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
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
Middle Region people are not pleased for bus drivers to use Middle Region Road during the sewage project in Dutch Quarter.
These bus drivers might be in risk.
Tension increasing, let these bus drivers pass through Ash Road, not Middle Region.
We had our eighth closed-door meeting and it is better for the (seven-seat buses) to officially start running through Middle Region, Sucker Garden and Philipsburg as soon as possible.
The only way these bus drivers can pass is if the seven-seat buses start running through Middle Region and Sucker Garden.
On the same date the sewage project in Dutch Quarter starts. That’s what Middle Region people want – for a better cooperation between the bus drivers, transport minister and Middle Region people. This is the best solution.
In other words, for a clear understanding if the sewage project in Dutch Quarter starts on November 12,17, 2018, or December 8, 10, 2018.
Both the transport minister and the bus association must put their act together to have the seven-seat buses running through Middle Region and Sucker Garden the same date the sewage project will get started.
Bus drivers said the government is responsible for lack of buses not running on East.
People of the West of St Maarten said bus drivers going to bed to early.
No bus drivers should get a number plate or plates without being a member of a bus association.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
On Sunday November 4, 2018, the people of New Caledonia went to the polls in a referendum. The results are that over 56 per cent voted to remain as part of the Republic of France.
Some might say that it was a democratic process and therefore democracy won. But what was the process that this little island with a population of some 269,000 inhabitants, including children, according to France’s 2014 census, went through? Only just over 174,000 of those with longstanding links to the territory are entitled to vote in the referendum.
The following information is not a creation of my person but was researched. I would not want to be accused of plagiarism. I will quote when such is required.
New Caledonia has been under French rule for 165 years; in other words, since 1853. So how did it come the vote for independence? Let us take a journey through history. Source a discussion paper presented in Quito, Ecuador, May 30 to June 1, 2012, The third international decade for the Eradication of Colonialism by the Kanak Development Agency. It is established that New Caledonia is a “Non Self-Governing Territory.”
I quote from this document which reads as follows: “The rendezvous is based on the legal rights to self-determination for which the United Nations General Assembly have attributed a wide scope and have brought many changes in International Law. The indigenous population of New Caledonia, according to a 2009 census, consisted of 40 per cent of the total population which unfortunately is decreasing,” end of quote.
Another quote from the same document: “When New Caledonia was inscribed or re-inscribed on the UN list of non-self-governing territories on December2, 1986, many hoped that the UN specialized agencies would provide the necessary assistance to prepare the population to exercise their right to self-determination. But France maintained its long resistance to UN involvement in its overseas departments and territories,” end of quote.
Can you imagine France, a signatory to the United Nations Charter, resisting the involvement of the UN? I am not surprised. France had a budget deficit of 4.3 per cent in 2015. There were no repercussions or let me say instructions from the European Commission although legally it should not have exceeded the 3 per cent ceiling.
Continuing with the independence issue. It is said that in the 1970s the radical Kanak demands were met with a direct response from the conservative French Government. How did France deal with this issue? Quote: “Massive immigration to the territory to swamp the Kanak independence was evident,” end of quote.
The results, and I quote again: “In 1988 the confrontation became extremely tense and turned into a colonial war engaging land, sea and air French forces against Kanak freedom fighters until the newly elected government of France finally agreed that the concerned population of New Caledonia should determine by referendum their own future,” end of quote.
An agreement was signed in 1988. This came after a bloody civil war in New Caledonia in the 1980s, and I quote, “that culminated in the massacre of 19 Kanaks by French commandos in1988, and the assassination in 1989 of the great Melanesian pacifist independence campaigner, Jean Marie Tjibaou,” end of quote.
The Noumea Accord was signed in 1998 and the Organic Law in 1999. These laws specified the time frame,15 to 20 years, within which the new responsibilities should be transferred to the New Caledonians. I will not go into all the quotes again, but in summary, certain powers were transferred to the island – namely Economic Affairs, industrial relations and external trade – took place in 2000. In 2004 another group of powers was to be transferred and a third to be transferred in 2009. A group consisting of French state and New Caledonia during a congress voted to postpone this third transfer until 2011.
Note the timeframe from 1988 to 2011, 23 years have already gone by. For the next five years starting in 2014, 3 referenda can be conducted on whether New Caledonia should assume the final sovereign powers (justice, public order, Defence, currency and foreign affairs). If a date has not been proposed by Congress within its first four years of this mandate (i.e. y 2018), then the Noumea Accord commits France to conduct the referendum. Hence the referendum held on Sunday, November 4, 2018, 30 years later.
We all know by this time the metropolitans have gained the majority in New Caledonia. As you may recall, the French census of 2009 proved that the indigenous people were on the decline. What the French government did was to delay the process until the influx of metropolitans was to the point where they represent the majority.
I am completely convinced that the islands of the Dutch Kingdom, Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and the so-called public entities will suffer the same fate because we are playing by rules they have created but they are not complying with. These islands are economically, geographically and strategically positioned for trade and commerce.
In conclusion as it refers to New Caledonia which is located 18,000 kilometers from mainland France: The island is a key supplier of nickel to the world and it also gives France a strategic economic and political foothold in the Pacific as China expands its influence in the region. It is an economic benefit for the Republic of France.
George Pantophlet
As a long time and permanent citizen of this beautiful country called St. Maarten/St. Martin I came from the United States of America 28 years ago and decided to make. St. Maarten my home.
I have seen when St. Maarten had its highs and lows. Memorable lows were the devastations caused by Hurricanes Luis and Lenny, the effects of 911, which had a negative impact not only on St. Maarten but worldwide. Last year, we again had to grapple with one of the most devastating hurricanes of all times, Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Irma crippled our economy and has set us without a doubt back for many years.
I am saying all of this to say the following. We need all hands on deck to ensure that this country is rebuilt better than it was. We need persons with real leadership and vision.
Let me share this one experience with you that left me in awe. Yesterday, I went to the airport to pick up a friend. The plane landed at 1:45pm, and it was not until 4:10pm that she was able to obtain her baggage. The rain, which we have no human control over, delayed her arrival even more. I observed that our visitors were standing in the rain waiting for taxi service. My heart went out to especially an elderly lady who had no umbrella to shield from the rain. When I saw this, I went over and shielded her with my umbrella until she was ready to take a taxi.
The state of the airport is no secret. However, for the sake of our visitors, there should be some small provisions made so that their first impressions are not blighted by not having these simple accommodations in place. What would it take to erect a canopy alongside the area of the passenger arrival which will serve as a shelter in the times of rain or even from the heat?
And speaking about having leadership and vision especially where the airport is concerned, I have always said that if Mrs. Regina Labega, the former director, was still at the helm, the airport would have already been much further along. Her hard work at this main port of entry should never go unnoticed. It is alleged that Mr. B. Mingo will be taking on the position as CEO at the airport. In my opinion that is an excellent choice. He proved himself at TelCell and I am quite sure he will do the same at the airport. However, I strongly believe that having Mrs. Labega at his side will be an excellent arrangement until he is able to take over the reins independently.
As a matter of fact, this would be one of the best decisions the Government can take at this crucial time for the airport. The Government needs to use its limited resources to get the airport and country back on its feet. It is about time we start to rebuild seriously so that St. Maarten can regain its place as the number one tourism destination in the Caribbean.
By most, I would be crucified as an outsider, but I too want to see what is best for St. Maarten. If this was otherwise, I too would have returned to the United States after Hurricane Irma. Love St. Maarten with all my heart.
M. Daniel
