Dear Editor,
I usually get encouraging feedback from your readers, but occasionally there are those who disagree or those who do not share my opinion, which is a good thing.
The latest reaction I got is from a lady who called me Donald Trump. I responded to her, from the little that I know about Donald Trump the only thing that we have in common is being male. I then asked her to explain herself.
I assume that she has been following the Kavanaugh nomination process because she told me that I do not like women. She was referring to my letter to you: “We need the help of the village.” I told her to gather a few female acquaintances and discuss the letter together and if she insists that I am like Donald Trump then we will have to agree to disagree on that issue.
Of late I see things manifesting themselves to which in the past I alluded. Not always like I what would hope for, but the attention is there. So I would wish for that Donald Trump lady to look at the pictures on page four and six of The Daily Herald of October 2, 2018, and decide which one is dressed more appropriately. And which picture will talk to the children more about how to dress and when.
This letter is short because this is a case of a picture is worth a thousand words.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
Why are shipwrecks still not moved from the airport road after more than a year?
Are we not an island dependent on tourists? It's a shame that government still hasn't issued an ultimatum to the owners to move them or be billed for the salvage work!
Is this the new after-Hurricane-Irma attraction seen by thousands of visiting cruise-ship tourists on their way to Maho beach? Taking pics and filming the boat wrecks and sharing it on social media!
Come on, government, start removing them now!
It's another big eyesore which needs to be cleaned up ASAP!
Eric Gronovius
Dear Editor,
I believe that by now your readers know that over and over I have stated that public transportation should be in the hands of the public (government). So when I read that the United Bus Drivers Association (UBDA) gave the Minister of TEATT an ultimatum to meet with them or face industrial action, my reaction was and still is “who the hell they think they are?”
I never really found out the meaning of this saying, but when I go back just a little more than a month ago when I wrote about that protest march in which the Haitian community was taking part, and seeing who is heading that threat of industrial action, I believe that the saying “if the pan is not heated, the corn won’t pop” can be used here.
I would like to know if those bus drivers strike and thousands of people cannot get to their jobs on time, with all the ensuing consequences, how is government going to react? Would government be able to justify why the wellbeing of a great part of the community was left at the mercy of bus drivers?
I can make this a long letter but I believe that your readers will accept if I say “I tell you so.”
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
I can’t believe the service the banks offer here in St. Maarten, as if they are doing favors to us. Let me blow some steam.
Yesterday I went to Windward Islands Bank in Simpson bay, Twice. Both times, I counted over 20 people on line with only three tellers working at a “Turtle speed.” I decided to wait a day and go in the morning when they open up.
After waiting in heat outside for 30 minutes behind a line of 22 persons, we were allowed inside. Being a senior citizen, I was allowed to enter before the rest of the crowd along with other seniors. I felt good. Wow.
Now picture this. The lobby is full and only 2 tellers working the regular persons line. What happened to the “Senior” line? After yelling and showing unhappiness, the security guard comes and tells us, the seniors, to be quiet and wait in line until we were called. (Still no senior teller). One gentleman asked for the manager and the security told him to step aside. Rude and disrespectful.
What is it with these banks? They don’t make enough? They have 8 teller windows. It must be for show only, since I have never seen them opened all my life here. Don’t they realize we have jobs to go to also and don’t have an hour just to give them money or cash a check.
Disgusted!
Disgruntled customer
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
There is little doubt in my mind, after seeing how the debates unfolded in the Tweede Kamer and their refusal to set a social minimum in the Dutch Caribbean, that our status is one of second-class citizens.
They say it cannot be done because the prices on our three islands are different. Convenient that one of the world leaders in finance, and the originators of the stock market, have forgotten how to use their calculators. Convenient that the ones bragging about the efficiency of their bureaucracy cannot seem to administer three different policies. Convenient that three parties (D66, CDA & CDU) who, two years ago as members of the opposition, were all for establishing a social minimum but now that they are in power have turned their backs on us. Like a member of GroenLinks said: this is a matter of human rights. But alas it doesn’t matter. To them, we do not seem to be human.
How can the national government claim to be serious about tackling poverty when they don’t even want to establish where the poverty line actually is? Sure, the minimum wage and AOV have been raised by 5 per cent but how can that help when my mom’s electricity bill has gone up by 50 per cent in the last year? How can it help the many who work for more than the minimum wage but can only afford bread and butter at the end of the week? How can they be so bold to claim to care when they condemn thousands to live in worsening poverty at the same time that the national GDP has been steadily increasing? The belly of the Dutch government is full, but we hungry!
This is what neo-colonialism looks like.
