Dear Editor,
This will be my last spiritual sermon for a while. The reason for this and the previous sermons is for people not to be deceived by the amount of counterfeit Christianity presently in St. Maarten and the world.
1 John 3:6 – No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.
John 4:6-7 – We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
The following words define God’s character. I quote them from the Christian Fellowship Network and I agree with these statements. “God is supreme with no one to answer to. He is completely independent and can make decisions without anyone else’s agreement or consent. Everything that God says or does is correct word or action for us to follow. He is ultimately ‘correct’ in every situation. God is all-powerful, there is nothing too difficult for him. God knows every detail of the past present, and future. He has perfect recall. He knows our thoughts before we think them. God’s justice is perfectly fair when measured on an eternal scale. God is no respecter of persons. Good deeds will be rewarded and evil will be punished.”
And the following words are from me. You cannot claim to love God but continue to follow the world trend. You cannot love God but do not be obedient to him. You cannot love God but defend or partake in Satan values (abortion, homosexuality and adultery and drunkenness).
Malachi 3:6 – For I am the Lord, I change not.
God does not make deals. God’s 10 Commandments is the deal. If you did not accept Christ as your personal savior and confess your sin and repent to him, when you die you will be taking the broad road to eternal separation from God in the everlasting hellfire where the worm dies not and the fire never quenched. You do not have to believe in it. It is still there and you still going if you do not accept Christ.
The conclusion is, the final decision belongs to God.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Dear Editor,

Based on information provided by the St. Maarten Nature Foundation and recently published in the local media, researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) have discovered that several greenhouse gases are emitted when common plastics are degrading in the environment.

It has been reported by researchers that the plastic bag (polyethylene) is the most produced and discarded synthetic polymer on a global level and is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases into the global environment.

Greenhouse gases influence climate change which includes sea level rises, increase in global temperatures, stronger storms/hurricanes, flooding, drought, increased erosion, and the health of land and ocean ecosystems.

According to the Nature Foundation, single-use plastic bags, plastic items and Styrofoam are known to have negative consequences for the environment (organisms and ecosystems).

I commend those businesses that have taken the lead to reduce their single-use plastics and start to use reusable and biodegradable alternatives.

Countries around the world are taking measures to reduce their footprint on the environment and to do business in a sustainable manner.

I have taken recent note of Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams’ initiative draft law that has been submitted to the House of Parliament to ban single-use plastic bags by amending the General Police Ordinance.

Our country’s main industry is tourism. Our environment is one of the key selling points to visitors abroad. Our beaches and underwater ecosystem are part and parcel of our economy, and therefore, every effort must be made to not contribute to their degradation or destruction but create an eco-friendly destination.

Every individual has a responsibility to keep their environment clean. I read where more than 1,000 pounds of trash were removed from Mullet Bay Beach during the International Coastal Clean-up Day.

This shows that beach-goers must do better. Bag your garbage and take it back home is one way to keep our beaches clean for everyone to enjoy.

I applaud all efforts underway to reduce their footprint on our environment. There is much to be done, but we are on the right track and it always starts by taking the initiative and making that move and being consistent in keeping our environment clean on a daily basis.

Stuart Johnson

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (TEATT).

Dear Editor,
Among the many catastrophes Hurricane Irma unleashed on us is the damage of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. Like a wounded lion, the Library has taken staggering steps to get back on its feet again, thanks to the dedication and commitment of its staff, however, it urgently needs to be relocated for it to survive and continue to serve this community as it has done for the past 95 years. Yes, the Philipsburg Jubilee Library is 95 this year, and the best birthday present for this nonagenarian institution is a new home.

Dear Editor,

Everything affects everything. We are interconnected, we are interdependent. Hurricane Irma has had a negative effect on many of us but I will not use her as the sole focus of this article. Let’s talk about one of the most important subjects in the world – money or our income.

We know our health is the most important one but If we don’t have an income we can’t pay our bills. Mortgage, rent, utilities, food, clothes, education, school fees, uniforms, books, you name it. I have heard it said that one should have at least 6 months’ savings equivalent to our monthly expenditures. Easier said than done. If we are employed and paid the minimum wage or less, it means that we are part of the working poor. I am sure that there are other definitions but I leave that up to you to do the research.

As I mentioned earlier, it is said that we should have at least 6 months’ savings equivalent to our monthly expenditures. Question, how can one save when we are earning the minimum wage or less? What kind of rent can we afford to pay? Hence the shacks which all too often can lead to unsanitary situations, and in addition to that, dangerous situations where extension cords are passed from one building to the other.

Another thing, minimum wage or less means we can’t afford medical coverage or private insurance. This is why it is important to get the National Health Care Insurance Law or policy in place. At the same time some employers refuse to register us with SZV. It means that depending on the seriousness of your condition you might die.

When you go to the supermarkets what can you afford to buy? It is said eating is healthy, I will add it is also expensive. I think more consistent control should be held on imported goods. Someone sent me a copy of the 21-page price list from the Economic Affairs Department informing the public of government prices for food, construction materials, produce and so on. I randomly picked out one particular item – The Bop Insecticide spray. The list mentioned the 250mL and 450mL quoting the price on each. Reality is that there is also the 600mL can that is sold but it is not mentioned on the list.

I think it’s time government determines what products can be brought into the country, especially the brand names. Quality is what has to be first and foremost.

I listened recently to a discussion held on eradicating poverty by now I think 2030. I think the goal post has been moved several times. It stated that world production has increased by 70 per cent but wages by only 20 per cent. In other words, we are producing more but earning less income. Translation: the rich get richer and the poor poorer.

To me it does not matter how many meetings, discussions, forums are held on this subject, as long as the status quo continues where persons are working harder but making less or not compensated, we will spend the next 100 years talking and things will only get worse. Companies are profiting off the backs of the people. Why can’t we also benefit?

Let me close with this. Wells Fargo Bank will be laying off some 26,000 persons or so between now and 2020 because they are going digital. (Cutting cost, who cares about the social ramifications). What kind of ripple effect will this have? Locally, banks on St Maarten are also on the same track to do likewise. Not positive for sure. Ripple effect.

George Pantophlet