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

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,
The Dutch have decided to make 550 million euros available to St. Maarten as Development Aid in the context of rebuilding the island after the aftermath of the inflicted damages to the island’s economy and social fabric. This disbursement will however be delayed in being made available to St. Maarten for the following reasons:
It’s rumored that the funds will be made available to St Maarten via the World Bank. The World Bank has no office or officers in St Maarten and will not be handling these funds free of charge – handling fee shall be deducted leaving less. Not clear if the 550M is based on an application submitted by the Netherlands to the World Bank to be assistive in the reconstruction cost of St. Maarten, as there are many different funding possibilities from the World Bank for disaster relief situations as in which St Maarten finds itself at this very moment.
St Maarten cannot apply directly to the World Bank, IMF, European Union and others for financial aid as she’s not an independent member of such august bodies. The Netherlands is and can and hopefully will help St Maarten get to their negotiating table!.
It seems that it will take onwards of six/seven months after the passing of Hurricane Irma before St. Maarten will have received ANY CASH from the Netherlands.
What’s the Dutch priority now? There’s a phrase: get your priorities straight. Hollands priorities and those of St Maarten diverge significantly. For the Dutch those priorities are threefold: Integrity Chamber, Border Control, Customs.
No delay in bringing these about, as they will supposedly put bread and money on the table for St Maarten’s people, will get roofs over their heads and get our economy moving again, secure funds to secure the governability of this country.
Neither of the abovementioned points will achieve the self-evident. Dutch shaming of St. Maarten: Holland is seemingly more interested in shaming St. Maarten and bringing it quickest possible to its knees, so it can be added to the BES islands group [Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba – Ed.]. 550 million euros development aid had been pledged and will be available in 6/7 months via the World Bank. This position of Holland brings about unnecessary hardship for St. Maarten and its people.
Funds application: Holland has yet to specify for which specific purposes the 550 million euros is to be used/applied, be that housing in the broadest sense of the word or general infrastructure rebuilding and/or what portion thereof is slated for direct budgetary assistance to St Maarten.
There are indications that 42 million euros has been provided for direct budgetary assistance (2017) by the Dutch Government; however, no written confirmation of such has been provided to or received by the Government of St Maarten.
At the end of the day Holland can send the Karel Doorman marine supply ship TEN times to our shores laden with goodies – for which ALL St. Maarten has been and are grateful/thankful – but without direct budgetary assistance St. Maarten’s ability to govern herself shall remain undermined to such a degree that governing will literally collapse at some point in the near future.
This direct budgetary assistance must be seen separate from Development or Reconstruction Aid that’s sorely and pressingly needed. See it as follows: If a taxi driver works all day and only receives goods instead of payment he won’t be able to sustain his general basic obligations such as buying more fuel to stay productively on the road and take care of his other daily/weekly/monthly obligations.
The undermining of St Maarten’s Governability: A very serious matter that brings article 43 of the Charter Of the Kingdom in focus. Yes. How can Holland with “the immediate urgency of now” defer from making cash available to St. Maarten “to guarantee that the governability of this country is insured and assured”? How can it be that Holland, after declaring that St. Maarten has not only been totally destroyed but that the destruction is worse than any seen in a warzone, to date – notwithstanding the highly appreciated emergency assistance provided in the form of goods – not ONE SINGLE EURO BANKNOTE OR CASH transfer by the Government of the Netherlands to the Government of St Maarten has taken place.
From my perspective Holland is grossly failing in fulfilling its role of the guarantor of art 43 of the Kingdom Charter in St Maarten. In these extraordinary times St Maarten’s governability is being undermined by the guarantor – Holland – after hobbled by the disastrous impact of Hurricane IRMA.
St Maarten – both its Government and Parliament – has accepted the conditions for Holland to release the 550 million euros Development/Reconstruction Assistance to St. Maarten.
We agreed with Holland’s requirements/demands that the Integrity Chamber and Border control be accepted by both the Government and Parliament of St Maarten. There was never a discussion about the 550-million-euro fund package first going to the World Bank to thereafter be disbursed to St Maarten. This remains an unwelcome unilateral moving of the goalposts by the Netherlands.
Holland must honor is commitment. Agreement is Agreement :
As of right now the clear position must be taken by St. Maarten’s Government and Parliament that the Government of Holland and or its Ministers and its Parliamentarians must cease labelling St. Maarten as a corrupt and Mafia-infested island. Shut up or put up.
For those in the Netherlands : it’s a nice game to play. What they don’t want to realize is that for St. Maarten this is no game; that they are creating a non-level playing field – and this is no game; while in the process undermining – and seriously so – the economic investment climate of our country is being seriously and detrimentally undermined; and investors are being scared away and will stay away to the detriment of St Maarten’s desperately needed economic recovery.
Why would a self-respecting Investor invest in St. Maarten’s economy today or even in the past if the Mother country – Holland – labels it as corrupt/mafia-infested/underworld-intermingled. Why?

Rodolphe Samuel