they make contact with that day. You have the ability to change the entire situation for parent, child and yourself. Instead of gossiping , or writing to Queenie, try helping instead. You will make a friend for life instead of an enemy for life.

  I am a solo mother to a high-energy toddler. To anyone out there who has an opinion about our life, please, I dare you to share it with me. After the sharing moment, I will be asking for donations towards our life. Keep that in mind.

  I would like to extend a Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers struggling, and trying to keep it together. Stay strong. You are not alone!

Mary De Francesco