Dear Editor,
We took note of the recent publications in which the Dutch government took the Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten prime ministers under the motto “One Kingdom – Four Countries” to the 73rd UNGA meetings, or was it propaganda that the Netherlands put the Dutch Caribbean prime ministers in front of the Caribbean-war-propaganda campaign against their own Caribbean brothers and sisters? Mr. Rutte’s, prime minister of Netherlands, address in the UN seems to be a farce, and the CARICOM countries should be aware, this is not an internal matter, because the Kingdom is ruled by the Dutch parliament and has never met the true intentions of the decolonization treaties of the UN and there are no other countries in the Kingdom than the Netherlands and all the other islands are subordinated to them. And as such the Netherlands continued the colonization of the former Netherlands Antilles under a rigid modernized colonial agenda since 10-10-10 and are in violation with the UN principles and charter.
The hypocrisy is that Dutch Prime Minister Rutte and Foreign Minister Blok, who took front row at the UNGA and who both publicly discriminated against the Dutch Caribbean people, used the Aruba prime minister Mrs. Wever-Croes to mask their intentions. And this time the Dutch Caribbean prime ministers were not only used as ornaments but hosted a side-event: “Strengthening International Cooperation on Maritime Security in the Caribbean region.”
This letter serves as a serious warning to all Caribbean nations. This Dutch-orchestrated show at the UNGA meetings using our own Caribbean leaders, the prime ministers from Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, in high-level meetings is high-level propaganda for more division in the Caribbean, which is aspiring and seeking integration and unity, to keep the islands under the control of The Hague.
The Dutch Minister of Defense Mrs. Bijleveld, who was also part of the UNGA show, just recently got the instruction from the Dutch parliament to seek support from the US, France, and Great Britain for a robust militarization of the ABC islands that will spark provocation with neighboring Venezuela which could lead towards a war in the peaceful Caribbean and Latin America, wiping out the local population of the ABC islands, and which will be dividing and destroying the rest of the Caribbean.
Mrs. Bijleveld seems to have been given another mayor task in the imperialistic endeavors of her nation, is highly experienced in such strategy and tactics as she was the State Secretary of Kingdom Relations in a previous Dutch government that successfully blackmailed, bullied, and extorted the Netherlands Antillean politicians and leaders by threatening to end the financial guarantee and aid to the islands and thus divided, destroyed, and dissolved the Netherlands Antilles on the symbolic Columbus Day of colonization of the Americas, October 10, 2010 (10-10-10). What can we expect of the future? Will 2-2-2020 be the deadline for the full execution of this demonic plan?
The defenseless smaller islands Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba were annexed, re-colonized, embedded and integrated under unequal rights in the Dutch constitution against the wishes of the peoples, and keep up to today the peoples in this imposed colonial status, despite legal democratic rejection by the peoples through referenda. The autonomy of the other islands Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten was reversed at that same time to a colonial level, and now as a mockery to democracy they are parading prime ministers who are subordinated to the Dutch politicians and parliament at the UN level. Meanwhile, the Dutch have the full and ultimate power over the islands’ budget and judiciary system, and can simply overrule any local government with a unilateral instruction from The Hague.
To summarize: before the Netherlands put the Dutch Caribbean prime ministers in front of this Caribbean-war-propaganda campaign against their Caribbean brothers and sisters, all these prime ministers were and are intimidated, bullied, extorted by the current Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations, Mr. Knops, whose military credentials (tactical officer, lieutenant colonel who was active in the Iraq war) predispose him to a less-than-democratic approach, for example:
* The Aruba prime minister Mrs. Wever-Croes and parliament are currently under an undemocratic budgetary financial supervision and under threat of a next instruction from The Hague;
* The Curaçao prime minister Mr. Rhuggenaath and parliament are under an undemocratic budgetary financial supervision and heavy threat of intervention by The Hague;
* St. Maarten prime minister Mrs. Marlin-Romeo and parliament are currently under an undemocratic budgetary control and government is steered by The Hague, abusing the post-Hurricane Irma chaos and need for financial aid for the reconstruction with a cynical quid-pro-quo attitude.
Our hope is that these Dutch Caribbean prime ministers and parliamentarians who promised the people who voted for them to stand with them, open their eyes and realize who put them there and where they come from. In standing side-by-side with the oppressor on the wrong side of history as in consenting to and even cooperating with crimes against humanity, they qualify as traitors, betraying not only the ones who voted for them, but also betraying their ancestors, and all those in the Caribbean who died and suffered in the struggle for freedom and equality.
James Finies
President Nos Ke Boneiru Bek
(We Want Bonaire Back)
It is with shock and sadness that we learn
Of the passing of Albert Brookson
Another son of the soil
Call home to rest
In his prime
One soldier less in this
Battlefield of organise oppression
And maintain domination
We live in a system where
Every soldier that fall on the wayside
Is replace by a control pamn
By the oppressors
Sad days for St. Martin
Condolences to his family
May his soul rest in eternal
Peace.
Raymond Helligar aka “Big Ray”
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,
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 21st 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
