Dear Editor,
As a child I was explained in different ways that practice makes perfect. Then one day my father told my mother instead of telling the children that, tell them to be the best of whatever they are. When my mother asked him what is the difference, he told her that there was not much difference, but the latter could only be interpreted in a positive way, whereas it would depend on in which way and under which circumstances the former is said. He said one could become very good at lying if one practices lying.
When I read about the latest political developments they remind me the saying prevention is better than cure. If my assessment of the whole situation is right those involved in the latest toppling of government found themselves obliged to rearrange the order of procedures and in doing so had to speed up the process, which caused for that, in my opinion, staged hitch somewhere. So even though some believe that practice makes perfect, I maintain that honesty is the best policy.
There is a saying in Dutch: Al is de leugen o zo snel, de waarheid acterhaalt hem wel (no matter how fast the lie may be, the truth will catch up with it). There are two things here. Either what happened was done at will or it was incompetence of the perpetrator. No matter what the case, neither is acceptable. Because this kind of behaviour has become common practice in government and because of more and more disregard for the people of Sint Maarten it gives me more reason to exclaim “Out with the old and in with the new.”
Now this. A homeowner who lives in the USA and is here to in connection with the repair of her home which was destroyed by Irma asked me why are there four different exchange rates for the dollar on Sint Maarten? She pointed out that at the gas station it is 1.75, at the Receiver’s Office it is 1.78, in the majority of the stores it is 1.80 and in some stores it is 1.82 – a difference of seven cents. I am not sure why this is possible so I referred her to the bank or the Finance Department for explanation.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
It is no more a secret that I have written a great many of letters to you voicing my opinion concerning what I do not agree with or what I think should be done to improve the standard of living for the people of Sint Maarten. I usually write taking the man on the bus going to and from his job and/or also the person taking a coffee or lunch break who does not have a dictionary handy, into consideration, should you decide to print it. I also try as much as possible to refrain from disputing the opinion of others, because everybody has a right to his/her opinion and I respect that.
I read a letter to you written by Robby Ferron and thought I have written that so often in several different ways. Yes, I have suggested that the subject “civics” become an “examen vak.” I have also written that I find it absurd that anyone no matter what level of education can be elected to Parliament. Why absurd? Simple, because there is compulsory education. I am obliged to go to school ’til a certain age, but I do not need any kind of education to be able to run the country. I know some of your readers are laughing, but it is sad. It does not take rocket science to realize that that is not consequent.
Since we are on the topic of being consequent, the attempt to commit suicide is not punishable by law, but the driver of a vehicle and the passengers are obliged to wear a seat belt, and there are no seat belts in buses.
Back to the topic at hand. I have also stated that Ministers of government holding a certain portfolio should have some degree of learning pertaining to the contents of his/her portfolio. Many years ago I wrote to the Guardian concerning a certain level of education for political candidates. At that time I singled out the MEP party on Aruba as an example, which consisted primarily of engineers, school teachers both of the trade school and MULO school, lawyers, people with degrees in business administration. etc. There are people here on Sint Maarten who can attest to that.
Over the years I have also mentioned that Sint Maarten’s government is creating a brain drain by constantly refusing and rejecting our graduated professionals by using the lame excuse that they are overqualified, whereas it was a case of feeling threatened. (The constitution permits dummies to be elected).
So yes, I agree with Robby Ferron’s point of view, and hope that not only Robby Ferron but that more of us who know this to be the case also let this be known.
But I maintain that things cannot get any worse. Status Quo is not good, so with a whole new crew on board we might be heading in the right direction and reach the marina safely.
I know that a whole lot of businesses that finance campaigns will have to do new recruiting, but as I have mentioned in the past, the young ones will have to be aware that if they mess up already they will not last long. Their names will be blemished, which is not wise and certainly not for beginners.
A wolf cannot teach you how to behave like a fish. So the young politicians do not need mentors, they need advisers. Thus, yes, out with the old and in with the new.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
As a proud West Indian, I would like to publicly appeal to our West Indies Cricket Board to issue an official apology to under 19 South African batsman, Jiveshan Pilly, and to the entire South African under 19 Cricket team for the unsportsmanlike manner in which West Indies under 19 captain, Emmanuel Stewart, secured Pillay's dismissal in yesterday's West Indies versus South Africa match in the 2018 under 19 Cricket World Cup.
Emmanuel Stewart may be a young cricketer, but surely he is not too young to know that one does not appeal to the Umpire for the dismissal of a batsman who has picked up a ball that is effectively “dead” and who then throws the ball to a fielder in a gesture of helpfulness towards the fielding side! It does not matter what the strict rules of the game may say: all of us in the West Indies have grown up with the notion that that type of behaviour does not accord with our principles and with the spirit in which West Indians play Cricket.
And what makes such an apology especially urgent from my point of view is the fact that in the bad old days of Apartheid generations of black and coloured South Africans grew up idolizing the West Indies cricket team and drawing inspiration from their heroics on the field of play and from the dignity that they exuded as outstanding black men.
This is the second under 19 World Cup in a row that a young West Indian cricketer has tarnished the West Indies hard won reputation for fairness and principled competitiveness in how our regional team plays the game of cricket. It was just two years ago – in 2016 – that the young West Indian bowler – Keemo Paul – ran out a young Zimbabwean batsman by the name of Richard Ngarava for venturing out of the crease before the bowler completed his delivery of the ball. Once again, virtually every youngster who grew up with the game of cricket in the West Indies knows that one does not effect that type of run out of a batsman unless one has first warned the batsman about his infractions and he still persists with the illicit behaviour.
What is really going on with our youth cricket? Why is it that our young cricketers don't seem to know these fundamental principles that West Indians of previous generations took for granted?
David Comissiong
Lover of West Indian Cricket
We coming back te vote black
NA staying on the white line
In spite of all she hard time
while UP come back
And turn DP red into UD
black
Yes the golden boy is back
And he know there is BEAUTY
in Black
But of all the colors in the pack
why did he choose Star black
Is this te say we mourning
The DP defeat
Or, are we celebrating the return
of the black sheep
who leave UP, he Green, green grass
And come back te lead DP at last
Picking Up with Tolerance
His own inheritance
And reuniting his family in a instant
Call it DP or UD
Putting the D in front
Or leaving it behind
The D will always be around
No one can chase D out of town
For D will guarantee
DEMOCRACIE
And also some Dutch currency
So no matter what color
Black like midnight
Red like blood
DP or UD
With Dutch aid
Or just some band-aid
The spirit of A.C.W.
IS BACK
And he is now wearing
BLACK
so we all coming back
from the grave
Te vote he BACK
Blacklisted
Blackmailed
Blackball
Black sheep
WE PROUDLY VOTING BLACK
AND WE AIN'T TAKING THAT BACK
Raymond Helligar
aka Big Ray
Dear Editor,
“To say that the just sworn in Ministers have their work cut out for them is an understatement.” The beginning of your editorial of January 16, 2018. No, I am not the devil’s advocate. The proof is in the pudding.
There is also “Sint Maarten now has sixth prime minister in 8 years.” I would add my own along with yours “Governor Eugene Holiday in Guinness Book of Records as governor with the most cabinets sworn in, in record time.”
You wrote “six prime ministers in 8 years.” You were being gracious. Pulling punches causes fights to be lost. I would say seven governments in seven plus years.”
Yes, I believe that the proof is in the pudding. When I look at the individuals, again I see reshuffling and recycling of Sint Maarten's government on both levels; I see the now made famous by Sint Maarten “ship jumpers.”
In the past I have stated that a Minister should have some degree of education pertaining to the portfolio that he/she is heading and I am still of that opinion. So I also see a weak government.
When I add this all up, a perfect recipe for the reason to elect an all new set of people to Sint Maarten's Parliament come February 26. I am sure that there will not be a difference in the ability to do the work and I am also sure that there will be sound advice coming from the Advice Council.
Since 10-10-'10 all governments of Sint Maarten have had their work cut out for them being a new country, and as we know, I might sound monotonous, but all they have done is jumped ship, toppled the government and reshuffled themselves.
Hence the proof is in the pudding. I do not think that I should create false hope, expecting them to accomplish anything else than they have so often proven not to in the past? So I have to say, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
The various lists have a good deal of able young candidates, starting with the brown list. Out with the old and in with new.
Russell A. Simmons
