Dear Editor,
It should be a matter of concern to all Anguillians when persons feel that it is within their liberty and right to go beyond our borders, using foreign media outlets and airwaves to disseminate uncharacteristic and misleading information, uncorroborated, and unclear, pure distortion of the country’s complex issues. Persons uninformed and unaware, having no understanding of the issues they speak to; using the country’s status to settling political scores and personal grievances, simple because they are “free to speak.”
In a well-governed society, the people are free to speak where personal freedoms and rights are upheld “the voice of the people is the voice of the nation.” This stands true in the philosophy of politics when the power of the legitimate government is empowered by the consent of the people. Through this means, political power is exercised. The authority of government depends on that consent as expressed by votes in elections.
The people have no right to speak for the government, otherwise ungoverned. In Anguilla our people talk out their frustration in defiance of government, and lay blame directly on those in the seats of power, as in any balanced democracy where often public policy is the target for the ills we face, whereas such is often of our very own making.
Too often the public media access is misused to settle personal scores, under the guise of “the people’s interest”. You cannot assist the public if you are not well informed or unaware. You otherwise become a malicious arm of disorder and discontent. This is often the case where hosts of such programs use malicious content to dishonour and disrespect honourable people.
During the past week we listened to a very popular radio program on St. Martin, which host is very popular for what he does. He informed his listeners that his guest would be an Anguillian who has a lot to say about what’s going on Anguilla. At the nine o’clock the guest was introduced, the first disappointment was the tone of speech, Anguillians are quick to be identified by the way they speak, likewise most of the region. We knew this person was a Kittitian by his tone and speech.
Calls began circulating through the Anguillian community because this person is well known for incidents of this kind of disorder. Much of what was said was unclear, confusing, issues raised were not well spoken to, hiccups of lies and misinformation. The guest claimed to have been an executive of the ruling party, and by that he was able to speak of the issue first hand. In contact with the chairman and president of said party, who declared the gentleman never occupied an executive position in that party, but indeed was a foot soldier of one of the candidates.
On this program it was clear that the host listened carefully and interacted with his guest. Much of the rant was about honourable Chief Minister, Victor Banks, and other ministers of Government and details of government policy which he muddled so badly and was unable to be clear on anything he spoke about, leaving many of the listeners confused.
His tone was disrespectful and chaotic, with a vicious tone of discontent and malice. Many of the details he talked about were confusing and incomplete. It was clear that this person was using the airways for malicious intent, causing the program host to express dismay of what he was hearing and said, he must speak to Victor Banks on these matters.
He spoke of the banking crisis of 2008, offering nothing new, while he jungle-talked the government with wild insinuations, dishonouring and insulting those he cannot communicate with directly, or who just care less to listen to him. The banking crisis the country faced since
2008 is not a matter of simple minds understanding deposits and withdrawals; this was a national crisis that was carefully analysed and reviewed by the British government, with its worldwide analytic observers and expert resources, including the World Bank, the IMF and the ECCB providing the government of Anguilla with valuable reviews and analysis of how to bring correction to a crisis the country faced, to move into the future on a sound footing.
There are those who still believe that Chief Minister Victor Banks should have taken their advice. Advice cooked up as so often heard on radio, not understanding the veracity of the crisis. The government was given expert advice through the best resources the world had to offer consented with and by the British government. Governments solve problems by acquiring the best possible advice and acting on it, not by chatter.
We who are Anguillian know our frame of mind, each of us is an island unto our very own opinions and it matters not whether one is a magistrate or a governor; the fisherman or farmer without even a school certificate feel they have the right to instruct and correct everyone through their justified rhetoric. It does not matter which level of authority one speaks from or the position they hold. It does not matter the scope or degree of importance of complex issues of the country. Seemingly, they have the answers, while the elected and those tasked with such responsibility are subjected to the volume of nonsense disseminated.
Our people must speak against such disrespect and demand better. One must be worthy of the trust of the people to speak for the people or seek that status through the election process. Governments are instituted among men, by the consent of the governed. When governments are formed, these rights are secured by consent of the people; government lays its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form. It takes only the rights of the people to abolish or alter such powers as instituted.
Be “Free to Speak. Be governed accordingly!”
Elliot J. Harrigan
Dear Editor,
In today's world, many people are looking for clarity which god is the only true God. We have Buddha, Krishna and Mohammed, and I guess many more that I never heard about. But the only true God that Christians and Jews serve is the God of the Bible. The key is that none of the other gods have a son. And the Christians and Jews God has a son that is true and has existed from the beginning of time with his Father in heaven.
Notice that the world accepts all gods, in order not to offend any religion, but as soon as you speak about Jesus, all hell breaks loose. That is because the Bible is the only book with proven facts from the past and the present, and which facts will very soon come to pass.
There is no other book like the Bible, and no other religion has doctrines that have been proven as the bible. There is no other religion that a God has a son named Jesus who died for mankind to be saved. The name Jesus is offensive to many people, because it is the only fact and reality that counterfeit Christianity and false doctrines cannot copy and hate because it is undeniable and cannot be defeated or copied.
Which other god ever send a son physically into this world who was seen and who spoke to mankind, performed miracles, died and was raised from the dead. Only Jesus can do that. Buddha cannot do that, Krishna cannot do that, Mohammed cannot do that. The only God who has been, still is and will always be is the God that has a son named, Jesus.
Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
3 By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Hebrews 13.9: Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. Romans 6.23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is proof that the only God that exists of the Bible son name Jesus established grace that we can be saved. No other God has a son that did that for mankind. John 14.6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The conclusion is that the God of the Bible is the only true God. Continue to praise and obey the only true God, who has a son named Jesus.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindel
~ A Caribbean region dedicated to lifting you to the stars ~
The characterizations mostly connected to the Caribbean are “paradise” and “relaxation”. The region provides a high level of ease in a world that is very busy and sometimes confined within a maze of confusing times. The “Caribbean Lounge” may be the perfect ethos of the region. With a bit more futuristic view, why couldn’t the Caribbean be a Space Lounge? The Mesatic Spacelounge is the idea of identifying the Caribbean as the primary logistic service point to be the facilitator for persons, companies and countries, being supported by the trained elite service representatives who assist facilitating space tourism, moon exploratory activities, Mars journeys, and beyond by using the resource- and accommodation-rich context of the Caribbean and its collaborating nation partners.
There are five steps that might be possible scenarios going forward as a Caribbean body that might help to achieve the goal of becoming the primary Space Lounge for the world. The five development strategies are to facilitate an initial program team who would focus on setting up a series of action points and representing the scope of responsibilities for each regional partner.
To start with, This would take shape by identifying persons or organizations within the region from the different regional nation groups which are, for example, the Dutch Caribbean, the French Caribbean, the British Caribbean, the USA Caribbean, and the independent and allied nation groups, who would work together to develop this MSL-Program Team.
Secondly, this MSL-Program Team could look at developing a MSL-Capacity Initiative that would identify which areas are significant to begin a preparation or a strategy to grow and working or collaborating with different programs that exist in the region. Basically, establishing a SWAT analysis within this context, and then from there seeing who within the region or context would be a good partner to grow the human skill and knowledge capacity in the following key areas.
If the Caribbean region were to become the host for the world in becoming the space lounge it would be important to initiate training and strategic investment activities in the following areas: Working on and initiating processes that facilitate a regional fluid logistic movement between islands, taking part in satellite development programs, growing a specialized elite executive and event services program, developing initiatives that focuses on growing strategic agricultural specialists, and finally growing awareness and innovative services for Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, holographic, and nanotechnology.
“The Caribbean economies are hampered by a lack of intra-regional transportation, and the governments should work together to assess how best to develop an air and maritime travel system that meets the needs of the region’s citizens. Despite the challenges, the Caribbean’s economic future can be made much brighter by combining the talent and know-how that drives the knowledge economy with the practical demands of today’s global service sector to lay a strong economic foundation for the twenty-first century,” according to a study called “Beyond Tourism: The Future of the Services Industry in the Caribbean” published in “The Caribbean Papers; A Project on Caribbean Economic Governance”.
The Space Jump industry, as I like to call it, is a multi-billion dollar one that does not seem to want to slow down in its passion towards this future space goal. Since 2014, more than 59 nations were in one way or another involved in the US $42,4 billion space race and were finding ways to accelerate that process.
Thirdly we would have to consider having Regional Activation Packages. This would take shape by each country, within the region, proactively requesting and representing the set improvements and identify the persons or start-ups that they are presenting as candidates to receive the financial activation subsidy package. This would then be to develop activities in context of the space lounge program. As we progress towards a time of unprecedented advancements in the digital industries and social convergences, we as a region have to assess ourselves and begin to define our future desired goals.
Fourthly we would consider which international agent partners or organizations that could be connected to the space lounge program to assist with the representation and framing of this Caribbean space lounge strategy. The question of where should we start or what should this vision look like might be a thought, but what can be said is that examples can be taken from nations like Curaçao who some years back started a process that considered space tourism as a means of national development. By countries in the region positioning and associating themselves with progressive scenarios, it helps to stimulate regional change.
The fifth and Final Caribbean space lounge step could be the setting up of a “feast for all festival” that would be about identifying, initiating funding programs and facilitating community service organizations who are supporting the less fortunate and homeless shelters in our region. By doing this we are able to not only give back but also make sure to not miss out on valuable talent that can be nurtured and identified through these programs.
In conclusion the Caribbean could position itself to become the space lounge for the activities that will be developed in relation to all forms of space tourism, research and development, the moon gate project and moon related developments, and the transformational vision of life on Mars and life among the stars. The Caribbean is the most suited region with all of its allied partners to lead the charge in developing the necessary conditions to lift us into that next stage of growth as a region.
Ir. Damien Richardson
Dear Editor,
What does a teenager spend most of their time doing? Are they outside playing? Are they reading books? I think that most would agree that teenagers spend the majority of time on their phones. They read on their phones. They communicate and form social relationships on their phones. Therefore, the question is why do the vast majority of schools continue to prevent students from using their phones as an effective learning tool? France recently banned the use of cell phones in its schools.
Some may argue that it makes cheating easier and can be used in bullying where students post pictures of teachers or other students in compromising positions. I would argue that these exact incidences are the perfect moments to teach students responsible use of technology and social media etiquette. Yet most schools are stubbornly opposed.
Education by its nature tends to continually dwell in the past. Let’s face it. Teachers are largely trained by books which by press time have already become obsolete. Teachers take on their duties in the classroom when they are much older. Yes, they may be wiser but have usually lost track of the trends that are central to their students’ lives. Consequently, the education industry lives outside the reality of students. It holds at its foundation an embrace of the past.
The use of technology is so misplaced in schools that the whiteboard is now the advanced chalkboard. The smartboard is mainly used as a glorified whiteboard in most schools. The sad thing is that most schools still consider these tools to be absolutely essential to education. However, students spend the majority of their leisure time not staring at a board but looking at a screen. How boring must the whiteboard or even the smartboard look compared to the moving images on the screen; a screen that can be touched and it responds.
Heavy book bags are still a common sight. Imagine students being trained to use the smartphone as their book bag. Imagine teaching students to be responsible learners where they carry Google Classroom everywhere they go and engage in quiz games using Quizizz while in the mall or riding in the school bus. Imagine training our students to use their smartphones not as mindless infinite scrolling tools but primarily as a research tool.
I was amazed when some of my new students told me that they had Googled me. This means that their natural research method is already Google. Students are already entrapped in the age of Google and are begging to be taught by these methods.
How can a generation who learnt to find the meaning of a word by using a dictionary adapt to students who use Google for the same purpose? Sometimes the self-righteousness and nostalgia of the past can lead a teacher to argue that the student must learn to use a dictionary because it is “just better.” What if there is no Internet? This argument is like saying that years after the automobile was being used, we should have continued to teach people to ride horses, just in case the car broke down. Education must evolve to meet the realities of the future because that is what students are being prepared for.
Most schools demand that student use notebooks. However, our students rarely write outside of the classroom. They type. They use the note-taking apps in their phones. They are already used to texting upwards of 40 words per minute. Why not build on this natural skill? Why not teach them how to organize and store their notes in the cloud?
The simple answer is that we do not know how. We are blinded and scared by the rapidly changing technologies and retreat to our comfort zone – the method that we learned. What an opportunity lost. If the full power of today’s technology was harnessed, students could simply use the classroom for face to face clarity on topics that they desire.
Imagine your teenager constantly on their phone. But not simply gossiping with friends but discussing sections of the curriculum with friends. Imagine your son on YouTube. But not simply watching music videos but researching the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Students will responsibly learn how to use technology. Isn’t this the role of education? To teach students to be responsible adults? Then how can this be done if technology is not utilized in the classroom – if students are not taught to automatically use technology to search for answers?
We have done away with encyclopaedias and have made the power of instant research available to everyone. This is a valuable resource that is not being used to its full potential in schools.
A classroom can consist of a teacher presenting a problem. Students then research that problem inside or outside of class. The students then evaluate their sources, present it in class to their peers and the teacher. The teacher is simply responsible for guidance and the clearing up of misconceptions. The job of the teacher truly becomes that of coach whose job is to direct learning and steer it in the right direction.
The building of critical thinking skills is key. There is no real need to store knowledge in the brain. There is a greater need to be able to evaluate sources of information for accuracy and to be able to use that information to construct new ideas. The current structure of schools does not encourage this. However, acceptance of the smartphone will greatly facilitate this.
Delroy Pierre
Dear Editor,
The people of Middle Region, Sucker Garden and the rest of the entire East side of Dutch-side St Maarten welcome and appreciated the agreements both the transport Minister and bus drivers agreed on, for buses to run through Middle Region and Sucker Garden.
It is they very move which you all agreed on, but please don’t forget for buses to also run through Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond and Pointe Blanche.
The East side of the island is not ghettos. Let’s put all hands on deck to make sure buses run through all the entire East side of the island every day and night.
Yes, we can make it possible. The new police vehicles came just in time so the justice minister can send two patrols out through Philipsburg, Sucker Garden, Middle Region and Madame Estate to keep 99 per cent of gypsies out of the street.
Read my lips: Middle Region is not a ghetto. It is time government put some public officers in MIddle Region to ease the traffic toward Simpson Bay.
I quote: Why at 9:00pm most of these bus drivers are off the street or go to bed early as a bird? Some of these bus permits really need to be revoked.
Cuthbert Bannis
