Let we take back we

St. Martin Day

For on November 1959

When Dr. Hubert Petit

And Dr. Claude Wathey

 

Chose the 11 of November

Te was fo we te remember

 

That whether we are Dutch

Or whether we be French

 

We all are St. Martiners

As Lino would say

One island

One people

One Destiny

 

So we come together

Te have a good time

From frontière

Te frontier

And we was enjoying it

And having ah joyfull time

Until the Massahs

Put their noozes

Into we affair

 

We used to fête in French

Quarter ball field

As long as we feel

We would fete from

The eleventh of November

’Til Christmas in December

 

And nobody tell we nothing

Cauz we was doing we

Own thing

 

And we fête kyan done

 

We started te fête

From the la Toussaint

Thru St. Martin saint

Thanksgiving day

Christmas day

Boxing day

 

Old year’s nite we

Churching

 

But come New Year

We fêting still

 

Now all that done

We kyan have no fun

Cauz there is too much

Violence and too much guns

 

So no more fête fo we

Cauz Massah put

We back on the plantation

Under ah the Tamarin Tree

 

And there we will remain

If we don’t get up

Stand up

And take back ah we fête

 

Raymond Helligar aka “Big Ray”

Dear Editor,

  With the death of the late Joe Richardson, Roy Marlin and others, it is unfortunate, to say the least, that not many people in my generation knew how great a man he was. I had plans to meet him when I came home this summer vacation. Despite missing the opportunity to sit and learn from one of our local giants, his passing further invigorated the drive I had to record and document the life, experiences and stories as told by the folks who shaped this island.

  As a young man who is deeply interested in the history and politics of his nation, I think it is time we add a name to the new government administration building. It may not seem like an important or urgent matter, but as we ease into the rebuilding phase it comes with the significance of being symbolic.

  If there is one thing I regret while I was younger, was the fact that I never thought to sit down and speak with the late Vance James, Jr. He was a common face at St. Maarten Academy and I can remember casually passing him by, due to the lack of knowledge of his contribution to our society. However, thanks to teachers like Kenneth Cook who made an effort to document and educate us about our local heroes, I found out about him, though a little too late. With that being said, it is fair that the building is named after him.

  For one, Vance (as he was affectionately called) dedicated his life via politics, media, church, and business to the community. The administration building as we know, serves as the nervous system of the country where the executive branch deals with our day-to-day affairs. Vance had a deep passion for this island and wanted the best for his people. Though there are policies or ideas of his, one may not agree upon, all which he spoke of came from a sincere concern and appreciation for St. Maarten’s advancement.

   In an era when few people were courageous enough or thought of standing up against the reigning Democratic Party, Vance James, along with Leo Friday Sr., Richard Gibson and Vincent Doncher, made it happen. During 2018 an old interview from Profiles of the Winward Island surfaced on social media with Vance eloquently conveying his message and mission for the elections that were taking place at the time. It was very refreshing to listen to, given that throughout the 2018 election a gross smear campaign was the order of the day across several parties.

  Vance had a fire like no other and he served us honourably. He deserves to be commemorated as such for if he had not stood up, speak out and speak for those who were being vindicated or unrepresented, St. Maarten would have been very different today. By taking such a step of naming the building after him, my hope is that it leads to a wider search and movement to documenting our history and preserving our cultural heritage at all costs.

  Let us consider a national museum and library to house our national treasures. Let us make use of the minds at our university for research and project management. There is a whole lot that can be done if we simply take the step. I hope my generation seeks to inspire lives across our island and leave a legacy for the future to follow as Vance did. I hope we gain the fortitude to do and say what is right despite opposition or criticism. Nonetheless, if we do not pay respect to those who came before us, we cannot expect the future to do the same for us.

 

PS: there are still many seniors who are among us today and deserve to be commemorated for their contribution to our island. Do not forget them; lest you forget yourself. 

 

Ralph Cantave

Dear Editor,

  Our Island commemorated Sint Maarten Day over the weekend, amid a cloud of serious concerns regarding the day-to-day management of our still-fragile state of our economy. Current governance of the people’s affairs falls short of a clear direction and focus. There’s no need to beat around the bush any longer.

  Given the current stagnated state of affairs, our present Parliament and Government should be sensitive and sensible enough to demonstrate a hands-on approach in its leadership to our citizens, and business community.

  Providing timely and accurate information in a structured manner concerning our current and future state of affairs. Instead, our citizens are treated to personal distractions plaguing this current government, while many citizens still suffer in the aftermath of the last hurricane.

  The sense of duty to perform and perform diligently without losing sight of what issues need urgent attention is apparently lost on most of these public officials.

  How can this government assert its legal and moral authority in the face of such distractions?

  With a few appearances here and there from public officials including members of the opposing factions in Parliament, the sense of direction in which our island is heading is as clear as the mud coming sliding down our hills in rainy season. Partly due to the failure of upholding of what was once our Hillside policy. Several issues which deserves immediate attention, (including the state of the airport and the dump) are for example:

* A consumers organization is urgently needed. Construction crooks are reigning supreme at the order of the day. First Hurricane Irma, then people are hit once more this time by some unscrupulous people in the construction industry. Too many people have a negative experience to share. Hopefully government’s coffers will reflect an increase from this sector’s increased activities.

* The deplorable housing situation especially in Belvedere. An urgent reparation and rent-to-buy plan should be afforded to these residents. Some of the reconstruction funds should be earmarked to these citizens thereby providing a great sense of real relief to this community and others affected by Hurricane Irma and living under the same deplorable conditions.

* The boat wrecks still in the lagoon. We deserve to receive a monthly report and a timeline when these wrecks will be out of Simpson Bay Lagoon. What is the delay one year after Hurricane Irma?

* The traffic situation in the Cole Bay-Simpson Bay area can be greatly alleviated when a serious attempt is made to study the reasons for the bottleneck (most are known). One solution to consider is to turn this area into one large roundabout. Bus stops should become real bus stops for buses to pull aside instead of being mere advertising huts. The ring-road in town is neither a ring nor a road! The entire Philipsburg area demands a complete overhaul. I will address this matter in a different article.

* A monthly or weekly report, depending the issues of the state of affairs, to Parliament must be provided to our citizens. Members of Parliament should not be paid full time for part-time work. Have they no conscience?

  Has self-interest replaced common interest? Most people do not have time to figure out what’s next on the government’s agenda. The speech given by Governor Holiday on behalf of government on the occasion on the opening of the new Parliamentary year in September should be the guideline going forward for the new government. A government held together by a razor-thin support of one faction in Parliament. A government not held to their task enough by the opposing factions in Parliament.

  We have clear choices to make as this year comes to and end and a new year full of promises lies ahead. “Success breeds success” is a popular saying I firmly believe in. Sint Maarten is a great island that deserves to be rebuilt beautifully and without distractions. Question remains, what do you as a citizen deserve and require from your Government. Is your silence consent?

 

Gracita Arrindell

President, People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA)

Dear Editor,

  Mr. Jessurun (St. Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform) urges the government to bring down cost of living or increase salaries. The question was also, "Why should we have to send a letter to dialogue? I would add the word "still" or "again".  In that article is also mentioned that the Prime Minister stated she had not received a letter from SMAPP for a dialogue with the Council of Ministers on poverty eradication.

   I know I have a sense of decorum, but is it logical that one could feel insulted when one feels being taken for a ride by those who should be considered to know better? In other words, "Who does the PM think she is fooling. By now I know who is aware of the contents of the letters I have written to you and the PM is one of them. For that matter, the PM is also aware of the term I have used in several letters when writing of price control “Seventy percent or more of the country are living just on or below the poverty line".  So, there is no way that I will accept that the PM is not aware of the continuous plight of the people for price control on Sint Maarten, period.

  Besides that, does not one who asks and is chosen to lead have to be aware of what the positives and the negatives of the entity that he or she is going to lead are? Does it really take a letter for the Prime Minister to be aware that the prices are exorbitant?  Was not there some kind of a book/guideline just issued with what the prices for building materials should be in connection with price gorging? If I state that the only way for people in government not to know about the prices in super markets, etc. is that because perhaps, they do not have to pay for what they shop. Would that be considered being sarcastic or...?

   Let me ask this, are we not aware that the middle class is becoming penny pinchers to be able to live from pay check to pay check?  If government is of the opinion it is necessary for the Minister and Members of Parliament to gain at least ten times the amount of the minimum/liveable wage, is it perhaps that the cost of a tin of milk for the Ministers and MPs is ten times that of the same tin of milk for the people collecting minimum wage?

  So, let me also emphasize that we drastically need price control, whether salaries are increased or not. We have noticed too often that anytime any kind of measures are taken where the income of the employee is concerned, the prices in the businesses automatically go up.  The other movement that is needed, is introduction of solar energy for Sint Maarten, starting with the new hospital.

 

Russell A. Simmons