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,
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.
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,
I would like to comment on the recent statements made by Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok. With his remarks, Blok has now joined an ever-growing group of VVD-politicians who have disgraced themselves and by extension their party, government, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its entirety.
