Dear Editor,
When will customer service return to being a priority in this country, which is the heartbeat of any flourishing economy? For far too long, the people have been neglected because persons in the positions of power and wealth don’t ever see the need to recognize this important aspect of their operation. Instead, they wallow in their ego and stay hell-bent on pursuing more money, thus leaving the clients behind – the same patrons that they depend on to keep their business going.
How long will I and many others have to suffer because TelEm has failed to live up to its obligation and provide the proper services to the clients who were subscribers of Cable TV? It has been one full year since I haven’t watched television, nor have access to the Internet from my home. Can one imagine a whole year without television and Internet? This is because TelEm chose to take over services that it cannot handle, and as a result, the entire operation has been thrown into a bad light.
Of course, this can only happen when there’s an amateur in charge, who is being graced by his political affiliates. Guaranteed, if Brian Mingo was at helm, the situation would not be perfect, but he would have cared more about his customers. This is why providing excellent customer care to the tourists is at an all-time low. If government entities do not see the need to deliver first-class service to the population, how can this be transferred to the guests? It will never happen, because charity begins at home!
I remember back in 1995 after the passing of Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn, Cable TV and GEBE worked diligently to restore their services to the population. Managers of those companies understood that without the customers, they don’t have a business. In fact, these executives communicated with the public because they realized that “Without communication, there is no relationship.” GEBE assured its clients that electricity will be restored before Christmas and they delivered.
Even though I and many others got back the services on December 23, we were patient and extremely thankful because we didn’t hear excuses after excuses. The directors were transparent and displayed a high level of integrity. Twenty-three years later, instead of advancing, we have gone backwards with regard to the services from Cable TV. Thanks to TelEm’s awfully poor management.
Therefore, I am extremely disappointed in this telephone company for taking over the services from Cable TV, and failing miserably to offer these necessities to the many subscribers, who are now left out in the cold. Where is the empathy and when will customer service become a priority for this company?
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
The reason why many people in the church are no different than those in the world is that the churches do not produce a clear contrast between the world and the church.
In many churches today, especially the Johnny-come-lately churches, soca and reggae, R&B music is in full swing with the lyrical so-called Christian world.
There is no clear contrast. A friendly reminder what happens to James 4:4: You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
What about Hebrew 9:27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
Ezekiel 18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Mark 9:44: Where their worm does not die, and the fire is never quenched.
Many churches today the people are more concerned about how nice the choir sings and dresses. Focus on the word that has the potential to change your heart and lifestyle. The church is about the word of Christ, not an hour of pleasure.
How is it possible people can be going to church for more than 10 years but the lifestyle 10 years ago is no different than presently? It is because the church and the pastors have failed. They are too cowardly to confront the members and tell them the truth.
The message should be obedience, confession of sin and repentance of sin, and the proof of change must be your lifestyle.
The church should be soul-winning for Christ not compromising. There is no such thing as a homosexual Christian, there is no such thing as an adulterous Christian. You cannot be living with a partner not married and call yourself a Christian. In many churches today the standard has dropped so low that almost every person now is considered a Christian.
This is what God said: John 8:44-45: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.
Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Timothy 2:3 Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Remember this last verse, human weakness. Romans 8:7: For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
And if you die in Christ you have fulfilled 2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The conclusion: the church is not an hour of pleasure. The true church is about soul-winning and keeping the standard of Christ, displaying a clear contrast in a difference between the world and the church.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
Dear Editor,
Many years ago there was a board of directors that took the decision to build a new airport building and they approved the plans to build the airport building. They would have appointed expensive architects and suppliers that resulted in the airport building we have today. No doubt the architects presented magnificent and awe-inspiring drawings and promised “state of the art” equipment and user experience. We would guess the board of directors was awed and impressed.
In order to build the airport deep commitments had to be made to achieve the necessary financing.
Finally a new building was constructed and in a massive hurricane called Irma the majority of the roof blew off.
What would have happened if on that board of directors there was one of these old down- to-earth St. Maarteners who refused to be impressed and would not agree to the design and construction unless there was a ring beam and a concrete roof? What if such an individual had stood his ground and made the simple calculation that in our hurricane-threatened area it made no sense to house such expensive equipment and fine finishes unless you had the very best in hurricane-resistant roofs? To the best of my knowledge not one concrete roof blew off in Irma.
Were that to have happened the consequences of Hurricane Irma on the economy of St. Maarten would have been significantly different. How can we get decision-making that is grounded in the reality of St. Maarten? How can we avoid decision-making that is excessively influenced by the presentations of sophisticated foreign entities that are able to make their offering sound “awesome” and “sophisticated” but do not fully take into account the conditions on the ground here in St. Maarten?
Robbie Ferron
Dear Editor,
Wow! In every district you can hear everyone in all ages saying there’s no hurricane will hit St Maarten this year 2018.
Everyone praises Red Cross and the Christian pastors and Christian church members for all their excellent help after Hurricane Irma.
Rastarfarians praise Christians for help they gave to the needy people especially those they helped which are not even Christians.
May the good Lord bless the Christians and Red Cross people all the days of their lives.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
Minister of Health Mr. Lee is doing a good job, as is Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Mr. Giterson.
But the people don’t understand – a coal kiln is the dump and the reason I say that is, my mother used to burn them.
I worked for years with the government and I used to say that that volcano we are making is going to cost the lives of many, big and small, but because it is coming from a small person’s mouth they can’t hear me.
Get the big pump; use the water from the pond and wet it from the bottom, because the fire is in the bottom. Keep it wet, it is going to help until they get it out. But nobody is listening.
I am sick and on my way out, but what about my grandchildren and your own and family. Just try it.
It must be hurting the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI to see the dump on fire. When I was still working I saw a big poster at the entrance of Pond Island. Everybody talked and got on that the leader wanted the money and all kinds of stupidness.
I check on everything that is happening to our people even though I am homeless after Irma. More than 800 people died after Irma, are we counting? More are going to Santo Domingo and Colombia for medical reasons and we are wondering if the dump is killing more of us.
I know Minister Lee is trying his best. He can’t sleep at night because of this. Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Mr. Giterson the same. It is not easy, it is worse than ever.
Please try what I say and see for yourself. Try it in a pan of sand and put water to run in it and see what I say.
So, more people will sick of all the smoke from yesterday to now.
Lord, help your people. I have this little thing I have to ask. Throughout the history of humanity there have always been people who feared God and questioned His justice. Why do the evil get rich while good people live in misery? Why do the dishonest enjoy success while the honest go without the basics of life?
So, people of St. Maarten, keep on the wings of faith like an eagle. The ministers are going to find out what to do and fast. Keep in God’s hand.
Avril Gumbs
