Dear Editor,
Carnival originated in ancient Egypt as a Pagan Feast to usher out winter and celebrate the beginning of spring. When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, the Romans became familiar with Carnival. When Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration became Carne – Vale, carne meaning meat and vale meaning farewell in Latin. In other words, farewell to meat.
In most countries, Carnival starts right after the Christmas celebrations with colourful costumes and parades through the streets, and ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins the 40-day period before the solemnity of Easter. Sint Maarten has chosen to deviate from the original and true meaning of Carne – Vale a Pre-Lenten celebration.
While there is nothing wrong with the celebration of Carnival, however, celebrating Carnival at another time during the year in particular with the celebrations falling within the Lenten Season, the preparation for the solemnity of Easter the greatest feast in the Religious Calendar, has the Council’s total objection.
We have noticed that especially during the last years, more and more there is disrespect for the Lenten season, as Carnival jump-ups and other activities are especially organized during Lent. We have already witnessed the “Causeway Jump-up” and the “Around Town Jump-up” with its many fights and disorders. And particularly on Palm Sunday the Carnival Bacchanal continued making headlines on the front page of the newspapers.
What is really astonishing is the fact that official permits must be obtained for these activities from Government, from whom it must be expected that it must at all times uphold good moral and Christian values, absolutely ignores this responsibility.
The celebration of Carnival has taken a complete turn in the wrong direction. With this, the Christian Council means to say that it is no longer a celebration of clean and orderly fun. The Council would like to point to deterioration of the moral values within the society in various aspects of the Carnival celebration.
It is noticed as early as in the lyrics of some calypsos where more and more words such as “work-up” and “grind on her so and so” must form part of the lyrics degrading our women in this society. The Council is of the opinion that the Calypso Singers (male as well as female singers) can be much more inventive in the message they would like to send out to the public.
Behaviour & exposure during Parades and Jump-ups. We now come to the most degrading part of the Sint Maarten Carnival celebrations. Excessive alcohol consumption during parades and especially during jump-ups, particular mention must be made of the “J’ouvert Jump-Up, especially by our youths are the cause of not only numerous fights but also disrespectful behaviour, whereby our female youths allow themselves to be handled in a disrespectful way in public by their male peers, considering it to be just having fun. (Haven’t we noticed the increase in peer pressure?).
Our Carnival parades are no longer seen as an opportunity to express joy and have clean fun with a beautiful display of colourful costumes depicting a certain historical past with well-decorated floats. It is now more an exposure of nudity and provoking behaviour which trickle down to our young children who think that this is normal.
What is the result of all this? A breakdown in good moral standards. Being moral is creating a climate of ethical expectation, and the best way to teach ethics is by example, that is to practice them. Morals and ethics define who we are and what we believe. Culture, religion and many other things that affect our beliefs.
Let us be mindful of this while celebrating this year’s Carnival activities.
Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin Christian Council
Dear Editor,
I was never in favour for Theo to join with NA party 2016 coalition because one big party should be in and one out.
It is Theo whom God gave us as our leader. We Caribbean people will stand with him all the way.
It is time the St. Maarten people see the importance of Theo, a God-sent leader. The Christian Party’s seat is also a gift to us from God.
Read my lips again, St. Maarten is too small for a three-party coalition. Let's work with the two-party coalition. The nation is in good hands.
Cuthbert Bannis
Minister of VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.] you have been talking about home repairs and roofs. It has been seven months since Hurricane Irma hit St. Maarten and many are still without proper roofs or any at all. Have you ever thought about Middle Region, where there are persons still without roofs?
There are persons who have lived in homes for almost 30 years and honestly paid their rent, yet their landlords can’t cover their homes. Some of the landlords have been giving their tenants stories upon stories and have not been doing anything to fix the situation. I think that it’s a shame, they are playing games and should be held responsible.
I refuse to believe or accept that they can’t afford to cover the homes of the tenants. Where has the rent money for the past 25 to 30 years gone? These landlords should be exposed because it is unfair for them to be living comfortably, while their tenants are still waiting to get back to their normal lives.
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
The Dutch is feeling great of the progress that St. Maarten is doing which can be a very good example for all the rest of Dutch Caribbean Island citizens.
Many are waiting for the new government to get in to govern and put the recovery plans in full action.
Our Prime Minister Leona Marlin is performing very well.
I just hope St. Maarten historians are not sleeping, because there's a lot of things to write about.
Although the Dutch made a 45-degree-turn since the last election (February/26th/2018) it will be sad if they leave without parliamentarians bringing down their salary and help us the St. Maarten [people – Ed.] with a small claim court.
As long [as – Ed.] parliamentarians bring down their salary they can use this money to build proper hurricane shelters and buy wheelchairs for the pensioners and even pay the small claim court for employees.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Mr. Marlin,
I felt the need to put pen to paper and offer a little advice to the National Alliance and in particular to you, Mr. William Marlin. A man I respect and have voted for because you stand strong and I didn’t like how they tried to destroy you. There are rumors out there that the United Democrats is sitting with the Alliance as well in the talks to form government. As a supporter of the Alliance I’m sorry, but I have a serious issue with this. And I’ll remind you why.
This island nation of ours is taking longer to get on the economic recovery road due in part to the fact that the UD broke government. No matter how people try to dress it up, every fire starts with a spark. And that spark was the now defunct DP and UP along with Brownbill throwing down government in the aftermath of a hurricane.
They got to that point by painting you Mr. Marlin, as the worst public servant this country has ever seen, despite a career of 30-plus years of achievements. They called you AND the National Alliance every name in the book. You were a liar, a manipulator, undeserving of being the PM, not worthy to be called honorable, and on and on.
The venom that was spewed your way culminated in them firing you not once, but TWICE! It was a clear attempt to destroy you personally, not just politically, at the behest of the Dutch. The same UD then turned to Christophe Emmanuel and called him even worse names. They hold a personal disdain for you and the National Alliance.
Please explain to me HOW you expect your base to accept any partnership with a group of people who just tried to destroy the leader who has guided the Alliance to prominence. How can I? These people do not change. They will actively try to undermine you and yours and try to destroy their biggest threat (Alliance) from within.
There are times when you simply have to say “no” and grow a spine. Mr. Marlin, more than ever SXM needs a strong opposition to keep people in check. You can also effect change from the opposition benches. You can do work for our people from right there. But I beg you, Do NOT form with a group of people who visibly hate you and through their actions despise you and yours even more.
A proud supporter
Name withheld at author's request.
