Dear Editor,
By now I think you have realized that I am about calling a spade a spade. We know the popular saying : If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it is most likely a duck. So here I go again.
If only white Germans, white Swedes, white Russians, white Frenchmen, white Poles, white Norwegians, white Spaniards, white Italians and only white people from other countries in the world lived in the Netherlands, would Stef Blok consider that a multicultural society? Would Stef Blok stick around to see if they would be able to (co)exist peacefully? Or would Stef Blok then go live on the moon? I could not say in space because even the satellites are also multicultural.
If you noticed, I did not mention white Americans, that is because I am not convinced if there are indigenous white Americans.
I honestly cannot find the correct word for someone who strongly believes that people of different cultures cannot live peacefully together, so would someone please enlighten me. The Amish came to mind, but they are Swiss-German.
So after wracking my brains and consulting legislation the only thing I could come up with is, if where it is expressed and because of why it is expressed it sounds racist, it most likely might be racist.
In my childhood days there used to be a childhood story about “Het mars mannetje”. Is this a reality in the making? Bon dia, Suzy.
Russell A. Simmons
The newspapers of Tuesday, July 17, headlined that Pete Hoekstra, the US ambassador in The Hague, had a meeting with Mr. Rhuggenaath. We are talking about the same Hoekstra who stated in 2015 that the 'Islamic movement' caused chaos in Europe.
That there is chaos in the Netherlands, that there are cars that are burned and that politicians are burned. And yes, there are still areas (no-go zones) in the Netherlands. When Hoekstra was confronted with his statements in the Dutch current affairs program Nieuwsuur, he denied ever having done so and stated that the claim was 'incorrect' and even 'fake news'.
The US Department of Foreign Affairs resigned from the statements made by Hoekstra in 2015 that no-go zones exist in the Netherlands and that politicians are set on fire.
Hoekstra is also a prominent member of the Tea Party, a radical group within the Republican Party. He eventually 'tweeted' his apologies.
I think it is important that our politicians are well informed about who they are dealing with.
J. Martina
Curaçao
Dear Editor,
We did it after Hurricane Louis and we did again after Hurricane Irma; we brought St. Maarten back on track.
When you have great construction companies as Gemini, Lincon and other positive construction companies that are always ready and prepared to put the Island back, you get great results every time.
Both government and the people have put trust in each other. A hundred and seven new businesses are a big plus for St. Maarten since the passing of Hurricane Irma. Keep it up!
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
Is there money in the St. Maarten economy? The answer to this question is yes, there is. But everyone has to contribute. One might ask where the money is going to be coming from. Simple answer; It’s in all sectors of the economy, but mostly in the private sector.
Dear Editor,
Once again, governments across the Caribbean are having to confront a Sargassum seaweed invasion, the ‘new normal’ for the region. The Caribbean has been heavily impacted this year with Sargassum seaweed. The invasion of the weed is unprecedented in the region before 2011.
