Dear Editor,
I just want to share my views in reference to an article in the opinion page that appeared in your newspaper on the 20th of October, featuring: “ST. Maarten we are in danger!”
I do believe that God is still speaking to the people on this island, as well as the churches to wake up from their sleep and slumber. But are we listening? Will we be caught off guard?
The question is how many of us are serving the only true and most high God? Everyone will have their own opinion when it comes to spiritual matters. There are believers, and there are nonbelievers. There are those that know there is a God, and there are those who deny God’s existence. Some might even consider the Bible to be a book of fables, and ignore its truths. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs.
But for those of us that know and believe in the biblical truth, we know that God is still speaking to people today, and is calling them to repent and to acknowledge Him as the only true God, the maker and creator of all things. No other God can declare that they have created anything. When true believers or prophets of God begin to prophesy or warn of coming dangers or disasters, and these prophesies do occur, then I believe it’s time for us, not to remain ignorant, but to begin to ask ourselves some serious questions, and not ignore what was prophesied.
I am saying this because the various prophesies of flooding and destruction made over this island, before the hurricane Irma struck, did indeed come to pass exactly as said. As Jesus many times in the Bible would say: “Those who have ears to hear, let them hear.” From the Bible we learn that in many instances where God would send warnings to the people before disasters would strike, this is to give people a chance to repent.
We can learn this from the Chapter of Genesis in the Bible, referring to the ancient old story of Noah. The people who loved unrighteousness and sin more than righteousness made mock of Noah, and must have laughed him to scorn. They must have called him a foolish old man who is prophesying about flooding and disasters, when even at that time rain never fell on dry land, and massive flooding never took place. But when the clouds burst, and the water and flooding came, they knew he was speaking the truth. Everyone perished, except Noah and his family.
God will not be mocked. There is a saying: “Too late will be the cry.” Hurricane Irma has come and gone. We have bounced back, even more quickly than many of us would have expected. Yes, our economy, after Hurricane Irma, may not be strong as it should be, and we still need to cope with many other issues, before things can get back on track again. But for most of us things are still good. Many of us still have our jobs, we can buy new cars, build or repair our homes or businesses, and still load our shopping carts with groceries. Life is good, it’s business as usual.
We can eat, drink, wine and dine and be merry, because many of us still have sufficient money in our pockets, for the mighty dollar is still in control. So, we can easily forget God, or even forget there is a God to whom we ought to be thankful and grateful. We become proud, arrogant, selfish, ungodly, and disregard every form of warning from the Almighty.
But God is not asleep. He will not be mocked. If we continue to ignore Him, He has means and ways in trying to get our attention, thereby using natural disasters as a message or a warning. The end result is for us now to decide.
After Hurricane Luis in 1995, God was still full of compassion and patience and waited for 22 more years, until a more serious disaster struck us in 2017. God is still speaking to this island. Will He now wait another 22 more years? The churches are still too silent about this important matter of getting this message across.
Concerned Christian
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
The people in Middle Region are worried and hope no bus should pass through Middle Region.
During the sewage project in Dutch Quarter, well, it’s sad Middle Region has no community centre for Minister for Justice, VROMI and Transportation to come talk to the people from Middle Region.
(I quote: bus drivers be careful.)
Cuthbert Bannis
It is better for schools to be reopened a little later than the day after the new year holidays.
Really and truly, the date needs to be changed three days or a week for back to schools after New Year’s Day.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
The majority of people in the world believe that human nature is basically good.
The facts are, if you believe that you have just deceived yourself. In fact, by making such a statement you are saying we do not need God.
Originally, human nature was perfect by virtue of having been created so by God. But that goodness was marred by the sin of Adam and Eve.
That sin (curse) we inherited from Adam and Eve.
Reality is that the moment all humans are born and without committing one sin intentionally we are all on the highway to hell.
That is exactly why Christ came and died to establish grace. No human being had the capability of saving their self.
The nature of humans has these attributes: lust, jealousy, hatred, covertness, murder, deceit, envy, lying, theft, rape, homosexuality, pedophilia and adultery, betrayal.
Be honest with yourself, how is that good? God gives us a mind and a heart to reason, but look at the destruction in the world today.
You see the reality, our nature is destructive. Give a normal person a lot of money, the first thing he or she loves to do is to commit more sin.
Humans love sinful pleasures and power, we lust for it and live for it. Some humans believe their education is their God. That is idolatry.
Listen to the news on TV and radio, the normal statement is education is the key.
That is not true. How is it that the educated people produce the most destruction in the world today? The idiot cannot make a nuclear bomb. The idiot cannot devise a plan to overthrow government or to create havoc in the world. Education without God becomes more destructive.
Romans 1:22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
Because very brilliant people believe they are their own God, and they do not need God, In the last days knowledge will increase but morality will decrease.
This reality creates more destructive nature.
Education has nothing to do with being good. Because man’s passion is to have pleasure and money and power, that nature makes it more difficult for him or her to confess sin, repent and turn away from sin. Human nature is sinful and will continue to sin if he or she does not desire to have a passion for Christ.
Some people say it is the environment, the facts are that is not true. Adam and Eve were made perfect and were in a perfect environment and by one sin (a choice they made), disobedience, look what the world has come to. You see, my people, there is nothing basically good about human nature. That is why we need Christ, without Christ we are doomed forever and ever.
The conclusion is Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
Dear Editor,
This past Friday, it was time for the Chief Minister of Anguilla, the Honorable Victor Banks, to respond to much of the runaway talk which came to St. Martin from Anguilla in recent weeks. The rebuttal of Victor Banks was highly anticipated. This past Friday morning the Honorable Chief Minister was guest on Talking Point with Billy D.
It would have been a pleasant experience, if one had the time to which they could have availed themselves to the entire interview or dialogue, which lasted just over an hour.
The program started quite cordial as the Honorable Chief Minister made his introduction. No time was wasted, the program host appeared quite anxious to question Banks, but gave him all the time he needed to make his introduction; seeing that Billy D and Victor Banks are also personal friends.
While the host seemed anxious to hear from the Chief Minister on much of what he heard over the past several weeks, it was time for re-acquaintance of their personal friendship, Banks claiming it has been some time since they had not met up.
Billy D indorsed Victor Bank and the AUF campaign in the election and delivered an electrifying speech on the AUF podium in the last day of the campain of 2015, to the extent that the opposition and many others attributed AUF’s win to Billy D. His speech is said to have impacted the campaign directly, delivering Victor Banks and AUF a resounding victory; sweeping the entire field of candidates, leaving a single opposition seat.
The program got started and the host did not hesitate from delivering a well-thought-out series of questions that articulated all the information he had received in recent weeks. He directed all of the compelling questions to Victor Banks in search of proper answers, not necessarily for him or to add to the prestige of his already-popular talk show both on St. Martin and Anguilla. He genuinely appeared concerned about what he had heard and wanted answers for the people of Anguilla.
On the other hand, Victor Banks appeared well relaxed and composed. The interview was well articulated, underscoring the astute performance of the interviewer. In responding to the barrage of questioning from Billy D, the Chief Minister asserted himself as a well-groomed politician, but also as an administrator with excellent capabilities and all-round machine in politics and economics.
Banks seemed quite calm and confident. His methodical approach made his presentation believable down to every single word. Questions from the host (Billy D) brought to the forefront the banking issue, the economy, the re-construction process, the debt of the country, tourism and port development. Questions were asked about the British partnership with Anguilla, the Governor and Brexit.
Of course, Billy D reemphasized the debt situation and second time, and told the Chief Minister he was very concerned about that in particular, which increased over the three years he has been in office. The opposition called it unsustainable.
The Chief Minister had already dealt with the issue, but for the second time in the program he methodically emphasized his governing approach in regard to the country. He explained this is normal for any forwarded-moving country to incur some level of debt; emphasizing that the debt incurred was for the purpose of solvency of two of the major institutions the country rely on; the social Security system, its pension fund and the indigenous banking institutions on the island. Both are now well secured.
He also answered a key question from Billy D; how would this debt affect the people of Anguilla in the process of repayment? Mr. Banks explained that it actually does not affect the people directly but more so in indirect forms. He said the repayment responsibility has more to do with the function of government and its economic program and so far his government has not been delinquent in any of its payment responsibilities.
In an all-round analysis, the Chief Minister positioned the island, having a legitimate functional government that operates by the rule of law in cooperation with the British Government. Aspects of government that the British have jurisdiction over are fully within their competence. The aspect of the economy and the function of everyday government are within the competence of the elected government under his leadership and the AUF governing machine.
At any given time the governing process is reviewed, analyzed and scrutinized by the British Government for regulatory standards of legitimacy within the British system, as a British Overseas Territory. On the other hand, the entire government apparatus is under the direct supervision of the British Government. They have oversight responsibility and at any time can withhold approval of any proposal. Banks said, what is important for Anguilla is to maintain an adequate working business relationship with its British counterpart.
It appeared that the host was anxious to hear from Victor Banks after hearing from at least two persons in the past weeks. Victor Banks, however, was in full control of the balance of reason and actually controlled the intensity and variety of the program. In the end, the host appeared convinced.
The Honorable Chief Minister of Anguilla displayed highest characteristics of leadership and representation of the country on this particular occasion. From my perspective, this was a real lesson in civics, and strategic governing; Victor Banks on this occasion, made the entire region proud, in particular Anguillians; it was a reflection of the level of governance the island it now experiencing.
Not once had Banks mentioned a single name of any one of his critics, who in recent weeks used the very same platform in an effort to decimate his character and governing posture; Banks indicating no fear under any circumstances.
For those who followed the last election, it now seems like these two veterans are again set to win the next Anguilla election 2020.
Elliot J. Harrigan
