Dear Editor,
We took notice of several expressions, declarations and publications that came out of the last meetings held in Bonaire and The Hague and that greatly alarmed us.
On September 6, Mr. Knops visited Bonaire in remembrance of the discovery of our island on the same day in 1499 and behaved in a comparable way as his ancestors have done over the centuries since the colonization of our islands: he came to (over)see if the subservient local politicians and government comply with the instructions of the colonial master. The great news that the master, Mr. Knops, was satisfied was celebrated extensively by him and the submissive subordinated Bonerian government, humiliating the Bonerian people on their day.
The irony of the celebrations’ theme, “From Generation to Generation” was not lost on the people who from generation to generation have suffered under colonial rule. Mr. Knops, true to the colonial tradition, made some promises to our beggar-politicians which could help them win the upcoming elections, and he shone, even scintillated, as the example of the next generation of Dutch colonizers.
Back in The Hague last week, after the show in Bonaire, it was business as usual for Mr. Knops, this time assisted by Mrs. Van Ark. Without shame or regret it was maintained by both that, although all reports show that about half of the population is living way below the poverty line, there is no need for alleviation, no need for swift action to establish a minimum to guarantee a humane existence. In line with the colonial tradition they both blatantly blamed the islanders for the poverty.
It became clear the policies are not to eradicate poverty but to create, promote, and maintain poverty. Poverty is the business model; the aim is to keep and make our people poor by laws and policies as to collect international funds you need poverty. Mr. Knops’ statements are very clear: he cannot do magic or manipulate the dot on the horizon because it is impossible to keep our people in poverty and eradicate poverty at the same time.
The hypocrisy of Mr. Knops reached its summit when he said that the actions in Bonaire, St. Maarten, and St. Eustatius should not be understood as recolonization but as aid, help, assistance to the islands. What help, Mr. Knops, is the illegal removal of the elected government in St. Eustatius and replacing it with appointees from The Hague; what assistance is it to topple the elected government in St. Maarten and force it to accept measures against its interest using the post-Irma chaos; what aid are the few dollars spent whereas measures to alleviate poverty are refused?
To conclude, Mr. Knops admitted to me in our encounter last January on Bonaire during his inaugural visit as State Secretary, that he does not know and does not want to know our common history and colonial past, and that he is only looking forward in the future. Now I understand that by his actions, that he is right: he is innocent, from his perspective as he is acting in accordance with his laws. Because colonialism and racism are part and parcel of the Dutch mind, he is innocent, as were his predecessors, as were our ancestors which by his constitution and laws were de-humanized, declared non-human, and were legally traded as cattle and herring.
Because he said he does not know the history, I would like to remind him, that through these inhumane, criminal actions, the Dutch rose from being an insignificant fishing village to one of the world’s richest nations; through the blood, sweat, and tears of our enslaved ancestors. The VOC/WIC are listed as biggest company ever in the world’s history, about 10 times bigger then Microsoft and Apple, and they were not selling software. We understand by now why he does not want to know his history. It is because it would confront him with his criminal origins and would expose his actions of today as crimes against humanity no matter that he has legalized them as a constitutional act, a method not very different from the way the Nazi’s legalized their actions against those whom they regarded as belonging to an inferior race.
I hope that this letter is the dot on the horizon that will grow into the rising sun that will brighten the future and shed light on the past, as darkness is not eradicated by darkness but by light. The Netherlands is signatory to the United Nations Charter and as such cannot continue to ignore their violations of the different resolutions to end colonial rule.
Mr. Knops and Mrs. Van Ark, you are in the position to make that change on behalf of The Netherlands.
Respectfully,
James Finies
Dear Editor,
As a concerned citizen, I’m home here relaxing listing to Billy D talk show (SOS 95.9FM radio) with young Rollocks. It’s a shame to know what the citizens of this Island are going through every day, but prior to every election, the politicians will find you anywhere even in your backyard.
Why do we all have to suffer by the hands of people that we all elected to office? This Island can be better off even during hurricane season but there is too much wickedness and evil within our society.
If we can have a nation of at least 98 per cent of righteous and honest people, then we would not have to worry too much about any hurricane when it’s travelling across the Atlantic Ocean heading for the Caribbean Islands. Yes, we are living in the hurricane zone but with that percentage of our nation, God will be looking over his people at all times.
Just after we’ve been battered by a hurricane you would see neighbours, family and everybody else coming together. By a month or two after that, everything would go back to the same dirty ways again.
We have a chance to fix things among ourselves, so don’t wait for the Dutch to do it for us because it will not be nice.
We need the rightful people to govern this Island, it’s not too late.
This is my contribution for now.
I had to come forward with this after listening to young Rollocks on SOS radio.
Lemuel Fleming
Dear Editor,
Let’s talk about Breastfeeding shaming. Yes, apparently its a topic to be discussed amongst certain self’-righteous women and certain men who feel as though MY breast should only be used sexually and not as nourishment!?!? Leaves.me confused.
May I ask every one of you reading this: Why does my choice on feeding my child hinder your life? Did you understand my question? Why, why is it that breastfeeding my child at 2 years old is an issue for you? Care to explain how my choice to nourish my child is any of your business? That is a question to many women out there who have many comments, eye-rolls and disgusted looks when they know I still give my child what he wants. My child doesn’t suck on a fake nipple/bottle or pacifier, he gets a real nipple and tasty nutritious milk.
To the Caribbean men who seem to find it offensive that I pull out my breast for my son to eat: you sickos will jump on a woman for sexual satisfaction, yet I should feel shame when I feed my child? You have the nerve to roll your eyes when you see me feed my child. Heck no, you are sick men to prey on women’s breasts on a sexual nature when in fact a woman’s breasts are to nourish her children.
CPS, why are you not encouraging women to breastfeed more throughout the year instead of just once a year during national breastfeeding week? Teach women to pump and store milk? What’s needed. Why are women buying fake milk/powder when you are producing milk? Why, CPS, are you not doing more to educate locals on the benefits of breastfeeding? CPS ladies are too busy doing nothing before and after Irma, whilst health and safety for mommy and child is so easy to promote if they only cared.
My son was 11 months when Irma destroyed our lives. Breastfeeding was a saviour, as my son ate as long as I ate bits and pieces. Imagine that. I didn’t have to scramble for food for my son. I just needed to ensure I ate something and truth be told, I lived off peanut butter and water for a good while and we survived because of it.
My son will be 24 months shortly and I feed him proudly from my breast when he needs.
If you perverts who prey on women have a problem with it, well I truly don’t care, look the other way. To the judgemental women who seem to have a problem with it, feed your kid sugary juice, junk food and I’ll continue to nourish my child the way I want .
Note, no man or woman’s eye-roll will stop me from breastfeeding my child.
There are meaningful words, pointless words and words that hurt.
Choose wisely,
Proud solo mama Mary and Baby G
Name withheld at author’s request.
Dear Editor,
This Baie Rouge Raymond restaurant story is a good example of misleading opinion.
Mr. Mussington sees an injustice when someone operates a restaurant on a piece of land that he does not own or rent, this person is not registered as a company, does not have the authorisation to run a restaurant, does not declare his employees, does not pay any tax, sends the toilet waters into the sea, is not connected to the EdF electricity, cannot implement any food safety control, and in addition to this, makes a mess on the beach with all kind of rubbish that he accumulated.
This is more than enough to say that this gentleman does not have the right to operate a business in this place or any other place for these reasons.
Defending this kind of behaviour is wrong, especially for those who do the same business in a proper way.
No, the beaches are not private, but nobody, even with Mr. Mussington’s blessings, has the right to use them illegally for their own profit.
Another restaurant operator
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
The current state of St. Maarten’s sanitary landfill, also commonly referred to as “the dump,” is an undeniable problem. Recent years have seen an increase in the amount of garbage being brought to be dumped at the landfill as a result of an increase in garbage generation. This, coupled with worrisome management practices, has led to an alarming 32 (and counting) fires on the landfill this year alone. This predicament certainly has my full attention.
Brief history
While the fact that for years fires have been smouldering under the landfill is nothing new, the frequency in which these fires have erupted on the surface has steadily increased. The landfill, which was established in the early 1970s, has long since passed its lifespan, however, it continues to be the only option available for the dumping of the country’s garbage. This, in addition to St. Maarten’s larger waste problem has been a controversial topic for the past few years, especially as increasingly large fires seem to rage out of control.
As mentioned, the landfill has been smouldering underground for a number of years. Occasionally, a surface fire flares up, which spreads to areas nearby and this becomes hard to control as once it spreads it ignites other garbage. Other sources of these fires include garbage rummagers who gather and burn wires at the landfill that quickly spread out of control, the illegal dumping of garbage and debris from the French side of the island and lastly, suspected criminal activities contributing to the starting of fires.
Current challenges
Concerns about the management of the landfill and the potential for an increase of fires have been raised for some time. These concerns centred around what was considered a poorly constructed Terms of References (TOR) used in the bidding process to select a contractor and the poor performance of that contractor in living up to the TOR. At the request of the then VROMI Minister in 2016, the Government’s Accountants Bureau SOAB compiled an audit report of the management of the dumpsite and the quality of the TOR. An analysis of the TOR by SOAB revealed several weaknesses in both instances.
Given the continued poor performance of the contractor, I proposed earlier this year to “amicably terminate” the contract of the landfill management due to the inability of the company to responsibly handle the dump. However, after discovering that the penalty for dissolving the contract would cost more than the remainder of the contract, in addition to having to pay another contractor to actually carry out the works, it was decided to let the contract run out until it expires in December 2018.
Moving forward
I have identified several objectives that I am steadfast about achieving in my commitment to end St. Maarten’s waste problem: the total extinguishing of the underground fires, the structural improvement of the management of the dump, the establishment of a waste authority, and the introduction of a recycling programme. The development of a waste incinerator to significantly reduce the amount of garbage to be disposed of remains an option to be considered. However, this does not take away from the more immediate structural measures needed.
The goal is to suppress the current fires while working in parallel to put in place a sustainable waste solution. Given the constant smouldering of the underground fires and the inevitability of fires continuing, the best strategic solution is to first fully extinguish the underground fires, which would greatly lower the number and intensity of flare-ups.
To this end, the government, with financing from the Recovery Trust Fund, has identified a project that will be a large-scale operation to suppress the ongoing fires at both dumpsites. The proposed solution is to go section by section and extinguish these fires using heavy equipment and special fire suppression chemicals and techniques. Disappointingly, the fire suppression works have unfortunately taken longer to begin than initially anticipated. The Council of Ministers has been advised that social and environmental protections need to be strongly considered by the government before any work can begin. Though time-consuming, proper precautions have to be taken to ensure that all of the right components are included and that the right contractor is being selected that can fully handle the job.
A 6:00pm closing time of the landfill has been instituted to restrict the number of persons on the landfill at night, when a majority of the fires seem to start. Temporary security services have been set up to patrol both landfills as well as the VROMI yard, and a tender has been issued for the procurement of permanent security. Additionally, the Ministry is in final negotiations to put in place a garbage-sorting and -recycling station in the near vicinity of the dump where an effort will be made to properly sort the trash that ends up on the landfill.
The VROMI Ministry sees the establishment of a waste authority as a high priority necessity. To that end, a project manager has been contracted by the Ministry to set up the framework of such an authority. It is through this authority that St. Maarten’s waste-to-energy plans will be executed. Also, imperative will be the introduction of a formal recycling programme by the government as well as a partnership with community organisations that have already begun the process. This will go hand in hand with community awareness and school programmes on the importance of recycling.
During my first press briefing on January 17, 2018, I indicated that my number one priority in office was to find a solution to the problem of the continuous fire. With 8 ministers in the past 8 years and an ever-constantly changing vision, I acknowledge that over the years there have been numerous delays that have led to the unacceptable situation at the dump today. There are a number of identified approaches to the problem but each will take time to properly prepare. In the meantime, with the measures taken (closing of the dump at 6:00pm and hiring of permanent security), it is my intention that the nuisance surface fires will be better contained until the structural suppression of the fires can take place before the year’s end.
Miklos Giterson,
Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI
