Dear Editor,
I am perplexed by the manner in which Caribbean people see governments. Consistently, throughout the Caribbean there are high expectations by the “man in the street” for government to provide jobs, provide essential and non-essential services and to play a role in raising living standards. Again and again the choice of the people as expressed by the political leaders is to choose government as the operator of services and owner or developer of infrastructure.
The history of the Caribbean in the post-colonial period suggests that these expectations have never been met, are not being met and the future perspective for them to be met is poor.
How did we get to this high level of expectation by Caribbean people in governments?
Was it because in the colonial periods the governments provided consistency? Or is it because decolonization created the expectation that the wealth that was no longer being shipped offshore would be better shared by indigenous decision-makers?
It surely cannot be that Caribbean people have reason to believe that governments are the best choice to be operators of organizations. Endless numbers of government-owned airlines have lost money, provided poor service, and saddled the populations with debt. Government-operated ports in the Eastern Caribbean have charges that compare poorly with international standards and poor service. Major infrastructure projects are rarely executed without some form of suspected misadministration and often with great losses. Even those services which are core government tasks like building and maintaining roads are poorly realized and seldom with sustainable costing.
In spite of this all, the man in the street will support governments playing a role in such projects or services.
Is this because in spite of the extensive and easily accessible evidence, candidates for elections convince them of an alternative reality during the election process? The lack of political parties that make the case for reduced government suggest that this may be a partial explanation.
The Caribbean experience of government ineffectiveness is consistent globally, especially in developing countries. But the need for effective privatization is growing more rapidly than in our region.
The answer to these fundamentally important questions might open up opportunities to ensure that capital investment by the public provides consistently good returns, reduces the public debt, and leads to an improved development trajectory in the Caribbean, including St. Maarten.
Robbie Ferron
This is not just about Theo
Dear editor,
The decision of the Joint Court of Justice to grant the Public Prosecutor’s Office permission to prosecute United Democrats leader, MP Theo Heyliger is in line with previous decisions of the same court concerning other sitting Members of Parliament, and thus, does not come as a surprise. Theo is “suspected of having committed bribery between 2012-2013,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a terse press release issued on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, in which it added that it would “not be issuing any further statements.”
Dear Editor,
Foreign Investment is of paramount importance for the future of St. Maarten. Not only does it involve money, jobs and development but for local communities it means stability, growth and an overall better standard of living and working conditions ... or so we are led to believe!
Ultimately, every new investor is free to create their own environment. They flash their money, are simply accepted and conveniently ignored by all Government departments to do exactly whatever they choose, with no moral obligations whatsoever. Labour laws, relationships with unions and employment standards should be observed and adhered to but who enforces this? Where is the Government? Who is investigating? Where’s the protection?
Over 35 years ago Rouge et Noir Casino became one of the most popular venues on the Island. Throughout the years it built up a fantastic reputation and was known and loved by locals and tourists alike. However, time and competition took their toll, and the casino became dated and neglected. In March 2017 the original owners (Funtime N.V.) sold the casino and although the new Chinese owners had no experience in the casino industry, the new injection of foreign money was very much welcomed and needed.
By August 2018, only 17 months later, there will be numerous court cases lined up against Funtime N.V. Valuable experienced staff have been demoted, mistreated and even unfairly targeted. Biased untruths and embittered accusations have led to fabricated warnings, cautions and even illegal dismissals.
Management and staff with 20-35 years of service are either ignored, unpaid or go unheard and unnoticed; Discrimination is now abundant especially concerning ageism as age limits (18-38) are now advertised on the casinos search for replacements; pensioners are being denied their legal rights to a pay-out and forced into continuing their labour agreements; allegedly, 10-20 illegal Asian workers have continually worked within the casino or office walls, before departing St. Marten with an “overstay” stamp in their passports and thousands of dollars in their accounts. We ask the questions: Where is the Government? Who is investigating? Where’s the protection?
Staff morale and motivation is now at an all-time low and communication between owners and staff is simply non-existent. The staff feel they are being purposefully pushed out by the deteriorating working conditions which are enforced by the new fake Managing Directors: an 8-hour shift comprises only 2 drinks being allowed and “must” be signed for; continual walking around on aging and aching legs, without breaks, are setting record levels of absenteeism through sicknesses and stress; vacations have been reduced from 26 days to 15; and daily working hours are up from 7 to 8, 6 days a week.
The continuation of an unhealthy atmosphere is cemented by “The Boss,” who, alongside his straggle of followers, perches himself outside the casino where he can analyse, criticize and condemn anyone who dares to disobey his orders. In short, the loyal and local staff feel intimidated as their pride and their self-esteem disappear.
So where is the employees help? Who do they turn to? Staff are getting demoted, move into new positions, fake warnings and even fired. The bullying tactics border on abuse with intimidating conditions employed by the new owners and their “helpers.” The Labour Department when informed simply asks the staff to seek legal advice. Immigration is nowhere, FIU is nowhere, alongside all other Government agencies which are currently showing zero interest and turning blind eyes.
Therefore, with the new owners showing complete disrespect for St Maarten and her laws, “lives and families” are being ruined and maybe Rouge et Noir Casino is simply a bad example of foreign investment but the questions remain: Where is the Government? Who is investigating? Where’s the protection?
Name withheld at author's request
Dear Editor,
I am sure that every St. Maartener older than 40 years has heard his or her grandmother tell them to “huttongue” (hush tongue). I was surprised to read that MP Meyers openly dispelled the misinformation concerning a possible coalition crisis.
Come on, what is new in St. Maarten? Is MP Meyers not aware that the members of St. Maarten government have more sleepless nights because of the fear of waking up and hearing that the government fell than the fear of hearing another politician got arrested? It has become a way of life for the people in government.
I am still confused, because I am very very sure the advice given to him by his deceased mentor would have been, let that die a natural death.
Now that he has dispelled those rumors, if the government really falls (which if it falls with or without the doings of MPs Meyers and Marlin, would not be a surprise anyway), what kind of a tangible explanation would MP Meyers be able to give the people?
This is not a question of members of opposing parties sitting and talking about what matters most, it is what the politicians in government have created. Seven governments in eight years has become as it were a part of St. Maarten’s culture. It is time enough for the politicians in St. Maarten to realize that the level of understanding has risen and that the people are no longer swallowing things that easily.
The walk to Emmaus was the greatest event ever. Completely contrary to that notorious ride to Pointe Blanche some years ago. Not to forget who had to do the explaining at that time. Did not MP Marlin tell MP Meyers that going independent is already brewing in the NA? All that the people are looking out for now is who is going to be the next to throw down the government.
So, unless MP Meyers wants to go down in history as one who also toppled the government he should “huttongue”. Of the unspoken word you are the master, of the spoken word you are the slave.
Russell A. Simmons
Does Curaçao adhere
to human rights?
Dear Editor,
Last week Thursday and Friday, six Venezuelans have been arrested by the police. The press and other stakeholders were kept far away. There is great uncertainty about the fate of these people, including a sergeant of the Venezuelan army and various civil servants.
The military has been able to report via a local journalist that there are more refugees and confirms they have been brutally arrested and have no chance to make their rights known. The police are threatening to send them to the Venezuelan consulate. They are now behind bars in the barracks at the Curaçao prison.
Curaçao is withholding their right to tell their flight story in order to determine whether these people are at risk if they are deported. That would be a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which forbids countries to return people if their lives are at risk.
The big question is whether Curaçao wants to be a rogue state or whether it wants to uphold human rights in line with the civilized world.
Dick Drayer
