Dear Editor,
It is on several occasions that during the discussions of the Irma recovery funds the possible misappropriation of the of the funds was mentioned.
On Monday, September 10, 2018, however, I read where PM Rutte plainly said that “The funds have been made available under strict conditions, which are very necessary to prevent the money from ending up in the wrong pockets” and “Fortunately there is now a government with the capacity to act. That it is of utmost importance and that the recovery process needed to be fast, prudent, without corruption.”
That is a direct indictment of whichever Prime Minister was in charge and when. Fact is that in the past whenever something similar happened and the people’s reaction was that “the people should not pay for the government’s wrongdoing,” conveniently the reaction from whichever accuser would be “but the people put them there,”
With this in mind I will openly call on PM Rutte to retract his words and openly and publicly apologize to the people of St. Maarten, because he is now clearly implying that the people of St. Maarten are embezzlers by association. Would I be wrong to add “and by extension to Holland.”
PM Rutte should not expect that everyone hearing or reading what he says should readily accept these direct insults. In the past I am suggesting to PM Rutte that if he has a valid reason then he should speak directly to those involved and do not by association implicate the people of St. Maarten.
Formerly when the people of St. Maarten traveled abroad we were welcomed with open arms. Of late all kinds of questions and inquiries are made before being permitted to enter another man’s country. In my opinion it is due to the restrictions and inquiries that Holland has put on the members their own kingdom partners on entering Holland. And now we are openly made out be corrupt. My question is: who has been the head of the house forever?
Talking about forever, let me mention this. I do not know when Premier Rutte was born. I believe in forgiveness, because no one is perfect, but you see when one is confronted and surrounded by certain behavior for years eventually something rubs off. So, if what I am going to mention now seems like “I’ll get you one day” it should not be considered as payback, but the truth.
Several years after the North Sea floods of Holland I noticed that a schoolteacher from the school that I attended on Aruba was wearing one of my father’s pants which I personally had taken to the police station in San Nicolas to be sent to Holland to help with the relief of the disaster caused by that devastating flood. Boys will be boys and I mentioned that to the boys in school. That was a mistake that remained with me for the rest of my life. I was suspended for two days for speaking the truth. At the end of that school year, even being one of the top students in my class, my marks were as it were suppressed and I did not pass my class.
But I believe that something good always happens after every disappointment and so instead of continuing that school I became a police officer, at that time working under the supervision of the same Dutch who could not deal with the truth, and I literally served the community of the Netherland Antilles for 41 years after that.
I do not think that anyone who is being paid by the community should have the audacity to berate that community for the wrongdoings of his or her colleagues. I am not sure if the saying “birds of a feather flock together” is appropriate in this case, but I am sure that it takes one to know one.
I do not think that the Prime Minister Rutte used good diplomacy. I feel personally offended by his remarks.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
Whereas last year, the St. Maarten people suffered as a consequence of political disagreements between the Dutch and St. Maarten governments on the provision of aid after the hurricane, today the refugees on Curaçao seem to pay the bill for poor relations between the government of Curaçao and the Netherlands. In both cases the victims are people who lost everything and try to survive.
The Netherlands, the largest “Kingdom partner,” holds the opinion that the reception of asylum seekers is a matter for the Curaçao government, says Dick Drayer in Trouw (10 September 2018). The Netherlands would not yet feel responsible.
Noteworthy is that Drayer cites the minister of justice of Curaçao as follows, as the minister mentions the high numbers of Venezuelan refugees (translated from Dutch): “Not a single country can manage this, but it is the situation in which Curaçao finds itself.”
There have been numerous discussions on the legal division of the responsibility between the Kingdom and the countries, and the subsequent political practice, but the statement that the Charter attributes a large extent of autonomy to the Caribbean countries has its limits. Legally, such statement is indeed true, but as said, it has its limits.
In fact, in this case Curaçao indicates that the country could not manage the situation. How, then, will the government of Netherlands defend its stance if a refugee were to launch a claim about his circumstances in Curaçao before the European Court of Human Rights? Because that is where a case might ultimately end up, and not Curaçao, but the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a party to the treaty.
That means that the Netherlands as the largest “Kingdom partner” is finally responsible to apply the European Convention on Human Rights correctly, even if Curaçao has the autonomy to carry this responsibility at first instance.
Subsequently, one may wonder why the Dutch government does not yet act before such procedure might be initiated. But, it is equally the responsibility of Curaçao to ask for help as soon as the government cannot secure basic human rights, and it is the question if they have requested (adequate) assistance.
Irene Broekhuijse
Assistant Professor Legal Theory, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
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 Dutch move to monitor the recovery fund spending.
Let’s wait to see when it is justified that the Dutch trusted those responsible.
The money came late, but it is rather to be late than the money was never received.
The big question is, will St Maarten will able to keep performing good, great and excellent within the justice system when the Dutch leave?
All of our justice ministers had performed and is performing well daily.
I (QUOTE) I will like to see the Dutch carry out a survey in every district on Dutch side of St. Maarten before they leave to see how can the people survive with a very very very very low minimum wage.
As long as St. Maarten is fully back on track from Hurricane Irma the minimum wage, house rent, and high cost of living must be adjusted as soon as possible.
Oh boy, when the Dutch leave the Ombudsman will have their eyes 24/7 towards civil servants to let perform to their best of ability.
Cuthbert Bannis
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
