Dear Editor,
Please allow me to use this platform to air my concerns as a senior citizen.
I’m an elderly independent woman who has lived in St. Maarten for over 40 years in various districts of the island.
I enjoy gardening and I have put a lot of effort in watering, grooming and maintaining my private gardens and property landscaping for years. I am now in my golden years where I can now enjoy the beauty of my blossoming gardens despite the devastations that Irma and Maria brought to my wonderful plants.
The other day I was walking my dog in my private driveway and I saw a stranger with a knife trying to steal my aloe plants that I had been growing for many years. I was very upset and angry that this person was doing this in my private property without permission no less. I scolded him and asked him to please leave my aloe plants alone.
I returned into my driveway to continue walking my dogs, and my daughter-in-law informed me that there was a man peeing in our private roadway and his car was blocking the road. He did not even greet or apologize for doing this and just drove away.
Another day I also caught two women again trying to steal my beautiful aloe plants without my permission in my driveway and I informed the ladies that this is private property and that they should purchase their own aloe plants or at least ask permission. The women informed me that they were using the plant to make their natural hair products.
I love nature and I try to preserve it and I spent many years doing that and I think it is very disrespectful that people think that they can just come into my private property to take up my beautiful aloe plants and use them without asking.
I would therefore like to ask these persons to leave my aloe plants alone and go and grow your own.
This is fair warning as I have chosen not to contact the authorities about these “aloe plant robbers”. But just to be clear, I have surveillance cameras and I also have your number plates should you attempt to try to steal my plants again.
I love my private garden. I have worked many years to enjoy it so please stay away and leave my aloes alone!
Thank you for your understanding.
‘Guardian of MY Gardens’
Name withheld on request.
Dear Editor,
It is being said all over the place that MP Dr. Mercelina wants Minister Lee fired. One would think MP Mercelina would want to be the next Minister of VSA. However, I doubt that very much. First, we must ask ourselves if the Honourable Doctor in Parliament is being paid full-time for being a surgeon and paid full-time for being an MP. The talk on social media is about cutting the MPs’ salaries, but one thing for sure is that this hefty MP’s salary is to work full-time as an MP.
Some MPs tried to get away in the past, stating that they sometimes work from home. Well, explain how you can do that while operating on a patient. Unless the Honourable Doctor in Parliament is working at SMMC for free.
Our dear MP Doctor collects two full-time salaries for working part-time in Parliament and part-time in the hospital, and two medical insurances: one from government and one from SMMC.
Yet, MP Mercelina is against the national health insurance for the uninsured, proposed by the Minister of VSA. One of his arguments: St. Maarten is not a rich country.
The Prime Minister of Dominica did it, why can’t St. Maarten? Any self-respecting government would want to help those who are in dire need of medical coverage.
Ann Gumbs
By Melissa Martin
“For the times they are a-changin,” sang Bob Dylan. And the digital age has changed the way information is eaten, swallowed, and digested. We can’t stop progress, but we must maintain the salience of our newspapers (in print or digital). Why? Newspapers, whether country, state, or local serve significant roles in societies and cultures. And residents like hometown news.
Dear Editor,
With reference to the article in The Daily Herald of June 22 about the police report regarding “an altercation” at Statia's F.D. Roosevelt Airport involving former councilman Clyde van Putten: I have never seen a more idiotic police report. The question I am left with is: How come Mr. Van Putten was able to board a flight holding a weapon?
E.B.
Initials used at author's request.
PS: I expect the police on St. Eustatius to get very busy in the coming weeks with everybody reporting people who are carrying boxes.
Dear Editor,
The SMCP representatives in Parliament and Government recently reiterated their position on a self-imposed reduction of 10 per cent of their salary, while urging their colleagues in Parliament to follow suit.
This is admirable. However, the proposal clearly misses the point. It is like taking an aspirin for a headache while our community continues to suffer chronic migraines.
The SMCP proposal takes a nibble out of their paycheck, to donate this amount to a charitable organization of their choice. For all intents and purposes, this act of “generosity” barely touches the real issue at hand, which is to substantially reduce the deficit in the proposed 2019 budget. A more meaningful proposal would be a 50 per cent salary reduction. This would imply that the elected and appointed representatives are serious about making a significant contribution to trimming some excess fat from our budget. Anything less is “nickel-and-diming” our citizens again.
The reason for establishing this salary at the time was, among others, to attract educated, experienced persons who would otherwise go to work in the private sector.
Possibly the high remuneration did attract some business people to seek higher office, arguably hardly the best or the brightest. In addition to those who already have a regular job the position of an elected member of parliament was meant to be a full-time job.
Honestly, the issue is not even about the relatively lucrative salary. It is about the ethical or moral obligation to show support as a people’s representative without being pressured to do so by Holland or anyone else. It is about showing true solidarity with the plight of the people.
Immediately following the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, we supported the calls to Parliament to show some solidarity with the thousands of men and women who at the time lost their jobs in the aftermath of the hurricanes.
Many of our law-abiding citizens today are still struggling to make ends meet.
Parliament can truly represent the people and pass the law to legally enact the salary adjustment, temporarily or permanently. The monies derived from the salary cuts must be designated to a post in the budget that benefits our children, our future.
Anything less will be cherry-picking and would reek of favoritism.
While the current budget debate continues in the House of Parliament, the legislative branch can take the lead in making the proposals to adjust the salaries. Present the motion followed by a draft legislation in Parliament and put it to a vote, for or against!
There’s a lot at stake for the people of St. Maarten. There’s a lot at stake for (legitimate) businesses in St. Maarten. There’s a lot at stake for the future generations of St. Maarteners. Reducing poverty and the overall high cost of living in St. Maarten, among other pressing matters that affect the overall quality of life of our citizens. Remember that for decades, the average man, woman, young families can’t get a break not even to save a cent with the low interest rates on savings.
The question becomes at the end of the budget debate, will our citizens see any significant changes to their benefit, or will they be shortchanged again by their current elected representatives in Parliament? Only time will tell.
Gracita Arrindell, Leader
People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA)
