Dear Editor,
A week ago I wrote in reference to some criminals burning their garbage, dead animals and human waste in a clearing near the dump every day in the early evening. The toxic smoke blankets the area and stinks up everyone's house and makes them sick.
Well ... they must have read it because the burning stopped ... for two days. Now they do their burning between 5:00 and 7:00am in the morning hoping that the dark will hide their crimes.
And make no mistake. This is not the dump itself ... that continues to burn for two months now on the OTHER side. This is individuals doing this on public lands that I have witnessed and reported.
Is this really the best the police can do? To let this continue day in and day in and day out? Really?
I see the campaign ads showing up in the paper now. Smiling faces of wannabe politicians with clever catch phrases that mean nothing. How about showing a little initiative and stopping this travesty that happens every day? Then you could have something positive to lay claim to in your ads instead of the usual gum-flapping platitudes.
You want to make a difference? Here's your chance.

Steven Johnson

Dear Editor,

With elections on the way I myself as a youth of this country feel the urge to appeal to my peers, friends, associates and all in between. I need you all to go out there and exercise your right to vote. At the end of the day we will inherit this land and it is up to us to make sure that it is placed in the right hands.

I was very pleased when I saw so many young people running for office. This is an amazing step in the right direction for country Sint Maarten. We desperately need new blood in office. We as the youth of Sint Maarten come with new ideas and a fresher take on things. No disrespect to the more mature heads that did so much for country Sint Maarten.

I've been following a lot of the new batch of young politicians and I see promise and for once I can safely say I feel a huge sense of hope. So to my young voters do your research and vote wisely. As the old saying goes that one vote can make a huge difference. So get up go out there, and vote! Set aside bias, favoritism and voting based on popularity. Listen and play close attention to what some of these politicians have to say. And look beyond 2018 and look down the road five years from now. So vote and secure a better future for yourself.

I personally endorse National Alliance candidate #22 JELANI GUMBS. I have faith in his vision. And I trust that he will keep to his word and do the right thing once elected.

Marc A.C Frederick

Dear Editor,

Every journey starts with the first step. Because I know of the following I have I know that a whole lot of people read the opinion page of The Daily Herald, because that is where conscientious and responsible people express themselves openly. Some are open enough and do not mind adding their name to their letter, others request the editor to withold their name for which ever reason, but the paper is read worldwide and as usual everybody interprets what is written in their way.

I read a letter written to you by Jim and Judy Quai from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. I have read tons of articles written by people from all over the world, some of which more interesting than others, some pleasant, some troubling, but when I have to read that “this is concerning for future tourism” from a police officer and his wife, tourists from Canada who need to know that Sint Maarten is not a high crime area, that does not sit well with me.

It does not sit well with me because that is something that i hear constantly. Lack of police presence, the police are not keeping order like in your days and some more. I know that i have written to you in the past about the fact that the then head comnmissioner Peter de Witte shrugged his shoulders when it was made known that no statistics of police activity were compiled of 2014 and it remained at that.

I am sure when people in government read this they are going to want to know what is Russell talking about. The headline of the Quais’ letter is: Not a lot of arrests. Logic would tell me that if there is no crime there is no need for arrests, but statistical facts speak volumes. In this age of computer and other technology, please show some statistics to erase the doubt. We do not need a snowball effect of that letter.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

St. Maarten Ombudsman is doing great. This is an excellent move by the Ombudsman and her team to checking the vibes at housing committee to help solve those negativities between the landlords and tenants.

It is shame to see many landlords have not even repaired their tenants’ apartment. These bad, these wicked landlords know the house rent is high and the minimum wages are very low. Some of them have no mercy.

It will be very good if the Ombudsman go to many of these public departments to help the people.

Call on the Central Bank to pay the CKC clients their money that had saved at credit union.

Call on even the Police to be creative and come with some ideas concerning ways to collect money from those bad masters that owe some of the citizens.

Our politicians both Parliamentarians and Ministers should see the need for an urgent small claims court for St. Maarten. We talk about recovery but remember the construction men that work in the burning sun and sometimes do not get pay and what so sad is when the police tell you get a lawyer.

The law should permit the police to pick up these bad pay to make payment arrangements.

Ombudsmen got many powers abroad – so do St. Maarten Ombudsman can get things done.

With a small claims court if you lent out money to a friend or relatives they easier pay you back and the verdict is now for now.

Cuthbert Bannis