Dear Editor,
The island is in great financial need. Government has been experiencing budget deficits from the time we became a separate country within the Kingdom. So, to me, it makes sense that we brainstorm on ideas for revenue for government. The citizens do not want to pay new and or more taxes, and the politicians do not really want to introduce tax measures as it may not work out favourably for them with the people during election time.
Once again, we read about getting rid of, or getting away from the Dutch government’s oppressive rules. I have great pride in St. Maarten and just like everybody else, I do not like to be governed by others. However, in order to have this type of independence, I must provide for my financial independence. In order to qualify for a bank loan, the bank has its set of rules that I have to abide with. So, what is different from being dependent on Holland? It is true that Holland does not contribute to our budget, but they have the power to control it and they use that power. In my opinion, sometimes justifiably and sometimes not.
What is our reality however is that unless St. Maarten can put bread on the table, we will not be considered for independence. Not by the Netherlands or the United Nations. Rather than fight the same fight for our rights that gets us nowhere, let us show them that we can balance our budget and that we can provide for the needs of the people. Then, there will be no force in Holland or the UN to prevent St. Maarten from opting for independence, if that is the will of the people.
One would assume that new ideas for revenue that do not include tax would spark the attention and that a leader of a political party would capitalize on such ideas, if they were possible. I ran in the last election on the combined list of the UD party as candidate #19. During that election, as well as the previous one with the UP party, I campaigned heavily on the enhancement of our economy. During my speeches I presented projects of development that will provide much-needed revenue for government, social benefits, and new job and business opportunities for the people. Now if my ideas were not realistic, I would expect the leader of the party to draw my attention to this.
Some of my ideas presented during the 2016 election were introduced in the governing accord for the government that would have been formed by NA and UP. I looked forward to finding them in this governing accord as it would have actually contained revenue-generating projects which do not entail unnecessary tax-related burdens on the people. Not one was included.
I submitted a proposal to the Cabinet of the Minister of TEATT to provide my services as consultant for government on the possible establishment of a social insurance burial plan. I have contacted the Cabinet since for a response, which I have not receive yet. Again, if this project is not possible, then I would expect government to inform me of such. However, from what I have learned, there is no law preventing government from establishing a new social benefit plan. This plan would have all citizens benefit from a basic funeral plan. It entails a minimal contribution from all employees and employers and benefits are extended to immediate relatives of the insured employee. Government has a guaranteed new annual revenue income source without imposing unnecessary and unwanted burdens on the population. Union representatives have expressed interest in this project proposal. To just sit on this plan and not capitalize on it in my opinion is bad governance. Another project that I campaigned for is to have government establish a National lottery. The establishment of a National lottery would create business opportunity for lottery agents. The lottery agents would hire employees and government would have new revenue. These two projects have a potential annual revenue income for government of N.A. of ten million Guilders.
What is there in these projects that the party could not embrace? Yet, I will be crucified as a ship jumper if I would join another party. Not to worry. I will not participate in elections anymore. I do however, knock on the door of the Honourable Member of Parliament Christopher Emanuel to look into these projects and see if he might see the benefit for the people in these projects. And if he does, I request him to table questions on the floor of Parliament with regards to the possible implementation of these projects. The reason I request this from the MP is that he has proven to me through his actions as minister, as well as Member of Parliament that he loves St. Maarten. This man has empowered people in his public life in a way that a father would do for his family. I hold him in high regard for this.
On a different note, and with regard to the CFT’s insistence on the 10% reduction in salary for the ministers and MPs, I humbly beg to differ as the position of these top-ranking officials bears heavy responsibilities. One must also take into consideration that some of the government-owned companies top-ranking officials receive immense salaries. We must remember that it is easy for a powerful or rich businessman to bribe a government official. A well-paid government official should at least be less tempted to permit themselves to be bribed. Reducing salaries of the ministers and MPs by 10% saves just over half a million guilders a year, if my calculations are correct. In the bigger picture, would this really help?
Cost-cutting measures are a must for proper government functioning. However, I opt for revenue-generating projects rather than drastic and ineffective cost-cutting measures. But then again, I am just a businessman and not a numbers-man. The Honourable President of Parliament Sarah Wescott-Williams has done an excellent job increasing MP’s presence in parliamentary meetings for which I commend her highly.
Louis R. Engel
The King Arrow
Gone
Hé decided to follow
The Mighty Shadow
leaving behind
To Mourn other great
Humming birds
Like thé mighty the sparrow
And Antigua mighty swallow
Chalk Dust
Sugar Aloes
And four king Crocro.
And gone on to join
In Haven of Calipso
Men like thé mighty
Lord Kitchener
Thé mighty Spoiler
And Socca ARROW
From Montserrat
The mighty DUKE
And Lord PRETENDER
All Coming together
On thé havenly choir
Errol Dolphin was born
On St kitts Sugar city
But was adopted
By St. Martin
Sun shine City
Where hé contributed
Tirelessly to thé advancement
Of thé Art of kaiso
I Can hear
Move let thé band Pass
And soo much more
Still Ringing on WE ear
Thé Arrow find his way in
Every St. Martiner’s heart
We Hate to sée you part
But Your suffering was
All of we St. Martiners sorrow
Cauz WE love you ARROW
Test on PEACE King Arrow
St. Martin people love
Love YUH
FOR YOU ARE
AH true Caribbean Hero
Raymond Helligar aka “Big Ray”
Dear Editor,
Allow me the space to convey some thoughts to the Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, with the hope that she will use wisdom whenever these public meetings are being scheduled. In my view, the main purpose of conducting open discussions is to keep the public abreast of what is happening within government and to hold ministers responsible for their respective ministries. Therefore, the deliberations should be designed to benefit the wider community.
This means that the Chairlady needs to be cognizant of the factors that will determine the flow or snags of the meetings and the value of the information to the population – factors like time, whether ample or insufficient; synergy; momentum and relevance. These comments relate to all deliberations, but particularly the one on health that took place last Friday. What would be the consequence, if the 9:30am discussion was scheduled earlier in the week, and the 11am meeting booked at 9:00am?
I was very disappointed when the meeting with the Health Minister halted abruptly. Since Hurricane Irma, it was the very first time that I had the opportunity to listen to a parliamentary discussion for 3 hours non-stop. It must be noted that many of us are still without cable and internet, which makes it difficult to stay abreast of the meetings. And since Pearl FM does not rebroadcast the discussions in the evenings anymore, it’s even worse.
Ending a meeting prematurely does not do justice to the population at all. It not only breaks the momentum and synergy but frustrates the listeners as well. Chairlady, it’s not about how many meetings can be crammed within a given week; it’s about being effective. This consistent back and forth with ministers is pointless, especially when there is no resolve. Hence, I would have preferred if the Director of SZV was summoned to Parliament to answer these critical questions, instead of a minister who is repeating the same thing year after year.
From the questions posed, it is obvious that the presentation by the Minister of Health has become obsolete; not just for the MP’s, but the public as well. I must say that is was the very first time that MP Tamara Leonard got my attention. She asked some very pertinent questions. In fact, all speakers spoke from a place of inquisition, rather than just rattling off senseless information.
Back to the matter of scheduling: it is not feasible to have two heavy portfolios like Health and Education scheduled on the same day. One is bound to overshadow the other or neither will be debated adequately. Given the level of discussion that transpired during the meeting with the Health Minister, why didn’t the Chairlady postpone or push forward the 3:00pm meeting to accommodate the 5 remaining speakers?
As is obvious, too many discussions are crammed in one week and this format of booking meetings every other week is not effective either. It gives MPs and Ministers time to play hide and seek. As a result, Parliament has become like a revolving object. Meetings should be scheduled on demand, to maintain the synergy and to keep the information current for easy reference.
On various occasions we have seen the Governor summon a minister to his cabinet, even when that same minister had to be in Parliament to give a presentation. Interestingly, that minister dropped everything and adhered to the Governor’s request. How is it that the minister’s attitude becomes different, when Parliament extends an invitation to address the people?
Resolve: Parliament has to set the agenda for ministers and not the reverse (as is the case). This includes stipulating the time when they must return to answer to the people. A period of 10 days should be sufficient. It means that after each report, ministers and the population will be informed of the follow-up date. This system forces Members of the Council to get serious with the “People’s Business,” and the public too can schedule their time ahead of the next meeting.
Chairlady, the ball is in your court. Strive to revive that energy of collaboration that once permeated the atmosphere within Parliament. In addition, if parliament is to be more effective, consider eliminating the ministers’ choice that determine when (length of time) and what time (time of day) they return to give an account to the people!
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
I read an article forwarded to me by a colleague in St. Kitts & Nevis
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/82033-enviropower-lay-out-possible-solution-to-smoking-dump. I find myself both amazed and appalled at the proposal that culminates in an equivalent per kwh rate of 25 US cents. This is, in my professional opinion, a rabid case of unbridled capitalism that operates on the principle of “getting some to pay as much as you can possibly get from them, while agreeing to provide the bare minimum in the form of goods and services that are possible at this point in time using cutting edge technologies”.
I then see a demand for tax free, tariff free on top of the gouging St. Maarten would be in for under such a deal per kwh. The interesting part about a viable business deal is that it can be accomplished all the while it pays taxes and such other obligations of a responsible corporate citizen of St. Maarten. The interesting part about colonialism is that it does not stop when the colonizers go home; it only becomes more nuanced.
Let me suggest to you that the answer rests in a company being invested in St. Maarten and in that investment, they pay what everyone else pays. The restaurant you eat at doesn’t lobby for tax-free status as a condition of selling you your meal, and neither does the grocery store or the other businesses on the island getting a break just for doing what businesses do.
Let me suggest something to the people and to the political players in St. Maarten, the following:
* Your landfill is in fact a goldmine waiting to be tapped. That waste can indeed be converted to power in a waste-to-energy plant and the power sold retail at $0.10 to $0.12 USD, not $0.25 USD
* Just as importantly some of that waste can be turned into marketable organic fertilizers….it is called commoditizing trash
* That same waste can be shredded, dried (using heat generated at the power plant) so that the waste can be hermetically sealed and stored for years if need be until it is processed for power generation or fertilizer…again, commoditizing trash
* Your sewage can all be processed and used for the making of high-grade organic fertilizer the same as your landfill waste…. once again “commoditization”
* The jobs created from this multi-faceted endeavour can positively impact both unemployment and under-employment within the country
* All this can be accomplished while at the same time paying taxes as any good citizen should
* Additional benefits include the technology we use being able to dispose of medical waste and hazardous waste without incineration and thus 99.9% pollution free
* Those cruise ships that stop in St. Martin can off-load their sewage and their garbage and they can become an asset to the island, and I am sure some smart politician will see the draw that can create for the cruise lines
* The other possibility to a truly sustainable island is being able to parley that organic fertilizer into a vertical grow agricultural system that can make St. Maarten self-sufficient instead of importing food……. And there you also have a positive impact on the balance of trade for St. Maarten.
I am just getting started, but the bottom-line point to be made is that if bank robbery is illegal…. then why would you allow legal thievery vis-à-vis your electric bill?
One of the joys as I reach the end of my years, is that I can do what it is I should do…. and not just what I can get away with. Perhaps there is a lesson in that.
Food for thought.
- Craig Eschrich
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
IPV Energy Heavy Industries Corporation
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105 (United States)
Dear Editor,
The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has decided to continue with its “Caribbean Is Open/Caribbean for Everyone” campaign, which began in September 2017 after the devastating Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The campaign since its establishment has generated more than 5.77 billion impressions and shown a measurable improvement in Caribbean cruise bookings, the FCCA announced recently.
I welcome the news, as this will further promote cruise travel to the Caribbean.
The FCCA is the trade association that represents the mutual interests between cruise destinations and stakeholders in the Caribbean and Latin America and FCCA member lines, which operate 95 per cent of the global cruising capacity.
The initiative launched by the FCCA back in September 2017 without a doubt has played a role in the recovery of cruises to the Caribbean and St. Maarten in particular.
It is very important for cruise destinations like ours to work closely with the FCCA, and I must say, I have seen the synergy between Port St. Maarten, local stakeholders and others with the FCCA.
This mutually beneficial relationship is what helps grow cruise tourism, and the extension of the “Caribbean Is Open/Caribbean for Everyone” campaign further consolidates that partnership and shows unity between the partners involved.
I have been able to see at the FCCA Cruise Conference & Exhibition currently taking place in Puerto Rico, the synergies that exist and we can only build upon the long-established foundation that exists between destination St. Maarten and the FCCA.
According to the FCCA, the campaign has reached more than 12,000 media placements and 18,500 shares of news stories.
It featured a satellite media tour with 22 TV and three radio interviews; featured public service announcements with more than 30 celebrities; included media calls in October 2017 and September 2018 with Arnold Donald, president and CEO, Carnival Corporation & plc, and chair, CLIA Global, Adam Goldstein, vice chairman, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and chairman, FCCA, and Michele Paige, president, FCCA.
The campaign has created an advertising campaign activated in digital spaces and targeting potential travel consumers in the US and UK through such channels as YouTube, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Cruise Critic and non-branded searches.
The campaign also gained the support of and promotion by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and U.S.
Travel Association (USTA).
The campaign also showed a measurable improvement in terms of those who would not delay booking/taking a Caribbean cruise vacation, and it won a Gold SABRE Award.
Stuart Johnson
Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT
