Dear Editor,
National Alliance has proven that they cannot govern this country and Hurricanes Irma and Maria have completely exposed this reality. What is bothersome is that the former Prime Minister William Marlin has never apologised to the people for his misrepresentation and none of his members sees it fit to for him to do so either.
Instead, they joined in the chorus of lies, thinking that everybody will forget what they have experienced after the devastating storms. Up today, I and many others are still without basic needs. Imagine, 6 months later, this is still possible? But who cares? No matter how NA tries to put a spin on everything, they have failed! Who needs more of this incompetence?
NA has put the country in such disarray and they have the guts to ask for an extension to do more experiment. There is no time for an apprentice government. The country needs professionals with leadership, managerial and educational skills; persons who are decisive, have vision and empathy for the community.
The country does not need a repeat of the hardships that NIPA and USM were forced to endure due to this hands-off approach of a former minister, who is consumed with being popular, but lacks the vision to govern. Up to today, teachers are under enormous stress with long hours and no roofs, yet they were obligated to return to school without psychological and financial help. How inhumane and unfair!
So often, NA makes reference to how the Dutch viewed them during the formation of the red, white and blue coalition. At present, that perception is totally opposite and they want to know why? How about starting with some self-examination? This is a party that has accused UP and DP of ill practices but they went in government and did worse.
A party that is boastful about all their ministers passing the screening should be honest with the people as to why they couldn’t continue with the red, blue and white coalition immediately after the 2016 elections. Then they should demonstrate integrity, when they broke off their relationship with UP and didn’t have the courtesy to inform this community.
This so-called screening: Is it a fair measuring tool or even manned by persons of integrity? It was clear to see that the recent screening process was deliberately delayed to sabotage the developments that lead up to elections. To bring more balance, the screening should start with one’s reputation, first and foremost.
The country is in limbo and it requires professionals, who understand how important it is to revitalise the economy as quickly as possible!

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,
A politician who visits the prison director, gets a list of prisoners who have the right to vote, and then buys the votes of these prisoners. Silvio Matser did it on St. Maarten. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to eight months in prison.
The director of the prison (who was also sentenced) gave Matser a list of 80 names, men who each got US $100. For one seat you only need a few hundred votes on St. Maarten.
It is by far the smallest country in the Kingdom, but the members of its Parliament earn about $11,500 a month, more than politicians in the Netherlands.
A prisoner who helped Matser was convicted, two other suspects can no longer be sentenced, because they have been murdered in the meantime.
With the results of these elections in August 2014, Silvio Matser appeared to have received many votes in the constituency where the prison is located. As a result, he got a seat in the Parliament. In January 2015, Matser was already convicted for tax evasion. It is remarkable: a politician who bought votes in prison may now serve his sentence in the same prison.
Monday there are elections again on St. Maarten, an island where the population is still suffering from the consequences of Hurricane Irma. People need a roof, a job and an income, but many politicians on the island seem to be mainly concerned with themselves.
St. Maarten became an autonomous country within the Kingdom in 2010 and has had seven governments since then. The St. Maarten Parliament consists of 15 members and cabinets often have a small majority. Governments fall mainly because of ship-jumping, when a member leaves the coalition and forms a new majority with the opposition – which is always accompanied by suspicions of bribery.
Silvio Matser did it in 2015 when he dropped the Prime Minister of his own party and continued as an “independent” politician. The current government also depends on such an “independent” Parliamentarian, Chanel Brownbill, who is being prosecuted for tax evasion. Another ship-jumper is Frans Richardson, who was recently arrested in a fraud and corruption investigation in which the parliamentarian is suspected of accepting bribes and evading taxes. He is also suspected of recruiting votes.
On Monday, Frans Richardson can again be elected into Parliament, as leader of his party. The same applies to Chanel Brownbill who is on the list of the biggest party of Theo Heyliger, the most powerful man in St. Maarten – the party where Matser once started his career. Theo Heyliger had close ties with Italian gambling boss Francesco Corallo, who is currently on trial in Italy for bribing prominent politicians around Silvio Berlusconi. On Curaçao former Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte was convicted because he had been bribed by this mafia boss.
It is sad that people on St. Maarten have to elect a new parliament on Monday, while the island still has to be rebuilt after the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma. People on the island crave for better and fairer governance. But what they mainly see is political scheming and criminal behaviour. However, it is no coincidence that so many politicians are being arrested and sentenced at the moment. This is part of a larger-scale investigation into the relationship between the upper and lower world in St. Maarten, which is being done at the request of the Socialist Party (SP) and the liberal democratic VVD party, and which will continue in the coming years.
This criminal investigation cannot provide better politicians on St. Maarten, but it can make clear to the population which politicians do not care for the island. I hope that the voters will not stay home on Monday but that they will make their voices heard. They know who the criminals are, I hope they do not elect them into their parliament.
Ronald van Raak
Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament for the Socialist Party (SP)

Dear Editor,
In 2002 my wife and I purchased Air Lekkerbek, the plane on the Pondfill that was one of the major touristic attractions on the island and frequented by many residents. The business was bought as a retirement investment so that we could be self-sufficient when reaching the pensionable age. This opportunity was violently ripped away from us by former Ministers of VROMI Maurice Lake and Claret Connor.

Dear Editor,

As I have said many times, Sint Maarten is a young country and entitled to make mistakes.

That, however, is not a license to make the same mistakes over and over again. Especially when it involves fair well policy and willful integrity breaches and actions that are in conflict with duties and obligations that are imposed on politicians. Whether it involves incorrect use of BTP monies or wrongful issuance of parcels in long lease, those violations must be condemned both during and outside election time. In order for Sint Maarten to make Sint Maarten more mature, the law must be upheld all the time.

When we look at the law, and the role in it for politicians, we read that all ministers have sworn the following (section 41 constitution of Sint Maarten): “I swear (promise) allegiance to the King and the Charter of the Kingdom, that I shall always help to uphold the Constitution of Sint Maarten and that I shall champion the interests of Sint Maarten to the best of my ability.” This oath, just like the ones that parliamentarians give (section 56 Constitution of Sint Maarten) includes championing the interest of Sint Maarten.

Championing the interests of related Sint Maarteners clearly does not mean upholding the constitution and neither championing the interests of Sint Maarten. Although some tend to sympathize with the lawbreakers probably because they either profit from the decisions or feel that others in the past have acted likewise, our country does not grow if the constitution and the laws of the land continue to be trampled upon.

I truly advocate and will demand insofar such will be within my scope, no matter which politician is involved and from which party, that from now on the following remedies will apply without exception:

* nullification of the wrongful acts and decisions;

* holding the persons involved personally liable and putting a lien on their political pension if damages are not repaid;

* filing a criminal complaint.

I also believe that one has to be banned from holding a ministerial office in the future if one was involved with a law-breaking farewell policy in the past, for it shows lack of integrity and disrespect for the laws of Sint Maarten.

In closing, also in our young country the rule of law prevails, as such distinguishes us from banana republics. Mistakes may be made, but willful gross violations must at all times be rectified and not to be made again. Thus, a harsh response by government and law enforcement is imperative.

Member of Parliament Perry Geerlings