Dear Editor,
Two weeks before the start of the new hurricane season June 1, almost three months following snap elections on February 26, a new government remains elusive. The people of St. Maarten and its faithful visitors deserve better. A hands-on and structured approach including open communication in regard to how we will move St. Maarten forward is long overdue.
Regardless of the reasons why it is taking so long to form a new government, there is simply no excuse for further delay, given the critical position we are still in following the devastation of the hurricanes Irma and Maria September 2017.
Most agree that we are still facing a crisis situation while reconstruction takes place. Daily traffic jams, burning dump in Philipsburg, many homes including that of the elderly still roofless or destroyed, many un- or under-insured, un- or under-employed, business closures, government-owned companies requesting government support, poor internet connections, long lines at government building, are just a few examples of the dire-strait position we are in today.
Several reports have been written providing short-, mid-term and long-term solutions to the abovementioned and other pressing matters. What is the fate of the much-talked-about National Reconstruction and Recovery Plan? Additionally, recovery funds have been firmly committed, with conditions by the Rutte cabinet as well as by the European Parliament. Why was the meeting with the World Bank held behind closed doors of Parliament?
Given the current situation, it is clear that business as usual is clearly not an option. More emphasis and urgency must be placed by the new Parliament to ensure that a new proactive government is appointed sooner rather than later. There is a case to be made to appoint a Junior Minister of Reconstruction who will act as a coordinator of the reconstruction process.
The current Council of Ministers has its hands full in dealing with the going concern of the day-to-day management of this country. The Prime Minister’s office is in charge of a.o. general affairs, personnel affairs, Census Office, disaster management. This new entity can legally be implemented by Parliament and paid with the salary cuts of the current Parliament and Council of Ministers, including the Ministers Plenipotentiary in the Hague. Thousands of people endured drastic salary cuts or have been laid off. In solidarity with our People, Parliament and Government should empathise and lead by example until we are once again stable and secure. The proposed Minister of Reconstruction’s main task should include execution of the priorities set by the new Government.
Our country is at a critical and historic crossroad. Proactive decision-making is not a luxury. Initiative legislation (not only a motion) can be submitted by Parliament or by an individual Member of Parliament as has been the case when the Ombudsman office was presented to the Island Council prior to 10-10-10. Time to implement is NOW!!
Gracita Arrindell
I feel very much obliged to let my voice be heard on behalf of the concerned people of Curaçao, particularly those who are directly or indirectly dependent on the Refinery of Curaçao for their daily basic needs and their survival.
In general, I am also obliged to express my great concern for the overall wellbeing of the people of our islands who are living moments of a challenging financial and economic situation.
Let me state firmly that in no shape or form am I attempting to defend or protect neither PDVSA as a company nor Venezuela as a country. With 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, both PDVSA and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela should be able to look after their own.
Following years of failed negotiations and litigation between two giants in the oil industry, ConocoPhillips has won arbitration against PDVSA. The details of the war, at this point, for us are not relevant. What is relevant is where ConocoPhillips has elected to “pursue enforcement and financial recovery of its award to the full extent of the law.”
Both ConocoPhillips and PDVSA are present and effective in the global oil industry. They both have oil processing, refining and storage facilities throughout the entire world. Both have an extensive gasoline station network throughout the US continent. PDVSA sells gasoline through its Citgo gas stations while ConocoPhillips does the same through its Philips 66 gas stations. The headquarters of ConocoPhillips and Citgo are both located in “Houston’s Energy Corridor District.”
ConocoPhillips lawyers could easily hop over and place their embargos on PDVSA’s Citgo assets within the United States. ConocoPhillips, however, chose not to fight this war on their home turf but has chosen to fight this war in the Dutch Caribbean, namely Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Sint Eustatius respectively. ConocoPhillips has shown no regard whatsoever for the consequences these actions may have on the already fragile economies of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Sint Eustatius.
During the ’80s the American Government launched the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), with all its good intentions. It then was also in the interest of the United States not to have impoverished nations due to weak economies in America’s then so-called backyard.
For certain items that were part of the initiative, the lobby distance between Texas (Houston) and Louisiana had proven to be very short. What we are experiencing now is in line with the blatant selfishness and disregard that communities have learned to expect from such multinationals and/or interest groups.
When you choke some of the largest flows of cash in a small economy; you inadvertently choke that economy. ConocoPhillips has never created or maintained one single job on our island. Yet ConocoPhillips sees it fit to put thousands of jobs in the small fragile economy and labour market at stake.
If all goes according to plan ConocoPhillips will get its cheque, PDVSA will collapse, and the score will have been settled. ConocoPhillips might tell us, “Nothing personal, just business!”
A salient side effect will be the fact that thousands of Dutch Caribbean nationals will have to move on or even migrate to find a new job. A bloody shame that our people will have to pay such a high price for a relatively small amount to a company with $73 billion in assets.
Shame on you ConocoPhillips for choosing not to fight this war on your own turf in the Energy Corridor in Houston; Shame on you for the anguish you have poured in the hearts and homes of Dutch Caribbean families; Shame on you for choosing to victimize innocent bystanders who have nothing to do with the conflict between ConocoPhillips and PDVSA. You are acting like a bull that is out to destroy our economies without regard. ConocoPhillips please find a different ballfield on your own turf and leave us in the Dutch Caribbean alone!
Maria Liberia-Peters
former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles in Curaçao
Children of the soil, we are the rightful heirs to positions in our own jurisdiction;
Children of the soil, we will always be the guardians of our Island;
Children of the soil, we reject the falsehood that we no longer may hold positions of significance during this critical moment due to the imposter's misjudgement of our competence;
Children of the soil, they are strategically placing “directors” to serve as our “mentors” for the unilateral establishment of “just government”;
Children of the soil, we know our worth, so no man on earth can dictate our growth;
Children of the soil, know that we must stand together as one, to fight for our natural right to choose our government;
Children of the soil, men may ignore natural laws because they feel justified in their ignorance to eradicate make-believe malignance;
Children of the soil, know that self-government is the aspiration of all men, though they dwell on an island or even on a continent;
Children of the soil, the desire to be free runs deeper than the deepest sea, so we must not rest until the manifestation of our decolonization is complete.
Xiomara Balentina
Dear Editor,
St.Maarten politics really turns me off. Instead of our leaders raising the standard and introducing new ideas on how to create wealth all they can suggest is how to tax the electorate more. That manner of thinking is what you call socialism, it is the progressive thinking of government stealing from the population so they can bad spend the population’s money much more.
Capitalism, which is a conservative doctrine, believes it is better to give people a tax break, especially in difficult times, so they can endeavor in doing a new business and making them self-reliant.
The wealth of country is not how much money the government collects, the wealth of a country is how much of the population is in less need of government. The more people become self-reliant, the less need of government, the richer the country is.
Again, that is why ideology matters, but because our politicians do not have an ideology (ideas on approaching the best manner to solutions) St. Maarten continues to the same old failed system of socialism. Socialism takes from those who have and gives it to those who have not and taxes those who work and gives their money to those who do not want to work.
If the politicians are so competent why don't they come up with ideas to minimize regulation, simplify the tax system, find ways a means to lower the cost of healthcare and make St. Maarten a very inexpensive place to do business. Finding the solutions and the right approach to these challenges is how you create wealth.
Winston Churchill, the former conservative leader of the United Kingdom, said it best, and I quote: “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
Imagine, St.Maarten is in a dire situation and some politicians want to tax the Internet and take you to independence at the worst stage of St. Maarten. The conclusion is: when donkey sees jackass evil becomes God.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
Dear Editor,
St.Maarten politics has become more personal instead of ideological pertaining to facts that exist on our island.
It appears that none of the political parties have learned from the past mistakes of others. It is only logical that you cannot accept any person in a political party if that person’s ideology is not similar to yours.
None of the political parties have an ideology that they practice, this in turns leads to distrust factor because you do not know what a person’s belief system is which makes it difficult to trust that individual. Trust means firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
Ideology means a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, or symbols of a social movement, institution, that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.
In politics, it will be difficult to put a person in a position or in a ministry even if they qualify, but if they do not share your belief how can they fulfill your belief and your ideas that define your party and ideology. What is the ideology of UP or NA or USP or Christian Party on immigration? Do they believe in enforcing immigration laws do they believe in illegal immigration or legal immigration? Do they believe in protecting Country St. Maarten first against who does not share our interest? Are they loyal to the people of St. Maarten heritage over immigrants? This is what is call ideology and how you apply it.
St. Maarten is in a crisis. Do we have the courage to please our people first or to please the outside world? I as a Patriot loyalty is to the St. Maarten people of heritage first and St. Maarten people. I will protect St. Maarten interest before any foreign interest. The opportunities and privileges must go to the St. Maarten people.
Most if not all parties and their members do not believe in this ideology which is conservative. I do believe in borders and we must enforce them. If you have a minister of justice who does not share this belief, I will never trust him or her because their ideology and trust is not there.
In politics trust and ideology always matters. In St. Maarten politics there will be continuation of distrust and ship-jumping if a political party does not define their ideology.
A country should make laws to benefit their culture, lifestyle and purpose and not to please immigrants. A country without an identity is lost and confused.
The electorate of St.Maarten must choose what is in their best interest. Is it the Liberal progressive of the anti-Christ ideology that favors a world of no borders or the conservative God-fearing values and ideology that believe in sovereign and individual responsibility and Patriotism?
Which ever political party you choose to lead you will determine what your country becomes. Remember, trust and ideology is the key in political matters.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
