Dear Editor,

  The Holiday Season has arrived quietly. For thousands of local households this means little or no Season at all. For the first time in a very long time in our social-economic history, to experience that sadly many of our citizens will not be able to sit around their kitchen table to enjoy quality time with their families, close friends and neighbours.

  Mind you, many are in this situation through no fault of their own. With the closure of so many businesses that cater to our main pillar of economy the tourism industry, the impact of the devastation of Hurricane Irma is felt deep within the social fabric of our nation. It’s heart-breaking to say the least.

  Three months further, many uncertainties remain, many questions are left unanswered. Two examples that keep being raised in the public arena are first: Who will be receiving part of the reconstruction funds from Holland and from the European Union a.o. by extension will any part or some of those funds be qualified as a grant or a loan to Government? Will businesses that qualify be able to tap into those funds? To what extent will the ordinary citizen who needs it most and who qualifies to receive assistance, will he or she or that family be able to receive such and if yes, how much per person or per family?

  The second example (there are more) is the question: Why is the gateway to our Island, Princess Juliana International Airport so slow to recover and reopen? The surrounding islands are capitalising on our slow pace of decisiveness. The longer our airport remains in this state, the longer it takes to create trust among the industry to get us back on track and better.

  Both questions deserve a direct and unambiguous reply from those in the know and authorities in the decision making process.

  Food for thought: Regarding the application of funds to for example our most vulnerable citizens, an idea can be for Parliament, SZV and the social welfare department to establish a temporary unemployment law in collaboration with the community councils for one year. Each employee who is a legal resident of St. Maarten for the past (for instance) five or 10 years, and lost his or her job as a result of Hurricane Irma can be made eligible for temporary unemployment benefit. Assuming that we have indeed 6,000 persons who have lost their jobs or will lose their job in the very near future as a direct result of Hurricane Irma, if those 6,000 persons can become eligible for US $1000 dollars monthly unemployment allowance, this would be an expensive injection, but an injection nevertheless of US $72,000,000 for the year 2018.

  Mind you, this would mean, just over 10 per cent of the Dutch recovery funds go straight into the economy of St. Maarten. Families can feed their children and have a dignified period ahead of the more structural decisions to follow by Government, and pending the recovery of our tourism infrastructure. A welcome side effect may well be the prevention of an increase in crime.

  At the same time, Government must be a real facilitator and not an obstructionist or competitor to bonafide businesses that are locally established and to those who care to open shop on St. Maarten. Government needs to facilitate the business community to create jobs, not to place unnecessary administrative burden on initiatives; and encourage entrepreneurship, especially in times like these. Cut the red-tape once and for all.

  The airport and other critically important infrastructural entities must be up and running soonest. It is completely unacceptable that our airport has not even started its reconstruction process. People must insist on clarity of explanation; nothing less.

  In times of crisis and great uncertainty, support is absolutely necessary for all citizens, not only for a select few who qualify regardless of background, and clarity is equally important to give hope and build back trust.

Gracita Arrindell

Leader, People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA)

Dear Editor,

  There will be some observations which might strike a nerve, but as the saying goes, high winds blow on high hills.

  I am not ready to accept any politician in government to politicalise (probably a new word in the making) what is happening on Sint Maarten without making sure they go out there and physically experience what the people are passing through.

  Price-gouging out of this world. Four, five and 10 even up to 20 dollars different in prices from their competitors. I do not know when was the last time I heard of hardware stores asking for money up front to order wood for the island. In these times especially. But I know there is 550 million in play and it might involve material, so let me play my Ace now.

  Another thing:

  What about that purchase order book of Minister Lee?

  Is this going to end up another, let it be?

  Many young Sint Maarteners were hung for less than that,

  So what is the mouse going to do about the cat?

  Toast it, roast it or let it boil,

  Or shall he leave it drown in diesel-oil?

  But to make it worse the PM call him a liar.

  So now it's like he have to cross a quagmire.

  Most calypsonians know that I could not resist that.

  So come April we must hear one or two lines about the diesel-oil cat

  Actually I started this letter because of what Rodolphe Samuel said.

  It struck me as another politician messing with people head

  But then I say Rodolphe must have something to prove

  Otherwise he going look real bad if can't make a move.

  So I am patiently looking out for the follow-up

  On what going happen if the Dutchman don't shut up.

  My apologies, but when I saw Lee it took me back to my childhood days in which we used to sing theolee, theolai and I got carried away. So I got caught up in one of those moments in which I see a calypso emerging out of a story – in this case Rodolphe Samuel's letter to the editor – and I could not let the opportunity to share it go by.

  Because I am acquainted with the law I keep asking myself why are we permitting Holland to continually blatantly accuse us of being corrupt and mafia-infested without calling them out on it. Especially when we read about the amount of European Dutch people locked up all over the world in connection with illegal drugs. I would think It takes one to know one.

  But then the following hit me: Let me accuse you first before you get chance to accuse me. And then I thought further: We all know it about each other, but I am big brother and I know a whole lot more about you than you know about me. So I am going to use that to my advantage and in the meantime you do what you want until I decide to come and take over.

  Not me, the following is what the schoolchildren say:

  Our information we got it first hand

  From the first lady of Pond Island.

  So now I 'm confused 'bout which first lady they mean

  No, man, not that one, they talking ’bout the zumba queen

  So Mr Samuel take a little advice from me

  Use that shut up thing as a campaign strategy

  And they say buying votes will also be out of style

  ’Cause a Dutchman will greet you by the booth with a smile.

  By the way, since we are paying $70,000 monthly for water not used, would it be not good governance to leave those emergency potable water containers all year round available for the public who need it to use?

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  Many people are saying they are fed up and tired of elections and that they are not going out to vote. Since 2010 Sint Maarten has had three elections. In September 2010, August 2014, and September 2016. And on February 26, 2018 the voters of Sint Maarten will have to go to the polls for the fourth time since 2010.

  Four elections in eight years is an average of one election every two years. This frequent demand on the voter to go to the polls has resulted in voter fatigue and election apathy. SMCP truly understands the voter’s resistance to the upcoming parliamentary elections. Nevertheless, SMCP still encourages every voter to go out and vote! Your vote can make the difference in bringing about a change in parliament and consequently in government. Who knows, we may just get it right this time!

  Given the devastation to Sint Maarten due to Hurricane Irma, elections should have been the last thing for the Government and the Governor to call for at this time. However, since the election process has been duly initiated according to article 59 of the constitution, the Government has no other choice than to uphold the constitution and let the people go to the polls on February 26, 2018.

  Being able to elect our members of parliament is one of our fundamental rights according to article 23 of the constitution. Under a normal governing cycle, this happens every four years. But, whenever government decides to dissolve parliament then, according to article 59, a new parliament must convene within three months.

  Unfortunately, the old electoral laws from the Island Council days were never amended and synchronized with the constitution of Sint Maarten. That is why there is now a serious conflict between the constitution and the electoral ordinance in relation to the election date and the time period between, for example, the closing of the voters’ registry, the registration of political parties with the Electoral Council and the establishing of the postulation date.

  If the Central Voting Bureau were to follow the time sequence specified in the election ordinance then the Bureau would need more than the three months stipulated in the constitution to complete the election process.

  The synchronization of the election ordinance with the constitution falls under electoral reform. The people of Sint Maarten expected that electoral reform would have taken place when the Governor extended the election date by six months in 2016 (namely from February 9 to September 26). At that time, the five new parties contesting the 2016 elections objected to and protested this unconstitutional decision by the Governor, yet he still went ahead and postponed the elections in contravention of the constitution. Electoral reform will be one of the first laws SMCP intends to work on when elected to Parliament.

  Governments in Sint Maarten seem to have no respect for our constitution. In 2015 the Marlin Government disregarded article 59 of the constitution by postponing the elections by six months. SMCP understands that the incoming UP/DP/Brownbill government also intends to submit a national ordinance to the Governor for the postponement of the upcoming February 26 elections. SMCP hopes that the Governor will uphold the constitution this time and not bow to political pressure to postpone or cancel the elections.

  According to the normal election cycle, elections would have been held in 2020. However, thanks to former Prime Minister William Marlin and Governor Eugene Holiday, the people of Sint Maarten are once again required to go to the polls prematurely.

  The decision to invoke article 59 was seemingly Marlin’s attempt to strike back at the parliament that had given him and the majority of his cabinet a vote of non-confidence. In other words, parliament was penalized for doing its job, which is to give oversight, monitor and control the government. It should be that if Parliament is of the opinion that the government is not doing a good job then Parliament has all rights to send the government home by way of a vote of non-confidence.

  Even though there are suggestions to remove article 59 from the constitution, SMCP is of the opinion that this article has its place in our constitutional system of checks and balances. Article 59 was included in the constitution in case parliament failed to execute its duties. For example, if Parliament does not call meetings, does not review and pass laws submitted by the government and as a result the functioning of government is grossly stagnated or impeded, then government has the right, according to article 59, to dissolve parliament on behalf of the people and call for new elections.

  However, we, the people, do not expect government to abuse this right and use article 59 as an instrument for retaliation. Rather, it should be used as a last resort to ensure that the people get a proper functioning parliament.

  Like it or not, the election process is in motion according to the constitution and any postponement or cancelation at this time would be a serious violation of our constitution. SMCP hopes that this time the Governor will not yield to any political pressure to postpone or cancel the upcoming elections on February 26, 2018.

Wycliffe Smith

Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party

Dear Editor,
I stop begging the Government for help for me to get a place to live. I pray for the Government to look at things in a different direction.
When Jesus came in this world to save sinners and died on the cross they move from it that we can get an idea of how hard it was for him. But no, we have a movie or a concert in Government who is going to get a home, a roof, a permit, food vouchers and onderstand and what more.
I am a senior citizen. I gave 45 years to government and can't get not even a bottle of water from them. It is a shame.
But God is on my side. It have 4 persons in Government does say and do the right thing. Stop the up and down. I will put their names the next time I write and their own is on their case all the time.
Could you put a cook to mix cement? Please stop the up and down with the people. I can take it, but the people can't take it. Stop before it is too late.
Look since the passing of Irma how many people have died. Thank God it is not the people gone crazy. When a person has a mortgage on their home and no job, the bank takes their home. What next? The Government is not going to put them in a house.
When you ask them it’s going to be don't go VROMI because you will here I don't have nothing to do with housing, try to go to Social. You never get any answer, like what they do with the aid vouchers for food. No phone calls, nothing. You know what it is to stand all day in a line, Lord help us.
All they have the power but when they sleep at night, I wonder what they dream. The people of St. Maarten are good people. Thank God they don't eat pepper or the Government would be in big trouble.
Lord, please stop the flag fighting and color fighting and think about our people homeless. Go to Middle Region and Dutch Quarter see how the people are hurting. They can't build back by the rules. You need a permanent long lease land. Lord, You hear their name – landlords. You can't put blocks, you can't put this and you can't put that, but they used to collect your money every month, but you are outside.
Where to go? Big red number on your place, that what VROMI run and do, or if you try to build back you have to find a lawyer, some dent in your pocket again, what next?
This is facts, because a lot of people speak to me. I say I can't help, but I can ask Government to look into the matter, but I know the same thing they going to say:”Get a Lawyer.”
All I can ask the people is give your life to God and He will see you through and please keep holding on to His hands like I am doing. I won't let go like Jacob did.
And don't forget people of Arch Road and Sucker Garden and Middle Region. We are still having our Christmas party for the elderly and the children on the 22nd of December, 2017, at Melford Hazel Sport Auditorium starting 3:00pm to 8:00pm. Please come and enjoy the Giving feeling in God’s Spirit and Truth and I, Avril, am asking all Government to come out and enjoy the children and elderly of Sucker Garden and Middle Region.

Rosalind Avril Gumbs