Dear Editor,
The Cooperative Platform has taken note of the letter in which the State Secretary acknowledges violation of law with regard to the awarding of government contracts on St. Eustatius. This admission which was deemed an oversight by the State Secretary on the part of Commissioner Steeger, undermines the integrity of the process of the intervention. The Cooperative Platform recognizes this issue as a direct consequence of the suspension of law regulating checks and balances.
During the last summer visit of the delegation of the Second Chamber, the platform presented the Chamber with a document where it pointed out the danger and potential pitfalls of the current structure which excludes the check and balances commonly found in a democratic setting designed to safeguard its integrity. The absence of an entity with a supervisory view (Island Council, College for Financial Supervision CFT, Kingdom Representative, etc.) created a situation where potential conflicts of interest, as a minimum, and violations of law in the worst-case scenario can take place. The State Secretary stated that as a result of these violations which were discovered there would be a review of policy with regards to civil servants with secondary activities.
The platform would like to advise the state secretary to consider a solution to reinstate and strengthen the institutions of checks and balances to ensure that the issues recently coming to light are not repeated. Enforcing check and balances together with the improvement of transparency will restore the integrity of the current process and ensure the public that the representatives in charge of government affairs are acting in accordance with prevailing laws and the integrity expected in line with the principles of good governance.
The platform hopes that the Second Chamber takes the current revelation seriously and in recognition of the point addressed by the platform regarding the void in check and balances would take the steps needed in order to provide more transparency with regard to action already taken, such as a demand for publication of decision list of the executive council as the platform has requested from the beginning.
Cooperative Platform St. Eustatius
Dear Editor,
There we go again. Minister Lee files a complaint against SMN News owner. Let me start by stating this. Because of what I did, and, even though I say it myself, being the professional that I am, I avoided personal contact with members of the press. (I have written thousands of letters to the editors) They were referred to the police brass or the police spokesperson. So, what I am about to write is not in defence of anyone.
Very early in my career, my father sat me down in front of him (I lived at home for the first four years) and said to me, “Look at you, you are looking sharp in that uniform. Your mother will not tell you that, but she feels herself the proudest mother nowadays, but you know she always reminds you that you are no better than anyone and no one is better than you.
He continued to tell me, “The fact that you are a police officer means that you are in the driver’s seat. You do not need to show off. Your appearance and your approach should automatically command respect. Furthermore, no one put a gun to your head obliging you to join the force, so you have to deal with being a policeman. If you love the profession that you choose, it will not feel like work. Contrary to most other professions, you are twice a civilian and once a police officer and the second time around as a civilian is determined by who you were as a policeman”.
I am mentioning all of this because more and more immaturity is revealing itself among our leaders in government. Within the last three months at least three ministers of government were involved in threatening court cases. Just like the policeman, no one put a gun to their heads obliging them to vie for those positions, so they should grow up and deal with what comes with the territory.
To go along with that if all of them would adhere to the rule that there should be real transparency of government, we would not find ourselves wanting to know if, what is gradually becoming the norm with people in government, there are dubious deals. No longer than last week there was an article in the paper mentioning the names of at least five people who were or are criminally investigated. It has become so that just like the word Christmas is synonymous to Jesus, the word politician is becoming synonymous to untrustworthy.
I will always understand that certain jobs come with more responsibility than others and that one should be compensated, but is not that what all those extra benefits and gratuities beside that exorbitant salary is about? I also got my blows, but I accept that that comes with the job and I will boldly state that we were not nearly compensated for the risks that go along with being a police officer on Sint Maarten.
I would also dare to say that for many years the police tact has played a role in the well-known “friendly island”. So, when our leaders in government are continuously under investigation or are constantly taking people to court, they are doing just as much damage to Sint Maarten as any other criminal. And guess who is laughing while rubbing their hands.?
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
How much longer will the Council of Ministers continue to strive on their immaturity and further stagnate the progress of this country? Haven’t these appointed officials come to the realisation that they are being listened to and analysed all over the world? This childish behaviour cannot be the mode in which ministers keep responding sarcastically to matters that require a simple, concise and intelligent answer.
Case in point: the Chairlady of Parliament devised the concept to have a Question and Answer Hour to accommodate the pressing inquiries of MPs and to better serve the public. Instead of embracing the idea, most ministers found that the suggestion does not warrant their time, nor their efforts to research the information and relate it to the Members of Parliament. What a sad situation and a very harmful state of affairs!
Hearing two of the meetings by chance, I expected a relaxed, casual, yet professional interchange. Instead, it was the usual combative, non-substantial discourse by a former teacher and school manager – a person who previously and desperately pursued the position of Minister of Education, but especially during the UD formation. If he was given the desired portfolio, what would be his responses to the MPs and journalists, in regard to that ministry?
Why the sarcasm? And, why does he read everything from a paper, rather than exercise his skills as a teacher? The Question and Answer Hour is a golden opportunity for him to set the tone for his colleagues to imitate, but instead, he displays this don’t care and spiteful attitude. How depressing it is to see someone who stood in front of a class and went on to be a school manager exhibit such behaviour in a position that is just temporary.
Joining the bandwagon of sarcasm is the Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings, who was so critical when he was an MP. Why does he allow Members of Parliament to irritate him when he understands their role? Why not be more professional in his deliveries and responses, rather than expressing derisive remarks and fighting with the MPs? This is plain juvenile and a spectacle of limited education.
In fact, the entire Council of Ministers has disappointed the population. Their performance is the worst ever. Two of them are competing to see who can speak the best; one mumbles everything; another speaks, reads and acts like a third grader; whatever this minister says, one has to take it with a grain of salt; one minister is intimidated by his former colleagues; and it’s quite difficult to follow the trajectory of this other minister, who has not gained traction in a field that he is familiar with.
The biggest downfall of this Council of Ministers is that they are not willing to take advice from anybody; not even persons within their own party who have the expertise to guide them through. If the ministers listen to the press briefings and their presentations in Parliament, they would realise that all of them have received a failing grade. If one has to snatch the paper from them, what kind of dialogue would they have with the press and the population?
This Council of Ministers needs to take a page from local professionals who were invited to Parliament to speak. Experts like Joane Dovale-Meit – Audit Chamber; Eileen Healy – Mental Health; Nadya Croes-van Putten – APS; and Nilda Lynch-Arduin – Ombudsman. The common factor among these specialists is that their discussions were transparent, smooth and easy to follow. Why? They understood their roles and responsibilities and then they dialogued from a place of knowledge.
Attorney Roland Duncan and Richard F. Gibson are two individuals that I missed in their capacity as ministers. They also had the ability to apply and impart their knowledge to the community unsparingly. When they spoke, even the unschooled were duly informed, because they were passionate about the portfolios that they represented.
It has been proven that one cannot express what he or she does not possess. I wish there was a way that the population could dismiss this Council of Ministers with immediate effect. It’s an ungrateful and useless bunch that feeds on their egos, rather than being indebted to the community for giving them the privilege to serve!
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
It's unbelievable that after more than 3 weeks the streetlights are still out from Maho until the former Starz Casino !
Is nobody noticing this? In the past we had carjacking’s here and people got robbed. This is one of the main roads to many residential areas and hotels. Not to forget the medical school. Are we not a tourist island?
So, for everybody’s safety it’s a must that the streetlights of Mullet Bay must be turned on again ASAP !!
A resident of Jordan Village
Name withheld at author's request.
Good day Soualuiga, and greetings to all,
As Christians at home and abroad celebrate this season, we are thankful to the Almighty God for the good tidings of great joy!
As a people, this year we were able to move progressively into the new Sint Maarten after Hurricane Irma passed by. At this point, many of us are sitting in a comfortable home, surrounded by our loved ones and enjoying a day off from our regular jobs. We are overcoming together and for this good news, we can celebrate even more!
Our homes, stores and streets are lined with beautiful decorations. Yet, the most beautiful decorations remain the smiles on our faces as we greet each other and the warm hugs that we freely give away this time of year.
The gifts are wrapped and waiting under the tree and many have been exchanged. I remind you that “it is better (even more blessed) to give than to receive.” You have the power to be the change that our country needs as we rebuild with a new attitude. So, let your best gift be the gift of Positivity throughout the year.
It is a marvellous sight when we look around and see all the lights! Looking ahead, when these bulbs are powered off, I encourage you to be the light in your corner of the society. Continue to shine. You are the light of the world!
There will be lots of food, prepared with joy and love. As you enjoy this time of feasting, remember those who are less fortunate among us. Maybe you will pack a grocery basket for a family, or contribute to a food drive, or even share a meal box with someone who is not be able to provide for him- or herself. Whatever way you can, please share with the needy.
We are grateful for the love of friends and family. In this final week of the year, many of us are privileged to be reunited with our loved ones. Wherever in the world you are, Sint Maarteners, we wish you the warmth of home, family and love.
Let there be peace on earth.
Let the Prince of Peace reign in our hearts.
As we celebrate this season, let us live the way Our Saviour taught us by loving our neighbours as ourselves.
As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Wycliffe Smith
