Dear Editor,
If we follow the old wisdom of “the longer you live the more you learn” St. Maarten citizens would have to live for centuries as longevity may be the only real teacher of where our leaders are taking us. We have successfully muddied the waters to our convenience that it is practically impossible to trust powers constituting government in a democracy or a semblance thereof.
Our “courts” once declared that in St. Maarten there is a problem with true justice and as the judge put it there is “class Justice”. The learned judge came to this conclusion for in a case before the bench concerning alleged vote buying he did not see what he considered the right people or person before him. The Prosecutor’s Office proclaimed to have started a civil investigation at the Port because of the cries of the people and questions posed in Parliament. Strangely enough they did not trust the audit chamber to do its job, so we use the penal institution to circumnavigate the normal order and later pursue and arrest people based on the information gathered.
Of course, there are and have been cries in the community for time immemorial about illegal employment and short term contracts abuse, but we have not heard of the Prosecutor’s Office taking up this cause. I know we would hear that is not their duty, but if you can usurp the competence of any branch based of a less than truthful statement why stop there maybe you should also step in the boots of the legislature and the executive, for according to you and your European bosses you are doing it for the people.
In accordance herewith we would expect to hear about a civil investigation into the three thousand plus illegals that are registered at the SZV, after all in today’s St. Maarten we need a pictured ID basically for everything from the maternity ward to the morgue. It would be interesting to know how the companies registered them and what ID they used.
We are also concerned about the way raids by the uniformed services are carried out on the eastside and how they differ with raids over the hill (MAHO area). In like businesses, the proprietors on the eastside are charged with human trafficking, employment of illegals, and many more drummed-up charges and incarcerated. While over the hill the persons are simply turned over to the INS, no charges announced and no one arrested. And, if that is not bad enough we are also lectured on how terrible it is for tourism to apply the law equally on the entire island.
We are reminded of one such raid at MAHO that resulted in an emergency meeting by the Council of Ministers and a temporary halt to raids in that area. We have waited but failed to see or hear of fines that are on the books being levied against these businesses that clearly operate outside the law employing illegals while denying our young people a chance to make an honest living. We hope that we can get some help in understanding whether this should be seen as class justice or racism, as all the businesses over the hill are owned mostly by them and on the eastside by people that look like me.
Of course, when it comes to accountability we can ask our government but since the Justice Department is in the business of usurping competence as seen in their push for the exclusion of the court in the asset confiscation team they might also be able to speak for government. On this 37-square-mile-mosquito-ridden-sun-baked island it is hard sometime to be sure where to turn, on the 16 square miles under the red, white and blue banner it is even more complex and unknown. As a people it would be nice if we can lower our hands from over our heads in total despair and find some kind of hope in those in the halls of power.
It has been long coming, I am sure two-thirds of the 15 parliamentarians will start to feel the pain and disgust of the people and do the right thing. After all in other times and places stranger things have happened.
Elton Jones
Dear Editor,
A new phenomenon?
How can we, as a community, collectively alleviate some of the pain endured by those who find themselves at the bottom of life’s pit? Without finger pointing, without blaming someone else, without cursing government.
How can we make a difference in the lives of those that need help professionally, mentally, financially, health or otherwise? What is legally possible? What, if any, are our social catch-net shortcomings?
Can those amongst us that are destitute be forced to accept help in the form of a hot meal, a shower, some clean clothes and occasionally a place to rest? Besides the sad story of each of these unfortunate persons, as an island nation that relies on tourism, it behoves us to make a difference, one homeless person at a time.
Let’s start the discussion
Michael Ferrier
Dear Editor,
On many occasions I have written that we give the Dutch ammunition for them use on us. There are also others who are watching our way of doing things, and are probably lay waiting their opportunity to react. They dare flex their muscles and say things for which they later apologize, using “in the heat of the moment" as an excuse.
According to a report in The Daily Herald of Friday, August 25, Sky Beach’s owner is furious about the false claim... etc., and further in the article Goldman said, "There are a few good businesses on the island, and I would hope that Sky Beach is one of them"
And my reaction to that is, "Wow, what a generalization". I do not remember the exact date, but I can remember many years ago a businessman also publicly made a similar remark, and within short he closed his business and left the island.
I know that the spate of load shedding that we were obliged to go through in the past months was very frustrating and brought forth some revealing remarks, but any self-respecting government should not accept anyone or any establishment to publicly make such a generalization about the country, without retaliation from government.
There is a saying in Dutch: "Wie zwijgt stemt toe”. In English, "Silence is consent".
On page 4 of the same paper I read that Louis Brown will be released of the bulk of his responsibilities, and immediately I wondered if what Brown did to release him of those responsibilities is more damaging to the island than what Goldman said.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
The paedophile regime has become more powerful and more dangerous than the tantalizing drug world. It is so influential that it presides over our Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches of government. Even our community is crippled by the tentacles of this evil empire!
To reinforce the boldness, The Daily Herald of Friday, August 25, reported yet another heart-breaking story that involved a 47-year-old child molester and a blameless nine-year- old girl. At first, the sex offender denied committing the act, but was forced to confess when his own DNA became his prosecutor. What is extremely puzzling is that he said he has paedophilia tendencies because of the conduct displayed by some little girls. The questions that linger in my mind are: Exactly whose girls and how do they behave? Are they his girls, those in his immediate vicinity, the ones of his entire neighbourhood or little girls in general? More confusing is: Where was he precisely when these little girls behaved in a manner that stimulated his sexual appetite?
The perpetrator further stated that the victim in question came on to him. In the beginning, he did not want to molest her but finally gave in to the temptation. Again, where was he when this incident took place? Interestingly, the newspaper indicated that the perpetrator is the neighbour of the victim’s grandparents. With this information, there are many questions that come into play, but I am curious to know: What was the relationship like among the assailant, victim and grandparents, prior to this incident?
As the proceeding progressed, his lawyer admitted that his client has paedophilia tendencies and needs psychological help, instead of being placed in prison where he will be a target for other inmates. Strange! So, is it okay for an innocent little child to be subjected to sexual abuse but a grown man, who has inflicted the pain, be protected by the same justice system? Where is the equity in this situation?
Then amazingly, alcohol and drugs are being blamed for the victim’s behaviour. If this is the excuse that is used to down play the dirty behaviour of a child molester, what would happen to the children of this country, if they are hunted down by every adult that consume drugs and alcohol?
Here comes the part that makes absolutely no sense. Imagine both the prosecutor and judge doubted the molester’s claim that the child had initiated sexual advances towards him, yet he was sentenced to a measly year in prison. Where is the correlation between their conclusion and the verdict? This nonchalant attitude continues to be a thorn in the side. It is like these judges are forever hypnotized by paedophiles. Sometimes I wonder if they are part of this group why they are so sympathetic towards child molesters. If the evidence is there, why are they not using the full extent of the law?
What is the difference between someone who stabs his victim to death and a paedophile that deliberately cuts out the heart and soul of an innocent child? Isn’t there a glaring distinction, separated by their intention? For sure, the first scenario could be an act that was thought-out or one that is done in the heat of the moment; however, there is absolutely no doubt that the situation with the child was calculated and conveniently carried out to suit the attacker’s agenda. Plain and simple: the act was planned, intended, wilful, premeditated and deliberate! Can this little girl survive without her heart and soul? Absolutely not! Then this is murder in the first degree!
All over the world, premeditated murder carries a heavier penalty than one that is done spontaneously. Look at the situation in Curaçao with the child molester who pretended to be a pastor. He was sentenced to 12 years and the citizens there are challenging the justice system to extend the punishment.
Young people and parents of these victims, it is time to rise up and fight for your cause because it is evident that neither government nor the justice system will defend you. The nepotism, cronyism and the creation of unnecessary jobs at the expense of taxpayers have become their focus. Sexual abuse of minors is unimportant because there is no kickback in this undertaking.
The Mighty Chalkdust of Trinidad has touched the souls of many this year with his thought provoking rendition “78 cannot go into 14.” Here on St. Maarten, 47 cannot go into nine either. When I calculate the disparity in age, both perpetrators are five times older than their victims. Just recently, there was an article in the newspaper which indicated that the reporting of sexual abuse of minors has been reduced. The reporting may be less, but there was no follow-up survey to determine why this trend has shifted. So what is the real situation of sexual abuse of little girls and boys in this community?
Our children are crying and dying at the hands of paedophiles. How long will this slaughter continue before the Ministers of Youth Affairs, Social Affairs and Justice sit up and smell the coffee? The community also needs to stand up and demand that these three ministers do their job and start protecting the children of this country. If they cannot defend the children, then how could they talk about building a nation? If these three ministers continue to neglect the issues that are destroying the youth, then they need to step down and allow others to do the job.
Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams, you also have an obligation to protect the children of this nation; therefore, I implore you to summon these ministers to Parliament forthwith, to get a better understanding of their intention on this issue. During the deliberation, you need to stipulate a timeframe for them to devise a plan of action and execution that would benefit the children of this nation. If you cannot succeed in this endeavour, then you too need to step down and pass on the baton.
To ignore the enormous damages inflicted by paedophiles is like watching a child drown and do absolutely nothing to help. When the handful that are caught and released back into the community, then what exactly are we doing? I will borrow the famous saying from the mother of Chairlady Wescot-Williams to illustrate further: “It’s like carrying water to the sea.”
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
For a long time I have wanted a cute, good-breed little puppy that would grow up to become a good watchdog. One I could keep in the house at night that would alert us of an intruder in the yard or worse, trying to get into the house. But two obstacles stood in the way of me getting my dream puppy; a strong-minded spouse, who under no circumstances would allow an animal, be it a cat, a dog, or anything else with four legs in the house.
“Cats are troublesome creatures; they drop their fur all over the place, damage curtains and scratch up expensive furniture with their claws. A dog is even more intolerable. It would poop on the porch, the deck and, God forbid, in the house.”
“But, Love, I will do most of the work; I will pay for its food, take him for a walk every day and bathe him every other week. All you will have to do is clean the soft stuff. Be careful not to get on your fingers and be sure to wash your hands often” (Okay, I like to tease!) The second reason being I couldn’t find a puppy I could afford. I was definitely not going to pay $800 or more for one.
So, imagine my excitement one morning about a week ago when I read an important notice (classified add) in a local paper about free male and female English bulldog puppies being offered to a “very good and caring home”. The words free and bulldog jumped out at me. No phone number was mentioned in the ad, just the e-mail address of a certain Eduardo Donald.
The first thought that came to my mind was: “Too good to be true,” but neither that gut feeling nor my strong-willed spouse stopped me from hastily sending an e-mail the moment I got back home. I told Donald I was very interested in two male puppies and I would certainly provide a very good and caring home for them, and... where and when can I pick them up?
I checked my incoming emails twice a day after that. Three days later I got a response from him. He turned out to be Rev. Donald, and he even sent pictures of his two beautiful bulldog puppies, named Adam and Eve – names only a reverend would come up with – and they were indeed very cute and huggable. However, the following sentence of his email bust my bubble. He, his wife and their two darlings Adam and Eve live in ....Africa.
He was still willing to ship the puppies to me, provided I pay half of the cost of shipping them to the nearest airport. I immediately knew I was dealing with a reverent scammer, and – seeing the happy smile on my wife’s face when I mentioned Africa, I also knew those darling puppies would never poop on her kitchen floor.
Nonetheless, I decided to play along with the pastor; I sent him my name and the name of our local airport and waited. I didn’t have to wait long; the following day I got another message from the reverend. The puppies and all the required documents were ready to be shipped. He would arrange for next-day delivery, and based on my location in the Dutch Caribbean, the transportation cost would be $800. He will ship them the same day he receives the $400 from me. Needless to say, he is still waiting for my money.
At the time I wrote this letter, the classified ad was still running in the local newspaper. I doubt I am the only one who reacted to it, as I am sure there are a lot of cute-puppy lovers out there. I wonder how many of us (almost) fell for it.
It’s a shame that seers, faith healers, mediums, spiritual problem solvers and the like can deceive people from thousands of miles away. How are they even able to place newspaper ads in far-away countries? I got the answer to that question. “They all have credit cards.”
The lesson here is: Don’t be naïve; don’t believe everything you read in newspaper or magazine ads or anywhere else for that matter. There’s no way an editor can verify whether the people placing ads in his newspaper are devious or not. It’s up to the readers to judge what they read.
By the way, I e-mailed a copy of this letter to the deceitful reverend in Africa, though I’m sure that won’t stop him from doing what he’s doing.
Clive Hodge
