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

Dear Editor,

  Sometimes when a teachable moment appears one has to make use of it, especially in these politically charged days.

  Yesterday a young man asked me if I knew the meaning of the word symbolism. I did not recognize that word, so I asked him where did he read it. He said it had something to do with Donald Trump and Manafort. After wracking my brain (my phone was in my car) I told him not to quote me, but I believe the word he wanted to know about was “symbiosis”. I gave him UD as an example: Two different people living close with each other for the advantage of both.

  When I got back in the car I looked up the word and the definition given is “a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.”

  I hope that that gentleman reads this and compares it to what I explained to him. 

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  Lately we have been witnessing an increase in legal actions undertaken by the Netherlands-driven Prosecutors against several politicians from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the intention to indict them for suspected criminal activities, most of which are yet to be proven.

  We just experienced such legal action taken by the judicial authorities against Mr. Theodore Heyliger, the political leader of the former United People’s Party, now United Democrats Party, and formateur of Sint Maarten’s current government. He has been accused of certain wrongdoings dating back at least five years. He was initially held at the police detention cell in Philipsburg, condemned by the European Court of Human Rights as “inhuman” but has after 10 days been transferred to the Detention Center in Bonaire.

  It goes without saying that this article by no means should be seen as an intent to justify any wrongdoings of anyone in our community and in any community for that matter, and especially not of our politicians chosen by the people to serve their community to the best of their knowledge and ability and in a most transparent way and with integrity. 

  Of course, corrupt politicians exist everywhere and should be prosecuted, but then they should be prosecuted in the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands as a whole and not only in the Caribbean section!

  What is happening now, however,  creates the strong impression of the Prosecutor acting in an arbitrary or one-sided manner. In other words, the impression among many  is that  the Prosecutor is acting in a rather selective manner and therefore following a “political” agenda. If true, that would be unacceptable.

  In this context, I would like to refer to publications in the Netherlands such as www.foute-politici.nl, among many others available online on this subject.

  This particular publication mentions situations of politicians in the Netherlands who have been involved in and/or accused of criminal activities such as corruption, fraud, embezzlement, blackmail, tax-fraud, money laundering, accepting bribes, threatening others, stalking, financial conflict of interest, child molestation, possession of pornographic literature, theft, etc.

  Mention is made of at least 105 politicians, members of 9 different political parties, 44 of which are members or former members of the political parties forming the current coalition government in the Netherlands, in other words, no less than 42 per cent.

  The question is, however, not the number of politicians involved in criminal activities in recent years in the Netherlands, but rather the BIG question is: How many of them have been eventually indicted and/or actually served any prison time? A further study of this matter undoubtedly reveals that apparently, for whatever “unexplainable” or perhaps “explainable” reason, the percentage of said politicians that served jail time – if any at all – is negligible.

  Judge for yourself, therefore, and conclude whether or not there exists an equitable practice in the judicial system within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

  I will be providing regular updates and facts about what is happening within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Knowledge is Empowering!

Josianne Fleming-Artsen

Today March 8th is celebrated as International Women's Day, and fittingly the theme is “Balance for Better” with emphasis on creating a balanced world to build a “better world.” For generations, equality in general, and specifical equality for women has been elusive. While many battles on this front are still being fought with some already won, the gap between the equal acceptance of women and men in the workplace remains wide.

Today, the struggle continues to ensure that the women of the world receive things such as equal pay for equal work and fair opportunities for career advancement on a level playing field. I stand for equality, and I salute each woman who today fights unwaveringly to ensure that there is gender equality.

I support every effort to ensure that women rise to the top of the corporate ladders as CEOs and Chairpersons. I am equally supportive of all efforts to celebrate our great female leaders and their accomplishments rather than berate them and make snide remarks in suggesting that their hard work was not the reason they were rewarded with a promotion or a pay raise. No amount of effort in this regard is too much, but the time it has taken to reach an acceptable level of equality is far too long. I salute every woman today, and my heart goes out to those who have been treated less than because of their gender.

On behalf of my Cabinet and the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT) I wish you all a wonderful and enjoyable Women's Day and I join you in looking towards a future in which there is equality for all.  

Stuart Johnson

Minister of TEATT