Dear Editor,
I tend to spend the last day of the year reflecting on the events of the past 364 days, wondering if I have upgraded myself in any way, be it spiritually or materially, though the latter is not very important to me. Property does not last forever, and wealth may dwindle to less than nothing. I also remind myself that I am now 364 days older than I was a year ago. We are all 365 plus days closer to whatever God has in store for us, be it good or bad. I did not spend too much time pondering on the horrendous destruction Hurricane Irma left behind. Her name is now firmly embedded in our minds; we will be talking about her every September for decades to come.
Some anxious year-end questions never fail to pop up. I hate to start out the New Year with negative thoughts, but I am very concerned about our island's political future. What will the outcome of the upcoming elections be? Will the status quo – the persistent instability, political greed and corruption – go on forever? Bear in mind that it is no longer only the Dutch who claim our government is corrupt; two or three of our local politicians – those who have mustered up a good bit of courage – have publicly stated during a parliamentary meeting that there is corruption in parliament. Too bad they did not speak up sooner, but better late than never.
Will the same people keep returning over and over? If the same minds keep returning, how will there ever be a change? I am afraid that if the same faces keep coming back, people are going to get frustrated with our local politics to the point where they will stop voting. Several people I know have already reached that point. However, not voting will only serve to perpetuate the existing state of affairs. Voters are constantly being deceived by the eloquence of some politicians, ignoring the fact that although these politicians have been there for decades, they have failed to accomplish anything significant for the people. It's the skill of their persuasive tongues that sustains them, not their accomplishments.
Will the not-so-smart people among us continue to sell their votes? An acquaintance of mine was in a hardware store a couple of days after Hurricane Irma and couldn't help but overhear a phone conversation between a lady and a certain high-ranking politician. The conversation went something like this: "My roof is gone, what can you do for me? (She was unaware that her phone's speaker was on, and that several people standing in line at the cashier could easily follow the conversation.) The reply came loud and clear, "Don't worry, I will send a contractor there to fix it." My acquaintance looked around and saw several people looking at each other and smiling.
This politician – who has been in government for ages – knows that by fixing this lady's roof he is buying her and her family's votes for many elections to come. Any politician, I do not care how long he or she has been in government – who offers to buy your vote by whatever means – is untrustworthy.
They have been talking about electoral reform in order to put an end to vote-buying and ship-jumping for a long time, but have never carried it through, because it is clearly not in their favour.
Do we not yet realize that it is not just our wellbeing that is at stake, but also the wellbeing of our children and grandchildren? We owe it to them to sieve our non-functioning government and replace it with one that will honestly have the interests of our people (not their own) at heart. Replace the non-productive ones and re-elect those who are earnestly trying. By now, you should be able to distinguish them.
The Bible states: With men who have understanding and knowledge, stability will last. We have suffered under unstable governments from the outset of becoming a country; it is therefore safe to assume that we have always lacked people with understanding and knowledge in our government. The few of them who have understanding and knowledge have always been a small minority, and therefore ineffective.
Let us hope and pray that fewer voters will sell their votes this time around – even though they need the money now more than ever. I hope every voter will seriously consider in whose hands he or she wants to entrust the future wellbeing of his/her children. Moreover, let us all pray that God will raise up God-fearing men who have wisdom and understanding, are incorruptible and competent to govern this beloved island of ours.
On a pleasant note, a young niece of mine was feeling “depressed” on New Year's Eve, because there were no fireworks lighting up the night sky. However, looking heavenward, she said, "God sent me my first smile for 2018." She posted a beautiful picture of a full moon over St. Maarten.
God blessed us with a full moon on the very first night of the New Year! I believe that in spite of all the misgivings we have, He is telling us, "Fear not, St. Maarten, everything is going to be alright." May He spare us from Irma's twin sister and another unstable government in 2018 and many more years beyond. Praise His Name, people!
Clive Hodge
Dear Editor,
I am not a betting man, but what are the odds that the Governor will be able to swear in the Interim Cabinet backed by the new majority of 8 in Parliament after Friday, January 5, 2018?
Michael J. Ferrier
Dear Editor,
I love the beaches on this island but Mullet Bay is my favorite where I go very often.
Mullet Bay Beach is almost one of our last beaches on St. Maarten that the public has total free access to at this point and time.
According to a couple of comments I heard recently on PJD2’s talk shows it seems that Mullet Bay is claiming that they own the Mullet Bay Beach, which of course has me a bit surprised since all the beaches on the Island should be public.
I am wondering why should Mullet Bay get the opportunity to develop BBQ bars and beach chairs on this beach since they have not done one thing to Mullet Bay since Hurricane Luis in 1995, 22 years ago. At that time they sent home all the workers.
In my opinion BBQ bars and the rental of beach chairs at this time should go to the locals.
The other point is that I am also wondering why should Mullet Bay be operating on the Beach now when after the hurricane Mullet Bay send an excavator down on the beach and uprooted what was left of 2 local venders that were there offering their services for 21 years, buried their stuff in the sand and then threatened them that they, Mullet Bay, will make sure they, the vendors, don’t rebuild on the beach. In fact Mullet Bay also sent the police to remove them from the beach after they, the vendors, were still trying to see how best they can set up and try to get ready for the arrival of the first ships that were expected. That of course seriously interrupted the vendors and their staff from making their living after 21 years.
I believe it would be a better idea to talk to licensed vendors that are there on the beach already and give them the opportunity and all the help they need to prepare to accommodate the beachgoers. And I am also sure that the vendors will be willing and able to go to a bank to acquire that 1,000 chairs if that is what is needed.
These days many officials and persons with the exception of Mullet Bay are talking about and encouraging entrepreneurship. By the way, after not doing one thing for St. Maarten for over 22 years, does Mullet Bay still have a license to operate?
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
Most people like to sound professional about let’s compromise and be tolerant.
But do we really ever assess if compromise and tolerance is of good or evil? The nature of man is that he will eventually die.
In reality man has a major disadvantage: he cannot save himself or in other words it is a matter of time before he destroys himself.
Compromise is when two sides give up some demands to meet somewhere in the middle. Tolerance is the capacity to endure pain or hardship.
In our world presently humans are compromising on values and tolerating evil hoping it will make mankind better. Let’s be honest and real, do you think or believe if you compromise with evil or tolerate evil that somehow it will stop being evil? Would you tolerate pedophilia with the hope if we just allow it that it might just stop? Would you tolerate drug addiction believing that in time that habit will stop? Can anyone show in history where mankind has ever changed for the better by using compromise and tolerance when it comes to values?
The world is a ticking time bomb, the so-called smart people believe if we legalize drugs and tax it our community will become a better place. Should we legalize pedophilia or bestiality? Bestiality is sex between a human and an animal. When human or man cannot fulfill his or her moral obligation we tend to take the easy path which is compromise and tolerate knowing that the end result is death. Should we legalize rape and murder, then tax it, do you think it will cease?
One thing is becoming clearer in this world, that is the fight for Good and Evil is now at hand. Which side do you choose? The so-called smart people believe in a grey area, but the Master, God Almighty, says there is only good and evil.
Because man’s nature is destructive he will oftentimes compromise and tolerate evil. And when the end result brings death his excuse is to say how and why God allows that. Romans 1:22 (KJV) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
Choices truly have consequences. The conclusion is, are you willing to compromise and tolerate when it comes to values?
Choose wisely.
The Patriot Miguel Arrindell
Dear Editor,
The Dutch are blessed and care for the best for everyone on St Maarten. Construction workers appreciate the recovery progress. But there is one thing the construction workers always worried and concern about: the way police deals with the exploiters and bad pay masters on the island of St. Maarten within the construction and elsewhere not expected. These laws must change so that the police can put more (pressure, pressure, pressure) on those bad pay masters on the Island.
It is too often police telling the employees – the poor men – to get a lawyer to get pay and it is proven the person worked and was not paid. Many times the police said the laws are not stupid they are funny. It’s time for the politicians to change them. After all it is time the Ombudsman, parliamentarians, Prime Minister, policemen, Labour Minister and Justice Minister come together give the police more power to help the citizens better.
St. Maarten is in need of a small claims court (2018) – the poor men is hurting.
Cuthbert Bannis
