Dear Editor,
What is it that they say about insanity? That it is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? Is that what government is about to do with Sunwing and Spadaro? Seems so to me, but let's grind the question down to its nuts and bolts and see.
Sunwing and the Spadaro group make some deals and a resort or two changes hands for a lot of millions of dollars. Fair enough. That's how big business is done. One company has a lot of money and thinks they are getting a good deal and buys another company that they think they can turn a big profit on. How does that actually work? Easy. The bean counters sit down and grind on the numbers and in the end they say “Yup. We have enough cash and credit to make this work no matter what happens.
“We aren't talking about some fly by night developers so well-known on this Island that buy and build with other people’s money and then mysteriously somehow get rich and go broke simultaneously, screwing all the clients. No. You are talking about real companies with real track records. Spadaro, like him or not, does a great job of doing what he says he is going to do when he says he is going to do it and Sunwing has been around for a long time and is well capitalized. No amateurs or scammers there.
So, that begs the question, why do they need some sort of sweetheart deal from the government to do what they were going to do anyway before the storm? Surely they had all this budgeted anyway and just as surely they had insurance that is already writing them some sort of 8-figure check. No... This is those same bean counters rubbing their hands together with glee, saying to the directors, “Look we have a great chance here. The Dutch are going to ship cash in by the container load, and if we look and act particularly pathetic, we can con government into paying for what we were going to do anyway, and we can keep the insurance money and everybody gets a new Mercedes and Audi.”
In this regard, I ask Government simply and directly, “In every case before where you have given the Tax Holiday, sweetheart loans to big business, in the end, when all the figures were in, how did that work out for you?” You know the answer as well as I. Government and the Island lost their shirt, and big business got rich. My prediction is that that is exactly what will happen again. The insanity thing.
Now let's talk about fundamental fairness. There is a whole island full of real businesses that already exist that have slaved and busted their butts to whip themselves back into shape or are trying. Is Government saying, “Ok everybody, line up here and get your loan to exactly the same terms that Sunwing and Spadaro are getting, because we know you guys are the REAL backbone of this island and need the same help the big guys do?” Somehow I doubt it. I think the guys that are already here know full well how this game is played. You hunker down and take care of yourself because when push comes to shove, you can only rely on yourself.
Government doesn't want to hear from you in any way, shape or form except to collect the taxes. It's a one-way street and everybody knows it and is stuck with it. Witness Pelican resort. Devastated like everybody else. So what happens? As soon as the winds stop, an aircraft shows up with the owner of the resort on board. He looks around, gets the management and engineers together, they make a plan and he says “Go ahead.” And he writes a check. A BIG check. And in 24 hours, everybody is working their butts off to get the place up and running.
No whining to Government. No begging for handouts. Just like so many on this island, he just brought to bear whatever resources that he had to whip his investment back into shape. My understanding is that Oyster Bay and Belair did essentially the same. No sweetheart deals. No tax holiday. Just honest hard work by the people that understand what self-reliance is all about.
I have met Mr. Ferrier and he seems like a straight guy to me. So I say to him, “Look... if these guys had enough money to do this project before, then they certainly still do right now and if they don't, then the implication is that they are poorly capitalized to start and doomed to fail anyway which makes Government's investment seem like a really bad idea.” Failing that, I say to him, “Look Mike... if you really want to do this, then make those exact same terms available to everybody, because they are at least (and probably more) as deserving as the Sunwing/Spadaro operation. And, by the way, do it at retail bank rates and conditions so when the whole deal goes belly up in a few years, you at least have some security to grab.
If Sunwing and Spadaro are so certain of their success, then they should have no trouble pledging the hard assets as collateral.” Here's your chance to demonstrate that this newly-minted Government actually has its feet grounded in the real world. A novel concept, perhaps, but worth a shot if you have the courage. Your people will notice. I promise.
Steven Johnson
Dear Editor,
In the wake of a new government, I will continue to advocate that we need a complete revision of the public transportation ordinance, which should be administrated by the government (the people), and once regulated right, will surely create a domino effect in eliminating our congested traffic situation.
On one or more occasion, I have heard mention that those who I expected to know better; those who have been there in various capacities; those who have dished out thousands to be able to get back or remain in there, challenge those of us who they claim to hide behind our letters to you, to bring solutions.
I always laugh, not smile but laugh out loud, because when they think they are scoring points, they are demonstrating their incompetence. They are affected by the fact that the taxpayer who afforded them that opportunity is doing what the tax-payer is supposed to do. It is no secret what kind of negative effect the situation at the entrance of the harbour has had on the rest of the traffic.
I have mentioned it before. The infrastructure and size of Sint Maarten do not afford for those very big buses. The 25-seaters should suffice and should be easier navigating around the country, not to mention that more drivers would be able to get a job. These are a few points, but in order to make it work optimally, I have to go back at what I have been studying for some time now.
We have to first determine who is a Sint Maartener to get the ball rolling in the right direction. Like I always mention: "Where there is a will there is a way." I know it can be done because I became a boat captain at 48, because in the late 80's when Bush and Mitterrand met here, in no time the Maritime Police was erected. And that was not to benefit Sint Maarten. I know that the Dutch and the French could do this together if they are interested in doing what is necessary for a better co-existence of this country.
Now that we finally have a coalition, I believe that along with embarking on determining who is a Sint Maartener, a committee should be set up to spearhead the Dutch and the French coming together in jointly organizing the public transportation by both sides complementing each other. I do not claim to be Mr. Omniscient, but I will challenge anyone to show me a better way of tackling the traffic congestion on Sint Maarten other than drastically regulating the import of motor vehicles.
I have this question: Did Irma and the rest wake up anyone to the thought that we need to add (diversify) some other kinds of industry to our tourism? And why can't the melting or recycling of those old cars be done right here on Sint Maarten? What is so difficult in administrating a 4-billion-dollar economy to accommodate only sixty thousand inhabitants? If that is the case, then we have to look for some of those overqualified Sint Maarteners to come and help us.
I believe that now is the time for the members of this coalition to establish themselves for the future, just by simply doing the right thing and hang in there for four years. There is a lot to do to keep them busy during those four years, and before they realize it, those four years will have passed and they would come out smelling like a rose. On the contrary, if they mess up, I clearly see political suicide. Because there are a lot of other young aspiring men and women who would be able to blame the voters for putting back the old politicians in there. I still maintain that we should get rid of the old and bring in the new.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
I was never in favour for Theo to join with NA party 2016 coalition because one big party should be in and one out.
It is Theo whom God gave us as our leader. We Caribbean people will stand with him all the way.
It is time the St. Maarten people see the importance of Theo, a God-sent leader. The Christian Party’s seat is also a gift to us from God.
Read my lips again, St. Maarten is too small for a three-party coalition. Let's work with the two-party coalition. The nation is in good hands.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
Carnival originated in ancient Egypt as a Pagan Feast to usher out winter and celebrate the beginning of spring. When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, the Romans became familiar with Carnival. When Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration became Carne – Vale, carne meaning meat and vale meaning farewell in Latin. In other words, farewell to meat.
In most countries, Carnival starts right after the Christmas celebrations with colourful costumes and parades through the streets, and ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins the 40-day period before the solemnity of Easter. Sint Maarten has chosen to deviate from the original and true meaning of Carne – Vale a Pre-Lenten celebration.
While there is nothing wrong with the celebration of Carnival, however, celebrating Carnival at another time during the year in particular with the celebrations falling within the Lenten Season, the preparation for the solemnity of Easter the greatest feast in the Religious Calendar, has the Council’s total objection.
We have noticed that especially during the last years, more and more there is disrespect for the Lenten season, as Carnival jump-ups and other activities are especially organized during Lent. We have already witnessed the “Causeway Jump-up” and the “Around Town Jump-up” with its many fights and disorders. And particularly on Palm Sunday the Carnival Bacchanal continued making headlines on the front page of the newspapers.
What is really astonishing is the fact that official permits must be obtained for these activities from Government, from whom it must be expected that it must at all times uphold good moral and Christian values, absolutely ignores this responsibility.
The celebration of Carnival has taken a complete turn in the wrong direction. With this, the Christian Council means to say that it is no longer a celebration of clean and orderly fun. The Council would like to point to deterioration of the moral values within the society in various aspects of the Carnival celebration.
It is noticed as early as in the lyrics of some calypsos where more and more words such as “work-up” and “grind on her so and so” must form part of the lyrics degrading our women in this society. The Council is of the opinion that the Calypso Singers (male as well as female singers) can be much more inventive in the message they would like to send out to the public.
Behaviour & exposure during Parades and Jump-ups. We now come to the most degrading part of the Sint Maarten Carnival celebrations. Excessive alcohol consumption during parades and especially during jump-ups, particular mention must be made of the “J’ouvert Jump-Up, especially by our youths are the cause of not only numerous fights but also disrespectful behaviour, whereby our female youths allow themselves to be handled in a disrespectful way in public by their male peers, considering it to be just having fun. (Haven’t we noticed the increase in peer pressure?).
Our Carnival parades are no longer seen as an opportunity to express joy and have clean fun with a beautiful display of colourful costumes depicting a certain historical past with well-decorated floats. It is now more an exposure of nudity and provoking behaviour which trickle down to our young children who think that this is normal.
What is the result of all this? A breakdown in good moral standards. Being moral is creating a climate of ethical expectation, and the best way to teach ethics is by example, that is to practice them. Morals and ethics define who we are and what we believe. Culture, religion and many other things that affect our beliefs.
Let us be mindful of this while celebrating this year’s Carnival activities.
Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin Christian Council
Dear Editor,
The Dutch is feeling great of the progress that St. Maarten is doing which can be a very good example for all the rest of Dutch Caribbean Island citizens.
Many are waiting for the new government to get in to govern and put the recovery plans in full action.
Our Prime Minister Leona Marlin is performing very well.
I just hope St. Maarten historians are not sleeping, because there's a lot of things to write about.
Although the Dutch made a 45-degree-turn since the last election (February/26th/2018) it will be sad if they leave without parliamentarians bringing down their salary and help us the St. Maarten [people – Ed.] with a small claim court.
As long [as – Ed.] parliamentarians bring down their salary they can use this money to build proper hurricane shelters and buy wheelchairs for the pensioners and even pay the small claim court for employees.
Cuthbert Bannis
