The time is always right to do right
Dear Editor,
When Dr. Martin Luther King said, "The time is always right to do right", I was a teenager and that saying made an impression on me. When I told my father this, he asked me:
“What is the difference between that and what I have been trying to instil in you? He had me repeat what he always said to me “Always do the right thing."
I believe the right thing for the voters of Sint Maarten to do next week Monday is to make sure that none of those people in government, who have been in there so long and especially since 10-10-'10, do not return to the government.
No matter how they might sound campaigning, no matter what they promise (which by the way comes out your own pockets) make sure that none of them get back in office. Simple as that. Go and vote for a young candidate.
I like the SMCP. The people of Sint Maarten should take a look at the stand that the youth of the USA are taking. They are saying enough is enough and will be demonstrating against the current gun laws, which are enabling crazy people and teenagers access to weapons of mass destruction, because the government of the USA is not doing anything against this, even though the number of mass killings in the schools is increasing.
I believe that it is high time for the voters of Sint Maarten do the same and get rid of all those in government who have been there for years, having the people of Sint Maarten going backwards instead of progressing.
Out with the old and in with the new. The time is right to do right.
Russell A. Simmons
Lawd what ah mess
with all these political arrests.
Them investigating
Them interragating
And them arresting
North, east and west
And the politicians them
can't find no time fo rest.
For they embarrassing them ,
Right in front of their children
cauz For we there is just no
concedering
For we are all guilty
and can't be proven innocently
and we family
Are not treated decently
For no one is safe
in this place
For if they arrest SUE
This morning
In the evenning
Tez fo you
they coming
So if yuh smell ah beard
ah burn
Most probably tis yuh Neigbor own
So make sure you soak yours zown
For wha burn nooze
Does make eye run water
For whether yuh live in French
Quarter
Or south of the boarder
they have marching ORDERS
Te cross the boarders
And instead of giving we AID
Tez terrorising
They terrorising we TAIL.
Raymond Helligar aka “Big Ray”
Dear Editor,
In line with my vision to promote small business development, I challenge government to promote entrepreneurship and assist the people of St. Maarten by creating a vendors’ market for the sale of food, crafts, cultural items, etc., on Ring Road in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
Ring Road has been standing and cannot be completed any time soon. It's a shame, and it is time we give entrepreneurs a fighting chance by giving them opportunities to establish themselves in this country. With micro loans that are available from Qredits St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba, this can happen in the shortest of time. Government needs to take its role as facilitator seriously and pave the way for this economy to bounce back by empowering the people.
I am candidate number 5 contesting in the upcoming snap elections on February 26, with the United St. Maarten Party (USP) under the slogan "The Face of Change". and this is the change in thinking that I wish to bring to Parliament.
Valya Lake- Pantophlet
Candidate Number 5 on the United St. Maarten Party (US Party) list
Dear Editor,
Slowly also by me it sinks in that Statia does not have an elected island council and an executive council anymore. This ultimate measure, which was taken last in The Netherlands in 1951, whereby the municipality Finsterwolde was stripped of its local government, appeared to be unavoidable. The coalition, who claimed that they saw it coming long time, did not do anything to avoid it. One may wonder if this was because of a particular strategy or just simply stupidity.
A small group of supporters protested in a silent march the measure taken by The Hague on the day Knops brought the message to us. Although the former coalition members continue their rhetoric in the media and refuse to leave their offices, Statians remain rather calm and do not take to the streets. A petition to demand elections next year is the only action organized by autonomist groups Brighter Path and Pro Statia. As usual with these groups this petition is based on the wrong merits, as they claim that Holland has cancelled the elections for 2019.
The recently adopted law, however, states clearly that before December 1st the decision needs to be taken whether elections will be held next year. The answer depends largely on the progress being made to get our island back on track. This latter in its turn depends on the manner of cooperation received from us, the people of Statia. The fact that the former coalition groups are putting up their customary fight reduces in my opinion the chance of elections next year. That is a pity. I too am a strong proponent of having elections as soon as possible.
Hereby I can understand the need for prolongation of special powers of a government commissioner also after these elections for a specific period of time to guarantee continued progress in good governance, and the execution of projects needed to improve the situation for our people.
Seemingly because of lack of support locally, the leader of the former coalition is seeking support off island. Simultaneously other politicians and parties abroad deem it necessary to condemn the measure imposed on Statia. William Marlin, former prime minister of St. Maarten, wrote in the newspaper that The Hague is creating a precedent and warns that something similar may happen with St. Maarten. It is a pity that even a man in his position apparently does not know that Statia’s constitutional status is not similar to the one St. Maarten enjoys.
Statia’s island council last year decided to pass a motion whereby they put our national laws aside. I wonder if it is acceptable to Marlin if, for instance, Cole Bay or St. Peters decides that they will no longer adhere to the laws of country St. Maarten, and that his government will not intervene.
I am reading that the Curaçao political group Kousa Prome is organizing a solidarity meeting for St. Eustatius. They hold this meeting because according to them the people of Statia in 2005 and 2014 already had opted for an autonomous status. They do not even deem it necessary to have their facts straight. In the 2005 referendum Statia opted to remain in The Netherlands Antilles and this was therefore no call for autonomy. This option was made impossible by the same Curaçao that, together with the other islands opted out of the NA.
Curaçao’s main reason for this was that they saw the smaller islands as a burden and wanted to get rid of them. It is nice to know that now they in Curaçao are in solidarity with Statia, well actually with the former coalition government of Statia. Only the insiders, the people of Statia, know the detriment this coalition government has brought Statia. In 2014, as we all know, the referendum was invalid. Therefore, Statia also at that time did not opt for autonomy.
In a letter to the editor, Finies of Bonaire claims that CPA, Caribbean Progressive Alliance, condemns the overthrow of our elected government. In his letter he claims that CPA consists of Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, BVI and a number of other territories, while in fact the group mainly consists of himself, Xiomara Balentina and Jacintha Brice from Brighter Path, Joseph Lake from St. Maarten, and who else but Clyde van Putten and Charles Woodley. I leave it up to the reader to draw his conclusions about the value of this condemnation.
I noticed that there are also political parties from the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles and Aruba that are condemning the measure, and claim solidarity with the people of Statia. I noticed also that here it does not concern ruling political parties or official condemnation by the governments of these islands.
I wonder if the outpouring of solidarity is really meant for the people of Statia, or rather an attempt to promote their own cause over the back of our people. The report of the committee of wise men does not give the impression that there is broad support on our island to keep the former coalition government in power. The lack of popular protests after the measure does not give this indication either.
On February 7th Statia has hit rock bottom. The only direction now is upwards. The Hague needs to do their job. The national government has acknowledged its shortcomings. It needs now to put their money where their mouth is. And we need to cooperate. Instead of fighting it, we, the people, the political parties, and the interest groups, we all need to cooperate and work in the interest of our island to get it back on track a soon as possible. We cannot afford any more delays!
Koos Sneek
Dear Editor,
Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address Russell A. Simmons.
Simmons, when someone is a parliamentarian or Minister, when something goes wrong or right they should expect to be blamed or get praises. The government that just gone in cannot be blamed for the fire on the dump; the former government, which NA party had the VROMI portfolio is totally responsible. If no one is brought to justice and not found guilty for the fire and smoke that invaded the capital of St. Maarten the former government is responsible.
l don't have a problem with Christophe just that truth is truth. When I had the movement for the CKC Credit Union clients to get back their money, l contacted him to be the spokesman for the meetings.
l do not agree with you when you said you want young ones elected and like you don’t want the old politicians there. Don’t you know we need both the young and old elected? The old is always the one to train the younger ones.
We both saw the pain and suffering of the people. You and I should be invited to all delegations from St. Maarten to The Hague. It is better UD govern 2018 to 2022. UD candidates have more experience to govern than NA. UD can always bring prosperity for both sides of the Island. Really l was expecting Silveria Jacobs to change the name and colour of her party, but she said she was busy putting things together.
If I, Cuthbert Bannis were Silveria Jacobs’ advisor, I will advise her to send the entire National Alliance board home. Why newly elected politicians love to talk against Theo, and not the needs of the people?
Eleven seats for the UD party because they are best. March 31, 2018, should be deadline for Parliamentarians and ministers to bring down their salary.
Cuthbert Bannis
