Dear Editor,

  I would not dare sit here and try to second guess why the First Caribbean International Bank on the island nation of Anguilla is closing its operations in the near future.  Be that as it may, what I can say with some reservation is that major or small banking institutions globally may decide to close one or more of their operations in a particular locale for a myriad of reasons.

  So, I respectfully do not necessarily entertain the thought, as someone suggested in another article in your publication, that the closing of the bank is any reflection on the current state of Anguilla’s economy.

  More importantly, whatever the reason(s) for the bank’s closure, given the situation at hand, as an educator (secondary and higher education), with a background in workforce and career development, I would like to take this opportunity, to share a word of encouragement with the employees who are affected by the First Caribbean International Bank’s closure. 

  Your passport to future career success within the 21^st century workforce will depend on your taking the high road with a leap of faith and firmly believing that you can turn a negative into a positive.  As one door closes, you can rest assured a better one, or a window of opportunity opens. Keep the thought in your mindset that goes like this: “a setback is a setup for a comeback” or “every disappointment is indeed a blessing.”  

  So, you can choose to join the numerous pity parties that may be hosted around you or I am certain that you will become pro-active to prepare yourself to forge a new path in the career industry of your choice.

  First and foremost, arm yourself with information and knowledge of Anguilla’s labour laws, request job references, review any salary or any vacation pay that you may be entitled to, inquire about severance packages or out-placement opportunities, as well as any other terms and conditions of employment contractual benefits that are being provided by First Caribbean International Bank. Make sure to get it in writing. 

  Write down your future short-term and long-term career goals with a plan of action.  Begin to update your curriculum vitae highlighting your relevant skills and experience, arrange job interviews, work your network with anyone who can give you a lead into pursuing a new career opportunity. Attend job fairs, take new workshops that can strengthen your skills. You may even want to explore entrepreneurship, or be willing to exercise being flexible, so that you can transform your skills and experience within the banking industry into a new career opportunity with room for growth. 

  There is consolation in knowing that in life there is hope, so, therefore, the First Caribbean International Bank closing does not mean your career or life is over. It is indeed the dawning of new day with a ray of sunshine, a new beginning with a host of new possibilities, for many wonderful unforeseen exciting opportunities that you are ready, willing and able to embrace. 

  The world is your oyster. Carpe diem – seize the day.

Name withheld at author’s request. 

Dear Editor,

St. Maarten and the people who dwell there are all our brothers and sisters. If St Maarten falls we all will feel it.

Many might blame the Dutch, many might blame CARICOM, many might even blame the opposition of St. Maarten for its downfall.

We, the member-of-CARICOM nations, wish to sit with the Dutch and St Maarten governments and the rest of Dutch colonies governments in the near future.

We also are watching the French side relation if the Dutch side falls.

We saw the people put their trust in Theo, we saw the opposition performance not so good, we saw the Dutch performance also.

The Dutch are not bad people. Both government and opposition need to hold one head so the Dutch will have a better understanding for laws and culture of the country. (Amen)

Cuthbert Bannis

Dear Editor,

Presently in today's world, people are constantly debating or fighting over what is a right and what is a choice.

A choice an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. A right is something morally good, justified, or acceptable.

  The big question is, giving people a right to morally sin – is that wrong or right? Sin is part of our nature, it is not a right, a sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.

So explain to me how can abortion be a woman’s right when it is a choice to sin. How can the same-sex marriage be a right when it is a choice people like. Is pedophilia a right or a choice?

This article, most people think I am coming at the people for abortion and homosexuality. While I disagree with them, I am really going after the church who is so cowardly afraid to be the salt of the earth. The church is afraid the world does not accept them instead of putting on the whole armor of God to fight against Satan. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The reason why the world is making sinning a right instead of a choice is that the cowardly church refuses to fight the good fight and is more concerned about not offending the world instead of being more concerned of offending God. This is what is known as counterfeit Christianity. The truth is, evil is conquering the world because the church is failing miserably, that is why God must return.

Quote from the good book: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” The church has come so timidly that false prophet now controls many churches. Evil is raging a hell of a war and what does the church do, the church pulls back in its corner and preaches tolerance instead of resisting the devil.

The conclusion is: Choice versus sin is a war where the church is failing because of the faith to resist evil. Most churches are not real to the deal.

Are Christians in the western world willing to die for righteousness? The proof is easily seen, most of them do not. A friend with the world is enemy of God.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Dear Editor,

On Monday, September 24, I was at a place of business where I asked one of the attendants for a specific brand of water. The attendant told me that they had not received that brand of water yet since they opened. He recommended another name brand which in his words sold more than the local name brands.

I was confused because to my knowledge it was a few years ago that one of the locally produced potable waters came out on top when tests were made on potable waters, both produced locally as well as imported. He could not recall that, but he was of the opinion that the name brand that he mentioned sold faster than the locally produced potable waters.

This did not sit well with me, so I decided to ask around. The little that I know about marketing is that if a product is declared number one, one would not hesitate to advertise this with posters, on radio, TV, on billboards, etc. Remarkably I have not seen none of this.

What I know about testing water is that the Health Department and the laboratories are usually involved. What I gathered is that as a rule potable water should be tested monthly and these tests, which determine the qualification for drinking, are paid for by the representatives of the different name brands. I stand to be corrected if this is not explained correctly.

What was hinted to me and is yet to be confirmed is that not all representatives of the different name brands of potable water, neither produced locally or imported, live up to the rule of testing. So, my question is, where are the checks and balances between the health department and the labs?

I know of this procedure because when I worked on Aruba and the registered ladies of the night did not report for their weekly check-up at their respective doctors, their names were forwarded to the vice squad which made sure that they complied. I believe that this system of checks and balances should be applied to the testing of potable water sold in the country and should become second nature to those involved.

I am not asking for the results to be made public because I do not believe that the government should be in the business of publishing which is the best drinking water. The labels with the nutrition facts should be made to show that.

On checking the different name brands I came up with three locally produced, from among the eight that I found. My question is, if none of these potable waters are tested regularly, what control do we have over the quality of the imported potable waters? I think that it is time to look into this.

What hits me strange is, if samples are not submitted to be tested, why are not the representatives of those which are rightly being submitted complaining? It takes cooking gas to boil the potable water which is not tested and of which eight glasses a day is recommended by everyone in the medical field. Why should we have to boil it again if we are paying for it?

Russell A. Simmons