WHY NO NEW GOVERNMENT YET?

 Dear Editor,

 “It’s already six weeks after the elections and still no government in place!” This is the comment, the cry or even the complaint one hears from people who are anxious to know what is going on. Well, a new government is actually the final result of a parliamentary election. So let us walk through the multiple steps that must be taken before a new Council of Ministers can be sworn in.

Immediately after the February 26^th election, a step was added, which was skipped after most of the previous elections and that is the phase of the informateur. In the past, coalitions were formed, almost immediately, after the election results were made known, which led to the proverbial “3am coalitions”, which to date never have lasted. The longest lasting coalition government since 10-10-10 only served a mere nineteen months.

Let me outline the steps from parliamentary election to government or Council of Ministers so that one can get a better understanding of where we are in the process at this point in time.

On March 1^st 2018, the informateur’s phase was ushered in when the Governor appointed two informateurs, Dr. Nilda Arduin and Mr. Jan Beaujon, to ascertain which of the winning parties would most likely be able to form the broadest possible majority in parliament. The informateurs delivered their report on March 12^th in which they offered several scenarios. They concluded that, based on party programs and priorities, all of the winning parties should be able to form a coalition. Yet, the informateurs were unable to point out any definite coalition due to, what they termed, personality, trust and animosity factors which were, in their opinion, “the real stumbling blocks in providing the country with a stable Government in the interest of the country and the people”. This conclusion already gave an indication that the forming of a coalition and subsequently a government could be a long and arduous task.

On March 16^th 2018, the second phase of forming a coalition and government commenced when the Governor appointed Mr. Theodore Heyliger as formateur. His assignment was to put together the broadest possible majority in parliament. Mr. Heyliger held talks with all the party leaders as well as with most of the MPs-elect of the winning parties. Unfortunately, he was unable to get all of the parties to agree to work together to form a broad parliamentary coalition.

Meanwhile, on April 2^nd at 10am, the fifteen, newly MPs were sworn in by the Governor and the new Parliament was scheduled to hold its first meeting on the same day at 12:30pm to appoint the Chair and the Vice Chairs of Parliament. Unfortunately, this meeting was cancelled, not because there was no quorum but, because the coalition had not yet been formed.

On April 5^th, nearly three weeks after his appointment, formateur Heyliger was only able to form a slim coalition of eight, comprising the UD, the largest faction of seven and the one seat faction of the SMCP. In the past, the winning parties always played the numbers game. The informateurs, however, revealed some deeper insight into the political number game when they entitled their report “More than the Numbers”.

Now that the UD-SMCP coalition has been formed, there are four more steps that must be completed before the new government can take office. These steps are: the agreement on ministerial portfolios, the selection of candidate-ministers, the development of a governing program and the screening of the candidate-ministers. As you can see, after the formation of a majority coalition, the work of the formateur continues and is concluded only when the new ministers take the oath of office.

Presently, the UD-SMCP coalition is busy discussing the ministerial portfolios and the selection of candidate-ministers and plans to announce these at a later date. At the same time, the UD-SMCP coalition has started the process of developing and writing the governing program that will set forth the priorities and plans of the coalition. It goes without saying that the physical, social and economic reconstruction of Sint Maarten must take precedence in this 2018-2022 governing program.

Forming a coalition and subsequently a government is a rather slow, tedious and lengthy process. I know that our people would like to see a new government in place as soon as possible. But I agree with the formateur who, a few weeks ago, said the “slow process will hopefully lead to a lasting Government”. How much longer will it take? It is difficult to say because the formateur does not have control over the screening process.

A few days ago, when I asked the formateur how long it could take before Sint Maarten gets a new government, he indicated that it could take about five to six weeks. Meanwhile, the current “démissionnaire” or outgoing Government will be expected to discharge its duties in a befitting manner until the new government is sworn in.

People of Sint Maarten, it is taking a little longer than what we are used to but let us hope and pray that this process will lead to a stable and lasting parliament and government for the next four years.

Wycliffe Smith

Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party

Dear Editor,

As a (now frustrated) customer of Nagico for almost 15 years, I wish to call your attention to the following:

After suffering through Irma, which inflicted major damage on our home, I filed a claim with Nagico Insurances 9 days after, on September 15, 2017. Although I knew the settling of my claim would take some time, I had no idea that at this point in time, what I would have to go through to receive a fair settlement of my claim.

Without going into too many details, risking a lengthy letter, let me give you an overview of what I have experienced so far, in an effort to get my claim settled:

After I turned in my claim on September 15, 2017, an adjuster (who never really identified herself as one) on Monday, October 16, 2017, took pictures of my severely-damaged home.

October 23, I submitted a report (which I paid $800 for) of the estimated damages at Nagico's offices in Philipsburg.

November 9, 2017, I had my 1st meeting at Nagico with the “real adjuster,” who promptly informed me that my house was under-insured, and thus my claim would be reduced by 50%. Now up till that point, I’d never been informed or knew about “under-insurance,” or how Nagico would use that word to make me such a low-ball offer; it was downright insulting.

As a high school teacher, I welcome opportunities to learn, and Nagico has taught me several lessons. First, “under-insurance” means that the real cost to fix my house is thrown out the window.

“Under-insurance” means that their adjuster can ascribe a value to my house without ever setting foot in it, by adding and multiplying a set of numbers based on the square footage of my house. What method did he use to calculate the value of my property based on square footage and pictures? Is he an appraiser as well? And if there is such a method, why isn't this explicitly stated in my policy?

“Under-insurance” means that I can be kept waiting for months while their adjuster insists that my case was handled and settled, then being offered a settlement that isn’t even 1/3 of what it’ll cost to fix my house;

“Under-insurance” means that I am then told I should have an appraisal done of my house “post-Irma.”

“Under-insurance” means that Nagico takes no responsibility for not inspecting my house over the 15 years I have had no claims or sending an adjusted bill.

However, as a high school English teacher for 25 years, I have some lessons I’d like to impart on Nagico.

First, I read very well. I’ve had a love affair with words since I was born (my mother can attest to that). Therefore, nothing of what your adjustor has told me is in my policy, which I’ve read very, VERY carefully.

Next, if for 15 years I have paid a bill you sent me, with no variations, then you had a responsibility at some time to inform me, or alert me to the fact that my property might be “under-insured.” The argument that my house is under-insured holds no water with me.

I’ve researched what “under-insurance” means, and it is a thing with insurance companies. However, according to the UK Ombudsman, customers MUST be informed about this phenomenon during the sale of the insurance. Follow-up inspections must be done by the insurer to make sure the property is properly insured. Not informing the customer is close to or equal to fraud. Therefore, applying the rule of under-insurance during a claim should not apply.

You are not “fast” or “fair.” The 7 months I’ve waited for a fair settlement of my claim is downright insulting, as it is your adjustor who sat on numbers he showed my husband and I as “an example” on December 2017. Only when I walked into the claims office on March 1, 2018, and the claims manager applied pressure to him, did he submit a report with those same numbers.

I do not have deep pockets like you; I do not know someone who knows someone, who knows someone; I am not friends with a political figure who could put pressure on you; however, I do have avenues for complaint, and this is just one of them. That means that I will fight tooth and nail for a fair settlement of my claim. Whatever legal means are at my disposal I will use.

Hurricane Season 2018 is fast approaching, and I know our home cannot sustain a direct hit - as it is right now - from another major hurricane. I have accepted that.

I am resigned to the fact that my home will not be renovated in time for the active months of August to October. I have accepted that this will be a prolonged fight.

I consider myself luckier than some. I can still live in my house, battered and boarded up as it is; I still have a job, and I still have a voice.

You see, I am not just a policy number here, I have a face and a story. How is 03 it possible that my house being "under-insured" is cause for my claim to be totally pushed aside? Where is the correlation?

Until this hurricane, I had never known "under-insurance" would weigh so heavily.

So, in addition to the trauma I suffered, and continue to suffer since my house is basically a shell, I am now being traumatized by your company.

Fine. I have jumped through enough hoops for Nagico. Note that I have filed a complaint against your company, and the Central Bank will hear from me as well.

All I want is for my claim to be settled fairly. That’s all I ever really wanted. I’m done with your games. And so that there is no mistake as to who this letter was written by, my full name and policy number are below.

Corinne A. Lejuez-Van Putten

Nagico Policy Holder HOC5783/03

Dear Editor,

I have noticed that since I embarked on a campaign to get rid of the old and bring in the new, young people are more and more curious about what is going on in government than before.  And believe it or not, even though I always say if I did that when I was young, there are a whole lot of young people who also can, I am constantly taken aback by some of their observations. A young man asked me just last week if what he was thinking is wrong.

Because I was paying keen attention to what he was saying, I told him there is no such thing as a stupid question. I explained to him that my grandmother, who reared my mother, who in turn reared me, did not know anything about a cell phone and this is the case with millions.  Not everybody knows everything.

He went on to say he believes that Holland is criticizing Sint Maarten for having too many civil servants, because they want to limit the number of people earning a liveable wage.   The private sector would have to pay the liveable wage also, and that would be as if the whole country is making at least a salary compatible to the liveable wage. This would eliminate people being poor. He believes that governments all over the world are keeping most of the people from making a liveable wage to keep people poor so that the people will have to continue relying on government for help in one way or the other.

He remarked that Fidel Castro did it with his army.  I explained to him that the key word here is "confusion".  If there is no unity among the people, they will not be strong enough to make demands. The people who are begging government for recovery help are the same people who are going to take part in Carnival with thousand-dollar costumes for two days, and then will be back begging government for help the next day. 

  I usually tell people who give me tips or information to write to you themselves, but I decided not to leave what I consider vital thoughts go to waste and I am writing to you. That four-million-dollar economy with only 60,000 people does not sit well with me when I think of the percentage of people living below the poverty line, so I always take people who think along that line with me into consideration. That young man believes that government is systemically maintaining poverty on the island. 

Now this.  Many years ago, while working at the immigration department of the police, two young girls, 18 and 19, came to the police station after midnight pleading to be sent back home because they could not bear it no more at the compound where they were staying. They were not pleased with the way they were treated by their own countrymen.  They claimed that they could not leave voluntarily, because they were not permitted to associate with others.  After investigating and evaluating their story, the young women were provided with tickets back home and left within a couple of days.

I was watching a movie last evening, and the young princess who was being pressured to get married, did not want to choose any of the three princes suited for her. She told her parents: "I do not want to be captured in the selection process, because the selection process is a deliberate one to attempt to conquer love. Love is like a careless seed planted without a plan. When love is planned, it ceases to be love".  Those words reminded me of part of the reason why those two young women ran away from the compound years ago.

When I combine the two parts of this letter, even though years apart but still taking place today, what must we say about the world coming together. Even though there is separation of church and state, but it being the same individuals who are expected to patronize both, does government consult with the Council of Churches periodically? What percentage of this country are believers?

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

Think tank sorry to wake up the dump on fire again; you love the solid eight Parliamentarians.

Because the eight Parliamentarian remind you of the family of Noah but tell the nation the best solution for dump fire. (Tell us!)

St. Maarten must start recycling its garbage as soon as possible. Right now, in the meantime, it would be very wise for our government to build some tanks, or put some containers that can hold gallons of water on the garbage, put pipes in all angles from the tanks and give the pipes many small holes so that the water from the tanks will keep the garbage wet and cold at all times. The water from the pond can be used with a pump to keep the tanks filled at all times.

Even some of the tanks can be built big or small and build some in a way that they can be relocated every seventy-two hours to keep the garbage wet and cold always.

They also can give some of the tanks legs as a stand with pipe connections from the tanks from all angles.

This is just a ninety-percent solution to prevent dump fires; the next ten percent hurry get the garbage recycled.

Cuthbert Bannis