Dear Editor,
There’s no question that finding a lasting solution for some of the most pressing issues facing our communities today, must remain on the front burner of the agenda of the people of Sint Maarten. It’s important for the people of Sint Maarten to understand that we must hold our government officials accountable for their non-actions regarding the decisions or reluctance to act and act swiftly in the best interest of the people they represent. Some may regard their appointed or elected position as earning an income of 10,000 USD dollars as a side job.
The law prescribes that executing the job as a Member of Parliament (MP) is a full-time job. That’s the law, what happened to our moral obligation to work full time once elected into office. Ethically, there should be no question that with thousands still un- or under-employed, insufficient social housing and a growing dump which a toxic health hazard to our children is, elderly and other citizens, more effective leadership is required from our elected and appointed officials.
A new Parliament was sworn in on April 2nd, 2018. The new hurricane season is here. People are understandably nervous and still rattled not only by the last hurricane experiences. More so due to the seemingly lack of a clear direction of the priorities to be set by a new government.
It is absolutely disgusting that to date Sint Maarten has no new government in place. Recovery process, while moving is doing so at a slow pace. Too slow for many still homeless, roofless and jobless. One of the narratives allegedly sent out from the present coalition in response to the many questions concerning the delay has been that Holland takes its time, sometimes nine months or more to form a new government, therefore, there’s no haste in having a new government in place.
While this may be the case in Netherlands and in other countries in Europe or elsewhere in the world, it’s irresponsible to provide this misplaced response to the citizens of this island. For example, Holland is one of the richest countries in the world with a well-defined social security and healthcare system. A well-designed safety net is in place for those who become unemployed. Additionally, the Dutch economy is overheated, while unemployment is at its lowest in years. Lastly, but equally important, Holland did not experience a devastating hurricane a year ago. We did!
There are several pressing matters we hope to see addressed in the yet-to-be- submitted reconstruction report for financing through the World Bank. These are:
* Garbage health hazard. We must make a conscious decision once and for all to stop poisoning our children. There’s no one-stop solution to solve this health hazard. It’s clear that a many-faceted approach is required to deal resolutely with the toxic health hazard in Philipsburg.
It was brought to my attention that the city of Milan has become a poster child in Europe regarding garbage disposal. It reportedly took this city about 8 years to have a multifaceted garbage disposal solution, while at the same time getting rid of 88 per cent of all its organic waste. In a block-by-block approach this City managed to deal with one of its most difficult issues facing its citizens and visitors.
If this city of over 1.3 million citizens can do this, we can find a way to clean up this toxic health hazard in an open and transparent way here in Sint Maarten as well. The new government can reach out to the Mayor of the City of Milan and work towards a multifaceted solution.
* Additionally, Parliament must finalize this year, the law to ban plastic bags at all supermarkets and other business and introduce biodegradable bags in which organic waste can be collected.
* Financial support for businesses. We must provide incentives to the middle class and small business who are eligible to receive such funds and who are in dire need of financial support to stay in business. Where is the Sint Maarten Marshall Plan?
* Social housing. What is the status of the FOGA and other similar social housing projects? Will Sint Maarten Housing Foundation receive funding from the Recovery/ reconstruction funds to build homes at already identified locations, thereby lessening the critical need for social housing for our many citizens?
Lastly, but no less important, it is time for the interim or new government to disclose to the people of Sint Maarten the way the reconstruction funds will be dispersed, into which project and for what price tag. It is time for each community to know factually how it is being prepared for this hurricane season. It’s time for Parliament to hold government accountable and demand this disclosure sooner rather than later.

Gracita Arrindell,
Leader, People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA)

Dear Editor,
Some questions are very obvious to be asked, but aren’t asked anyway – like the question why Wouter Bos led the conversations to form a new government in 2012.
The former PvdA Minister of Finance became a partner at KPMG after his departure in 2010. It’s a good thing if politicians quickly get a new job after their political career, but I thought this position was remarkable. With this transfer, a lot of sensitive information from the Ministry of Finance came into the hands of this international accountancy firm, which advises companies on how to bend the financial rules.
This kind of information from a former minister is only valuable for a short amount of time because the rules are soon outdated, but in 2012 the KPMG consultant got another opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the government when he led the formation of the Rutte-Asscher government.
Many (former) politicians have worked at KPMG, including Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (VVD), Eddy van Hijum (CDA) and Rita Verdonk (TON). KPMG also likes to employ former politicians such as former MPs Laetitia Griffith (VVD) and Jolande Sap (GroenLinks), who should supervise the auditor as a supervisory director.
In the other countries of the Kingdom, in Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, the connection with politics is even closer. KPMG not only checks the books of the government, but also advises them and is closely involved in public businesses. In Curaçao KPMG engages with almost all government companies, such as the port, oil, healthcare, energy, pensions and telecom. Especially the latter sector is interesting, because telecom company UTS makes illegal gambling possible worldwide – a criminal sector in which billions are laundered, probably also with money from international drug trafficking.
Two years ago I asked extensive questions about the relationship between the accountant KPMG, Curaçao politics and the international gambling mafia, but those parliamentary questions are still not answered, despite my perseverance with the various governments of Curaçao. The publicity that my questions generated at the time did lead to the announcement by telecom company UTS that it would stop facilitating illegal gambling sites – if that actually happened, I do not know. I do know that local media are pressured by KPMG if they dare to report negatively about the company.
The head office of KPMG is located in Amstelveen, where they keep a close eye on the activities in the other countries of the Kingdom. I have asked KPMG in the past for clarification, in particular Commissioners Laetitia Griffith and Jolande Sap, who, as former MPs, should know that my job is to ask questions like this. From the head office, however, there was a deafening silence, except for the denial that KMPG Netherlands would have anything to do with KPMG on Curaçao – a strange point of view, because it’s all KPMG.
Last week the Public Prosecution raided KPMG in Amstelveen, at the same time as a raid at KPMG in Curaçao, because of a case where hundreds of millions of dollars would have been laundered, again in the gambling industry. The invasion was done by a special team that investigates the connection between the gambling mafia and politics on the island. We will have to see what all this will bring. But a multinational who likes to surround himself with former politicians will also have to answer the questions of politicians.
Staying silent about the criminal activities in the Caribbean will not help, the can of worms at KPMG will open anyway.

Ronald van Raak

Dear Editor,
I have listened, heard, and read the recent discussions and workshops on hurricane preparedness for this hurricane season which officially starts June 1, 2018.
As a community-spirited person, my motto for any hurricane season is to “Prepare for the worst and pray for the best.” I would like to advise all community councils to start going around in their district and speaking to their residents to start cleaning up their yard of debris and pruning their trees.
We can’t wait on Government to do everything for us. We as community leaders need to start working together and also encourage some of our contractors to also give back to our community. We need to get back to basics by everyone coming together to clean up your own backyard.
We also need to help our seniors and physically challenged in our district by removing their debris and pruning their trees
As a co-founder of the St. Peters Community Council, we used to organize pre-hurricane district clean-ups with our residents along with government and the Fire Department. The Fire Department did a fantastic job in community service by assisting us with pruning some of the tall trees within the district. This approach by all community councils will instill back pride, respect, unity and togetherness among the residents within the district.
I also would like to applaud our present Prime Minister in organizing the different workshops and meetings among the different ministries to have a better execution plan of action prior to and after any hurricane. We also need to encourage the private sector to put their company’s plans in place for the hurricane season. I also would advise Government to have the police or VKS presence at every roundabout after any major storm to better communicate and direct your local traffic. We have learned a lot from Hurricane Irma and this is the time for us to get it right and understand the Prime Minister is in charge prior to and after a hurricane and to execute our hurricane disaster plan for the island. I also would advise Government to test its 2018 hurricane preparedness plan by organizing a massive mock hurricane drill to see what changes need to be made before the peak of our hurricane season.
As a former Minister of VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.] and advisor in the cabinet of our leader Theo Heyliger, who experienced and executed a lot of pre- and after hurricanes disasters, we should be more experienced in the field and work more closely with the different community councils to communicate relevant information to the residents within the districts.
Government also needs to set up a better communication channel within the different districts when it comes to relief and distribution of goods for the community. Who better knows the community than the community councils which can assist government with the distribution of relief goods? We just have to assign one contact person with the council to liaison and communicate back to the rest of the council for pre- and after clean-ups and distribution of relief goods.
In closing, I am appealing to all community councils to take charge and start walking through your districts to inform residents to go through their hurricane preparedness checklist and start preparing for the hurricane season. Don’t wait until last minute to start cleaning up loose debris and pruning your trees. I also would advise all community councils to start working with government to identify the hurricane shelter within your district.
I believe every district should have a hurricane shelter in place in their area for the hurricane season. The Ebenezer Community Council should advise Government to designate the PVSE School Gym as a hurricane shelter for the residents of Ebenezer. We shouldn’t wait until last minute as community councils and residents to start preparing for this hurricane season.

Maurice Lake

Dear Editor,
On February 26, the people of St. Maarten went to the polls to elect fifteen members to the Parliament of St. Maarten. Most people felt that this election was not necessary and, in the beginning, indicated they were not going to vote. However, they realized that throughout the world there are people who can’t vote, and some are fighting to be able to cast their first vote. Therefore, 62% of the voters went out and cast their vote in the last election.
But here we are some three months and three days since the election on February 26, and to date we don’t have a new government in office. Those of us who were on the campaign trail for the last election have heard how disappointed the voters were to have to go back to the polls not even two years after the 2016 election. Most voters have indicated that this election will make no difference in the governing of this country. Low and behold, the UD and SMCP are proving them right.
Our elections have become a mockery to our people, and in the eyes of our brothers and sisters in the region. In most countries in the region, the winners of the election take office the same day. As a matter of fact, just last week the people of Barbados voted, and their new Prime Minister has already taken the oath of office. Today I would like to congratulate all the people of Barbados living in St. Maarten and the new government of that country. They do have a gigantic task ahead of them, but they have received a clear mandate from the people and they must work in their interest.
After the February 26, 2018, election, Mr. Theo Heyliger, the largest vote-getter and leader of the largest faction in Parliament was appointed formateur. In one of his first statements, he mentioned he was not going to rush to form a government. But now that the UD and SMCP have formed a government, all indications are that they are having a difficult time finding qualified people to fill the various ministries. Besides that, those who they have presented for screening are not able to pass the screening, it is rumoured.
In my opinion, it is a crying shame that persons who made themselves available on a list can’t pass the screening. People are constantly asking when we will have a government that the people voted for and not an interim government. It is time that formateur Heyliger comes out and lets the people know why after all this time he can’t present his government.
Who are those persons who are being presented and can’t pass the screening? What are some of the reasons they can’t pass the screening? He has been screened before and therefore he knows what to expect and should have informed those whom they selected. Or was it a matter of letting them go through the same thing he went through, so that it can be said it is not only he who can’t pass the screening, but others fall into that same category?
But let the public know if it is their taxes, criminal or some other area. Or is the screening too rigid that most people will not pass it? There are some people who know that having an interim government is not good for our investment climate and our economy, but they try to defend it by stating that it took Holland many months to form a coalition government after their last election. To that I say there were differences in policy vision and ideology of those parties in the Netherlands. But there are no differences in policies between the UD and the SMCP; they are cut from the same cloth.
A bleak hope will be given to the people when a new government is sworn in. Barbados is a good example, their people are now living in hope, something that our people are falling short of.

Lenny F. Priest