Dear Editor,
We will not be vacationing again in St. Maarten anytime soon.
The number one reason is the dump burning. The smell and toxic flames are so bad where we stay, we cannot sit outside. Why would anyone vacation where they are subjected to smelly toxic smoke from the dump? Too many years have passed and nothing has improved. The government was taken to court; still it burns.
Also, sewage runs off on many roads, especially near the roundabout by Belair; it floods the road every morning.
St. Maarten, your children are exposed to these toxic fumes from the dump. Tourists will tell others and soon no one will want to come to St. Maarten. When the cruise ships stop coming and tourists stop coming, what’s going to support your island? Who will have jobs? It’s long past time to do something!
We and many of our friends will not return until the dump stops burning.
Name withheld at author’s request.
Middle Region, Sucker Garden and the rest of people from the Eastern side of the island demanded a date be given from you when exactly bus drivers will start running through Middle Region and Sucker Garden.
Middle Region people aren’t pleased by bus drivers passing through Middle Region during the repairing of Dutch Quarter sewage.
As long as government can give the people a date bus drivers will start running through MIddle Region and Sucker Garden daily, it can make things safer for those traveling on a bus passing through Middle Region with a destination towards Dutch Quarter or Philipsburg.
In the past Middle Region people tried to take transport ministers to court for lack of buses running in their district, but these Ministers were able to get away because government did keep falling so often.
Now, because of the Dutch Quarter sewage project, can bring the bus drivers right into Middle Region, and roads can be blocked and this will be the people’s rights if Middle Region people choose to do so.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
Several weeks now since I notified GEBE about several lights at Middle Region main road that are not lighting.
Many streetlights at the west entrance of Middle Region main road still are not lighting.
We, the people of Middle Region, would like GEBE to fix these lights for us soon.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
The report in your newspaper on tax reform discussions in parliament indicated that the view of the present government is to stick to the Turnover Tax model and to avoid working in the direction of a value added tax (VAT or Dutch BTW).
Condolences for Natashia Schmidt
Dear Editor,
Just a few weeks ago, I visited the National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) and toured the facilities, including the MIC-IT program. I met several of our local people who had enrolled in the different construction courses being offered. I congratulated them for taking the opportunity to continue their education as a way of improving their lives and the lives of their families.
One of those MIC trainees was Natashia Schmidt, a 36-year-old mother of seven, who had started on a path to improving her education, skills, and training. From accounts received, Natashia had determined to turn her life around, despite all the challenges she faced. She latched on to this hope through education at one of our local institutions. It is with great sadness that as a community, we were awakened to the news that violence had snatched a young life away.
We are called “The Friendly Island”, and not too long ago, we were still living with that culture. Today, violence and crime have invaded our communities, our homes and our minds, gripping our residents with fear and isolation. Our children, youth, adults and seniors are affected. It is time to put a stop to this digression.
To reclaim and preserve our ‘friendly’ identity as Sint Maarteners, we must combat violence with peace. When faced with conflict, encourage our children, our neighbours and ourselves to walk away. We must defeat aggression with compassion. Consider yourself in the other person’s position and apply the Golden Rule. Let us do to others as we would have them do to us. We must counter negativity with a positive energy. Use the challenges that come our way to propel us to be better, stronger, greater!
On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, I extend condolences to the family and friends of Natashia Schmidt, and also to her school family at NIPA/MIC. May her soul rest in peace. Remember, it takes a village to raise a child, so let us as a community give support to her children as they will need this care more than ever.
May more of our people pursue the path to self-improvement and community upliftment through continued education. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy will come in the morning. Let us work together and overcome together.
Wycliffe Smith
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport
