Dear Editor,
Nothing happens on Sint Maarten that is kept a complete secret. I do not know what SMCU did not know, but I can put my head on the block and declare that SMCU knew something not so pleasant was going on in TelEm.
On the day that it was published in the paper, I was on my way to pay my bill at TelEm. I picked up the paper and when I read the headline, I said to myself I hope they don't walk out before I can get a chance to pay. To my surprise everybody was working diligently. One of the employees told me they are hearing something like that, but they are not sure yet. "But it is written in the paper, how is it possible that you don't know anything about it?" "You know how it is.” “No, I do not know how it is. You are working in here, you should know how it is."
I have to admit I was wishing that everybody en bloc, in a quiet manner, would have walked out and stood in front of the building until they got some kind of an explanation of what would be the consequence of what is going on. The Justice workers striked (unjustly) even after the then Minister of Justice embarked on a mission which was left unattended for more than ten years, and we all know what she got for it. Even though I maintain that police do not strike, at least they let the government know that they were not content with how they were treated.
Since March the people in SMCU knew what was going on and only now after the damage is done they are writing letters to you. Are you the mediator? When it is time to gossip and use foul language via social media, everybody is first and foremost. But now that it is something which I believe directly concerns them, I'm reading a letter to you. What would they have done if you made use of your prerogative to print or not to print and did not print?
Again that for me so dreaded habit of 'to lay and wait' raises its ugly head. Also I do not believe that the average age of the people that were sent home is more than 55. So who is going to do what about those families? I am so waiting for the screening process to successfully come to an end, because since the Silveria Jacobs government was the worst and government continues, whichever new government comes in now should be better for this situation. I just hope that we will find some dedicated people and not incompetent friends.
Pudding is well known to Sint Maarteners, so I believe I would not be far off if I should say, "The proof is in the pudding."
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
In 1970 was time I visited the Dutch Windward Islands. One of the first things which caught my attention was the hills and the fruit trees. And the cisterns by the houses. I visited Saba and I noticed that there were community cisterns.
When I was transferred up here in 1975, with that water situation and the community cisterns on my mind, I approached the then-director of GEBE, a schoolmate, and we spoke about the possibility of putting water tanks to catch rainwater in the hills above the various villages. Treat the water. Make use of gravity and some extra pumps to help distribute the water. He, being an engineer, made notes and he reminded me how in the days of LAGO on Aruba an idea like that could bring me money.
On one occasion later when I asked him if he was working on the tanks, his answer was, “The people who bring oil (gasoline and diesel) to St. Maarten don’t want to hear anything about that.” After seeing, reading and listening about “solar energy” on five of the six islands of the former Netherlands Antilles would I be amiss to think that “The people who bring oil (gasoline and diesel) to St. Maarten don’t want to hear anything about that?”
By the way, what is the difference between treating well-water and treating rainwater?
Between the steady raising of the price of gasoline and the lack of control of daily, yes, I repeat daily adding of US $0.25 to the price of a different article in the supermarkets, before long even those who walk out the supermarkets without being checked by the cashier will feel the pinch.
By the way, why does it seem that only “St. Maarteners” are being indicted? From a child going to school I know the term “de heeler zowel als de steler” so what am I missing here? At one time during a conversation under the tree someone asked me if (“C” people from a certain country) don’t commit crime on St. Maarten? My simple answer is, “Even those who get caught with their hand in the cookie jar go free on St. Maarten.”
Now this. Someone said to me I should ask the police, “How would they be able to see if the occupants of a motor vehicle are making proper use the seatbelt if they cannot see in the vehicle because of the black tint on the cars?” I will add to that what about the safety of the passengers in the buses, do they have safety belts?
One of the constant comments that we have heard coming towards the end of the Silveria Jacobs-led government was, “This is the worst government we ever had.” And my reaction to that is we never had a full-term government since 10-10-2010 so we do not have any other St. Maarten government to compare it to.
Do not follow politicians who take advantage of the people’s ignorance instead of educating the people. I would be elated to hear that the Mercelina government is (was) better than the former government because that should mean an improvement for the people in general. We need drastic price control!
If we had solar energy there would not be any need for load-shedding.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
Bravo to Minister Anna Richardson for revealing the truth about the granting of permits to promoters who wish to conduct their shows outside of the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village this year! When promoters feel undervalued, their logical recourse is to seek alternative resolutions.
When I first heard about promoters leaving the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village to conduct their shows in other locations, I said to myself that these promoters are meeting the same fate as others in the past – those who just couldn’t continue, because of their discontent with the SCDF.
Prior to the radio interview, I’ve expressed these same views in private, and was tempted to write an article on the current situation. I’m happy that I did not, because the impression would have been that the minister was just repeating my thoughts. So, when I heard the minister speak of the situation in detail, I knew that she was telling the truth.
Now that the population has further insight into the conflict, the people should demand that the SCDF board steps down shortly after this year’s carnival, so that government can install a new board – one that does not involve anyone who has organized carnival in the past. The SCDF needs a breath of fresh air, where integrity and transparency are not questionable.
And, in order not to repeat the years of controversy between the SCDF and stakeholders who are the soul of carnival, government should appoint the director of culture on the board, to oversee a smooth collaboration among all parties involved.
This supervision should include the monitoring of all donations, to avoid the misconceptions that dishonest business owners portray, whenever contestants approach their establishments for donations. Businesses that contribute to this cause should be rewarded with a special incentive towards the reduction of their profit tax.
As I write, I can still hear the pain and frustration in Mr. Cool’s voice, as he pleaded with the SCDF (not this group) to be treated fairly because of the expenses that he incurred for bringing the various artists. Seeing that this unfair treatment still exists, it would be prudent to conduct a 2-hour discussion with past and current promoters. The dialogue would also give the public a chance to evaluate the situation and draw their conclusion.
Meanwhile, the village was constructed to conduct carnival events. Why does government allow the SCDF to hold certain shows outside of the village, prior to the official opening of carnival? Why not bring all of the events back into the village to increase a greater participation? This selective approach brings to question: Why would the SCDF refuse government’s contribution of over 400,000 guiders to cover expenses?
Interestingly, SCDF suggested that government keep the funds and use it to promote the calypso shows and queen pageants. Why would they make such a statement if they are charged with the task to organise carnival in its totality? So, is it really a fact that the SCDF is in the “red” but still rejects money from government? Right here the blind could see that SCDF has very limited interest in organising local events.
If SCDF is refusing government’s money, then who is funding them? Is it the established companies that rent booths at the “last minute” or the ghost donors who are pulling the strings? Refusing government’s money and still claiming to be in the “red” does not make sense. But the people have to blame government for this merry-go-round every year, just like how they have failed to hold government-owned companies responsible.
From the moment that the SCDF suggested that government should keep their funds and they would handle carnival, government had to get rid of them immediately. This is why from 2016, I never went back into the village. As long as this group is there, I would never support carnival.
If organising carnival is voluntary work, why does the SCDF board act as if the organisation belongs to them? When an establishment is plagued with complaints, people with integrity usually step down and allow others to take over. But when there is mendacity, there is no empathy for the cries of society.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
I normally do not comment on issues unless they reach a level of foolishness. On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 we all read the headlines in “The Daily Herald” of the day “Govt. looking to sell WINAIR shares, 13M in budget as revenue from sale”. Governments are always ready to sell or give away the assets of the country. The 13 million the Minister of Finance is excited to mention that the sale will generate will be a one-time item on the budget. The questions are then what are you going to sell next year and the year after that for revenue for our budget? If this deal is so good for the country as he is saying why were the people not informed before the election that WINAIR is going be to sold??
If the Minister of Finance believe this sale is good for the country St. Maarten, why did he not mention this to the workers of WINAIR during the election of January 11, 2024. He could have campaigned on this proposal and even put it in their election program (manifesto) of issues to be accomplished for the people of St. Maarten Two months and weeks after the election this is mentioned to the people.
Then there is TelEm NV, our local telephone company. We were informed after the election that 52 or 63 workers will lose their jobs. Why were the people not informed before the election that TelEm NV will be restructuring again?
In the article the Minister stated that, and I quote, “The proposed purchase of the majority shares in WINAIR aligns with the government’s strategic goals.” I believe that the Government strategic goals were never communicated to the public of St. Maarten. And if they were communicated to the public, could you please repeat them. You also mention that you started looking at the valuations of all government-owned companies. At the end of the valuation of the companies, what were the results?
The workers of the WINAIR should be the first to be informed of Government’s intention to sell the airline. Their jobs are at stake and the unions of the workers should also be involved in this process. Unions are the voice and the representatives of the workers in the company.
Experiences have taught us, the workers, that we are always the ones holding the empty bag. Take a look at our local telephone company TelEm NV again, and ask yourself, why so many workers have to lose their jobs? When there is no strategic business plan or a company restructuring plan that is made public for the people to follow, then something is up. These decisions that have such great impact on workers of this country need to be carefully studied.
In my next article I will share with the public the consequences of these negatives decisions on the workers and the country. As a member of the St. Maarten Communication union (SMCU) I am very saddened to see this happen and no one is mentioning or doing anything about.
Antonio Brown
Member of the SMCU union
Member of the WICU
I have been coming to St. Maarten yearly since 1998 and love the Island.
