Sometimes, as a member of Parliament, you get strange messages, such as the letter of the St. Maarten Court of Justice which alleged that Dutch agents had stolen “a considerable number of jewels” during the arrest of mafia boss Francesco Corallo. Corallo was arrested on the suspicion of bribing politicians. The letter contains remarkable language errors and the name under the letter belongs to someone who didn’t work at the Court. Also strange is that this letter was sent on January 8, 2016, while the arrest of Corallo took place on December 13, 2016 - eleven months later. What is going on here? Either the people at the Court can predict the future, or this letter is a forgery. The accused agents are part of a team that investigates corruption on the island, the TBO. St. Maarten politician Frans Richardson, suspected of fraud and corruption, showed the letter in Parliament. It is not the first time that a local parliamentarian has launched an attack on police officers investigating fraud and corruption. Theo Heyliger, the most influential politician on the island, did it before. Meanwhile, it has become clear that Heyliger himself is the subject of investigation, charged with bribing another politician. The leader of the largest party would also have been bribed by a consultant from the Netherlands.

I have written more often in this paper about fraud and corruption in St. Maarten, and also about the parliamentarians, half of whom are the subject of an investigation, or have been sentenced in the meantime. An international investigation is being done on the island focusing on the connection between the legitimate society and the underworld. It is painful to see how many politicians are involved in fraud and corruption. This investigation led to a counter- reaction by a number of politicians on the island, who organised demonstrations against the interference of the Netherlands and drafted proposals to become independent. A discussion in Parliament where Dutch politicians were accused of “slavery” and “apartheid” says a great deal. Referring to the current anti-corruption investigation, Heyliger even spoke about “Gestapo methods.” Other politicians called for independence with the idea of preventing the prosecution of corrupt politicians. The outcome of that debate in Parliament remained obscure, also because halfway through the light went out. Threatening with independence is not very effective, because no politician in the Netherlands will stop it. A condition is that not only the politicians but especially the inhabitants of the island speak their mind on the matter of independence. Let politics organise such a referendum, which seems much better to me than spreading letters with a nonsensical content.

Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin has voiced criticism about the corruption investigation, something that the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament didn’t appreciate, because this kind of political interference with criminal investigations does not fit a constitutional state. As a result of this criticism, the prime minister refrained from an intended visit to the Second Chamber to speak with us about St. Maarten’s recovery after last year’s Hurricane Irma, for which the Netherlands has reserved 550 million euros. Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings decided to come to the Second Chamber, as an investment in better relations. In an interview with the TV news programme EenVandaag, the minister distanced himself from Heyliger’s “Gestapo methods” statement. When he returned to the island, the Parliament bombarded him with negative reactions. Even the opposition felt that the minister should have said that the Netherlands is using Nazi practices. Most local politicians felt that the minister should not have spoken with Dutch Members of Parliament. It makes me sad when I see how politicians on St. Maarten are suspicious of the help that the Netherlands offers, and how they try to frustrate any attempt to fight fraud and corruption. Let’s have that referendum on independence that politicians are threatening with. Then people can choose whether they want to live in a fraud state or in a lawful, constitutional state.

Ronald van Raak is a Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament for the Socialist Party (SP)

Dear Editor,

  We are in 2018. Seven years later we are reading that a crime alleged to have been committed in 2011 is presently on the foreground of the Prosecutor’s Office, confirming what I have always stated. Some one of them, I am not sure if it was my mother or father, but they explained to me many years ago as a consequence of something wrong that I had done and thought that I had gotten away with is that: “A thousand years’ murder never rots.” I have seen the meaning of that saying manifest itself many times. Because of where I worked I know who believes in that. That is why I have stated on many occasions that the Dutchman’s motto is “I’ll get you one day.”

  In the papers of November 7, 2018, we see a picture of smiling MP Heyliger being accused of being an accomplice or accessory to cases of bribery going back to 2011. When are we going to learn?

  Whether we are taught in English or Dutch or whatever language, it is the older heads who have gotten rid of our overqualified professionals, who I am sure could have and would have made a difference in the approach to business and also protect the country against what is gradually being proven to be what we for years have been accused of.

  I agree that it is not over until it’s over, but now that we are in the predicament we are trying to put the blame on others. Because I was never one who believe in separation of church and state I would advise all politicians whether in or out of office to consult their spiritual leaders (priest, pastor, deacon) privately and ask them to explain the scriptures in the Bible concerning honesty, greed, stealing, bribery, sharing and most of all hard work. They should then deal with their conscience.

  In my opinion separation of church and state only works for leaders in government, and they are in the minority of any country. Conclusion: the whole country is not being served. The popular saying is, “What goes around comes around.”

  I am a product of among other things for instance the YMCA, etc., also of Sunday school, so for me the most convincing one is in Deuteronomy 32:35. Fact is that some people just after using obscene language stump their toes other spend a long time on their deathbed and in between the two.

  I believe in prevention is better than cure. To prevent in this case does not take any time. Curing sometimes take more time than we expect.

  This letter is in response to what was written in the article about MP Heyliger which concerns money, so let me state the following. There are 14 occasions in which money is discussed in the Bible. Titus 1:7 is clear and also the often misinterpreted. I Timothy 6:10.

  I always ask myself how much money can a person, no matter how rich, spend in a normal lifetime? And why are those products which were not able to be sold at an auction destroyed and not distributed to the needy? Is not this the culmination of hypocrisy? It is said that “If you do the crime you should do the time,” I believe in “save time, do not do the crime.”

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  In connection with statements made during the parliament meeting concerning the function book of the police we, the WICSU/PSU, would like to inform the general public that during 2016 the 3 unions WICSU/PSU, NAPB-SXM and ABVO represented the GOA. We sat for almost 8 months working on these documents, now reaching the final stage where the ministers have to make the final decision. They are suggesting amending certain things which would carry the process back through all the legal governmental procedure.

  A covenant was signed agreeing as to placing and fixing the functions of the police. In 2017 when a new Minister of Justice came in, everything went on a standstill, Government is supposed to be continuous. 

  In signing the covenant, provisions were made in case amendments are needed. This would take place after the signing and placing of the police in their correct functions. Up to now we as unions do not understand why a function book that is not signed can be used when it is convenient and other times the officers have to wait until it is signed. Something is wrong with that picture.

  The police officers are leaving for better opportunities, as they are not seeing any future after 8 years. And this is posing a serious safety issue for everyone because there will be less patrols to monitor the safety of the public at large.

  The officers that are still working are doing it because they like the job.

Deborah Rombley

Vice-President

Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU)

Many thanks to all our parliamentarian and ministers and a happy St. Maarten Day November 11, 2018. Special thanks coming from every districts to our minister for justice for the small claims court St Maarten now has.

  The public is also calling on all parliamentarians and ministers to give our minister for justice full cooperation to deal with the signing of the policemen and -women function book.

  Hon. Cornelius de Weever is one of our best politicians. The people have put their trust in him through his performance.

  In two to three months it can be possible the justice minister and the members of the Police Force of St. Maarten can see progress in signing the function book.

  All St. Maarten ministers for justice have performed great excellently since 10/10/10.

Cuthbert Bannis