Dear Editor,
To begin, the abolition of slavery dates back to June 22, 1772, when a slave named James Somerset got sick and was abandoned by his planter and left on the street in England. Granville Sharp took him and cared for him until he got better. After his recovery his owner demanded him back. Sharp took the case to court. The general verdict was that James Somerset, the slave, was set free. After that in 1776 David Hartley presented a motion in the House of Commons stating that the slave trade was against human rights and God’s laws, but the majority of members of the House voted against it because the slave trade was too beneficial for the country’s economy.
Then in 1807 the parliament in Britain passed a bill to abolish the slave trade, and in 1833 the abolition law was passed in England to stop the cruel and illegal trading of slaves. Denmark was the first country in Europe to put an end to slavery in 1792, followed by Britain in 1807, Sweden in 1813, followed by the Netherlands in 1814, France in 1818, Spain in 1820, and Portugal in 1836. In 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in all rebel states. All slaves in combat uniforms had the same rights as their white counterparts in the same uniforms. On January 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation Act was passed in the United States and established that slaves in all states must be freed.
As you know, the abolition of slavery came with a huge price. During the abolition, true identity was lost, new culture was adapted, slaves cut off from all birthrights, slaves had to carry property traits or trademarks, slaves were given their masters’ names, no access to education on the plantations, and no compensations for their labor. This is not an exhaustive list. When slaves on the plantations in the West Indies got the news that they were freed, many went back to their master in tears, saying, “Master, they told us we are free! What are we going to do without you?” Such thoughts resulted in low wages and psychological influences in the workplace today.
It wasn’t only African, African-American, and West Indian peoples were in the struggle for freedom and put a stop to slavery. White people also joined the fight to help liberate slaves from a cruel and senseless system. People and organizations that fought against the slave trade and helped to put an end to slavery: Men like Granville Sharp, William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, Earl Grey, Henry Broughman, Abraham Lincoln, David Hartley, and Zackary Macaulay. Such organizations are the Anti-slavery Society, and the Society for the abolition of the Slave Trade (founded by the Quakers) in Britain, the Encomienda System for Latin America and the Caribbean Region (Spain), and the French Code Noir (France).
The excitement on the plantations came when the joy of freedom with the Talking Drums of Africa and the sounds of shells echoed across the Caribbean shores with the lyrics, free at last! Free at last! As the sun set beautifully beyond the plantations in the horizon, imagine for a moment the joy of happiness of such great day for people of all races to embrace each other in love, friendship, education, culture, and harmony regardless of color, creed or class. Similarly, just think about yourself as a slave working tiredly on a plantation in the West Indies from sunrise to sunset with meager ration, and only to find yourself in a slave holding center to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Don’t you think that was awful, shameful, and cruel?
Regardless of your answer! Now is the time for Africans, African-Americans, and Caribbean people to unite and embrace each other in love, business, education, culture, sports, and theology, etc. As you know, during the slave trade a lot of people suffered and died, but that was over 300 years ago. There is now a whole new world of opportunities in business, science and technology, education and culture, theology, government and politics, entrepreneurial management, and environmental technology. Now is the perfect time to move on and become educated, productive, and positive. Show love and kindness, be humble, and give thanks to the Almighty. These tips will lead to great success.
In summary, abolition and emancipation are the expressions of freedom. Black history should be knowledge-based and not as a racial ideological tool. The chains and shackles are gone, but the doors of freedom are open to embrace togetherness.
This article is dedicated to black history celebration. Very many thanks to everyone reading this article.
Joseph Harvey
All Rights Reserved
Dear Mr. Mercelina,
It is with some hesitancy that this letter is penned to you. The hesitation arises from the fact that officially you have not presented your findings, as formator to the Governor. Being a person of faith, I believe this letter is well addressed.
Dear Editor,
I have noticed that of late more and more people are reacting by writing to you about what is happening on St. Maarten. Not all of the content of those letters is positive.
People who know who I am would also ask me what I think about the results of the latest political election. Since 10-10-’10 what I have seen of how the people go about securing votes I am not surprised anymore. I will not say that I have lost respect for the people who for the last 13 years have occupied seats in the so many governments of St. Maarten, because my sense of decorum would not permit that, but the word disdain has crossed my mind once in a while. I have always gotten all kinds of questions from people who came here to work, to retire, on vacation or even to invest.
On several occasions I have been asked what about freedom of speech? My opinion about freedom of speech is that if you decide that you have the right to freedom of speech and say anything you want in the presence of anyone, then you must be ready to accept reaction from anyone.
I can still remember a situation on Aruba which the police had to deal with. There was an intense quarrel between next-door neighbors because of a dog. The one neighbor tried to scare away the other neighbor's dog which was urinating in front of his gate, by throwing a piece of stick at it. While settling that quarrel, the owner of the dog said to his neighbor, “You can say what you want to my wife, but don't ever touch my dog.” Too often when one thinks “it is not a big thing” another is ready to kill you for that same thing.
Now this. Someone sent me a video of an Italian who says his name is Peppe and who by using obscene language is imposing on St. Maarten government how to run the country. He is impressing on us to stay with the Dutch because we cannot change history. I do not know what he means by that, but he is telling William Marlin, who he calls his friend and who he claims is archaic, that he has to be aware that time changes and if he does not change with time he will die. I believe the history of Italy is also well known. So if this Italian person is saying that we cannot change history, what message is he sending to whom?
I have not read anything on the swearing-in of the latest members of Parliament yet, so I will have to come back on that. I am aware that the ending of the great majority of the oaths of office is “So Help Me God”, so I hope that that oath becomes sacred to those who took it.
Russell Simmons
Dear Editor,
Hello. My name is Annmarie Vigliante. Recently I had a major issue with a very valuable lost package. I mailed out my original passport to the USA for renewal. I mailed it via USPS Priority Mail. The package reached USA Customs in 3 days, which was great, however, it never arrived at the address given. It was addressed to my mother, in New York. She never received it. My mom tracked it and found it in USA Customs in Florida. They claimed there was no forwarding address.
I called USPS, in St. Maarten, spoke to Marinka Gumbs and explained the situation. She immediately, started researching this issue. After all her hard work, and many emails and calls to US Customs, She found my package! Because of her hard work, my passport reached my address in N.Y.
I truly admire her dedication and commitment to her job. This is a perfect example of “spectacular” customer service. You’re very fortunate to have her on your team. Thank you. And God bless Marinka Gumbs, she is awesome!
Annmarie Vigliante
Dear Editor,
After reading the front page of “The Daily Herald” on January 29, 2024, about the Committee for Financial Supervision noting that the Government of St. Maarten achieved a possible surplus of between 20 to 30 million guilders in 2023, I laughed out loud in my house while reading the article to a friend. I laughed because the Government of St. Maarten failed to pay teachers at subsidized schools cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in December 2023.
Moreover, the Government of St. Maarten also promised all civil servants and teachers a 2% indexing in salary at the end of January. This did not occur. Moreover, the Government of St. Maarten did not pay teachers working at subsidized schools their COLA at the conclusion of January. Furthermore, several school boards have not paid increments in salary to teachers working at subsidized schools. Therefore, many teachers are owed three different types of payments.
It is very troubling that the caretaker minister of education and minister of finance have said nothing about why there has been a delay in paying COLA to teachers working at subsidized schools. Additionally, both ministers have been mum about why the 2% indexing has not been paid to teachers and civil servants. This was a vow made by the outgoing government.
Several teachers and civil servants asked me last weekend if they were being punished because the caretaker government is heading to the opposition benches. Others inquired if this was a ploy or trick to entice teachers and civil servants to vote for the present caretaker government.
During the Council of Ministers press briefing nothing was said by the Prime Minister about these issues. The 2 journalists did not even ask the prime minister about these fiscal issues either. It seems that no one cares about what happens to us.
These payments are worth fighting for because they are due to teachers and civil servants. Perhaps teachers all across this country need to do something about this situation themselves. Maybe one day that time may come.
Kenneth Cook
