Dear Editor,
The conversation on Sint Maarten in respect of recovery from Hurricane Irma seems to focus on personal resilience, community togetherness and a positive spirit. Whilst not wishing to undervalue these aspects of society, there is a distinct lack of attention to what makes the island’s economy function and life remain sustainable.
There is only one crucial question that needs to be answered if we are to minimize the inevitable pain and suffering that will result from economic decline. That question is how do we get the resources and capital in the economy functioning as best as possible, as fast as possible? That is largely a technical economic question that requires to be attended to, at least in some part by the government, ideally in collaboration with the private sector.
The most recent coalition made it abundantly clear that it was not a question that they were particularly interested in. They had never paid much attention in spite of appointing Ministers who had the task in name. The new short-term majority is clearly more interested in the subject but who knows who will be taking on the enormous responsibility after the February election?
In order to get the economy growing, those entities which drive the economy must be in place and functioning. Without hotels, for instance, the airport will not be profitable. Without tourists the restaurants will not be profitable. Without tourists, taxis will have no business. Without taxis having revenues, the supermarkets will be making less money. With nobody making money the government gets much less. These are called linkages.
In order to get the economy growing as fast as possible, someone needs to understand the linkages described. This party needs to not only have authority and government power but they must have the foresight to focus on the most strategic linkages in place of a focus that will only bring in votes in the short term.
If that party is the UPP or DP then we can at least be sure that they have an interest and familiarity with how the economy works, something that was not evident from the ministers appointed in the last coalition.
At the same time it must be noted that the challenge post Irma is significantly different to any challenge that any of the UPP or DP leaders have faced before. The reduction in functioning productive elements in country Sint Maarten is significantly less than was the case post Luis. The cost of running the public sector is significantly greater, especially since the advent of the constitutional status of 10-10-10. The deficit that will be accumulated in the long decision-less period since hurricane Irma and the beginning of a possible new coalition period will be substantial.
There is a great need for an economic policy that is driven by strong understanding of the calamity economy and considerable courage to match the tough circumstances.
What happens if the economy does not come back ? This is a significant possibility.
Here are some factors that will play on this scenario:
*The longer decision-making operates slowly the greater the chance of ultimate return to full production of the economy exists.
* Unless Dutch funding is aimed directly at getting the productive activity going, the less chance of it ever getting there.
* The CFT is going to be confronted with an impossible situation.
* When Country Sint Maarten runs out of money in say 2 years’ time it is still only going to be the Dutch that we will be able to turn to.
* Whilst the Dutch have now leveraged their position in law and order issues, at this later date they will exercise it in economic management issues.
* At this later date SXM will be even less in a position to reject Dutch demands.
Robbie Ferron
Dear Editor,
Most people call me “Shenel.” I am a proud daughter of sweet St. Maarten and was raised in Dutch Quarter. I am the fifth of seven kids and was raised in a joyfully large and close-knit family, where individuality and self-expression were encouraged.
Growing up, my mother taught me the true meaning of diligence. She is easy-going, but takes every task seriously. To most, she is known as Mrs. Browne for 23 years at the Marie G. de Weever School. My father, now a pensioner, has given 26 years of service in the Ministry of VROMI, and like many of us, has contributed to the growth of St. Maarten. He taught me dedication to societal responsibilities.
My parents instilled in me solid norms and values such as honesty, respect for everyone and resiliency and I live by these to this day.
After graduating from the Dr. Martin Luther King School in 1998 I went to the Sundial School. At the time there was a stigma surrounding the school: that nothing “good” comes from it. But like many graduates then and now, this stigma has proven not to be true. I was determined to work hard and prove that I was capable of much more than just what my grades showed at the time. Hard work and effort made me eligible for consideration to transfer to the M.P.C (Milton Peters College). But just as life hits you a curve ball, another student was chosen over me.
Nevertheless, I continued to push. I studied Basic Health and kept busy with various school activities. I also got the opportunity to follow a Jaycees Training Course. Some years later I took part in the 5th annual interscholastic Talent Show and came in 2nd in the Speech Division. After graduating in 2002 from the Sundial School I went to Curaçao and later to the Netherlands to pursue my studies in nursing, where I graduated as a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). During my studies, I worked part-time to make extra money. Most can agree that having a side job during one’s studies is KEY! Being dependent on only study financing does not suffice. My side jobs included cleaning office buildings, working at the post office, call centers and care institutions. No job was too little or too great!
Having graduated in 2010 as a Medical Assistant, I was ready for the job market. I attended the Fred Expo in the Netherlands where the need for young professionals was expressed. Students were encouraged to return to Sint Maarten to serve in various areas. I got the opportunity to return home and serve my country with the skills obtained abroad.
I started my career in Sint Maarten as a Youth Health Care Nurse in the Ministry of Health, then moved to medical assistant and now I am a project leader in the field of health care at SZV.
I am sure that many young professionals would agree with me that it is amazing to be back home, especially with the intent to give back to the island and assist with the further development of the country.
Like many young individuals, I too had to cope with the “culture shock “of being back home and the challenges of overcoming this shock while staying focused on my goals. Some of these challenges that I faced as a young adult were being able to take care of myself, the high cost of living, housing and transportation and career opportunities. However, despite these challenges I stayed focus, worked hard and refused to give up. This is how I managed to persevere. To achieve your dreams it takes a level of determination, focus and drive.
Having been approached to participate in St. Maarten’s 2018 election and to be part of the Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP), I quickly realized that this was an opportunity for me to bring that level of determination, focus and drive to bear championing change in Sint Maarten.
As a millennial, I believe that it is time for our generation to become involved in the reconstruction of the country and in developing a long-term vision for our people. Why the Sint Maarten Christian Party you might ask? That’s quite simple! The Party is built on a strong foundation called Principles! It is a party with a distinct ideology as well as a clear vision for St. Maarten and the people easily understand the Party’s principles and vision. I believe that the party offers me the opportunity to effect change in Sint Maarten. I feel a change coming, which is why I am determined to serve my country and my people, for Change!
Shenella Browne
SMCP Candidate
Dear Editor,
I wish to thank the people who erected the tamarind tree on Union Road in Cole Bay.
This was the greatest gift I got for my birthday. This tree and the house it demolished had a lot of history for St. Maarten.
Under the branches it housed the first school in Cole Bay; it also housed the first open market.
People from all over sold their products and vegetables under the tamarind tree.
So I say: Many thanks and God’s blessings.
Felicita Lewis
Dear Editor,
We can claim some kind of return to normalcy with the news of a formation of a new cabinet. At long last the face of government is not the two old horses who seem to willingly swap the leadership role.
It also gives some sense of pride to know that we have something the Dutch can learn from. It took us just two weeks to reach a governing agreement and we have to go to screening. Shouldn’t those super civil servants who are to give advice you can’t refuse also be required to go through the same screening? I am just asking, for when you follow the news the Dutch are also laden with corruption and corrupt practices.
Those members of parliament who were convinced that the solution was only to blindly sign on the dotted line can now sit back and watch the money flood in for the reconstruction. Some of us, though, won’t hold our collective breaths as we can still remember the commitments to the late PM Pourier that never materialized or the debt relief we never got. Added to that, while these conditions were set there is still no information on what part is loan and what is aid.
If we review the folly of our leaders who pushed for a status that remains nothing but problematic and slanted in favor of the colonial master. Today we enjoy less than half of the autonomy we once had and besides the benevolent Dutch insist on dictating how we spend our budget and what we do with our NVs, which by the way they have no input in.
Daily we have more control mechanisms than any other island on earth, starting with a governor, a Dutch representative whatever that is, a CFT, Dutch border agents, Customs and a reconstruction committee to secure their money, as they put it. The only missing element is Mr. Plasterk’s insistence that St. Maarten starts to look more like the Kingdom, so I guess more positions will be created to flood the civil service, while KLM will overload us with the loving European Dutch who all of a sudden want to relocate here.
Sorry if I am pessimistic but seems like we have been here before.
And for all you disrespectful outsiders who think you have some right to accost our elected officials, I will be at the airport when the Dutch border control ship you out. It won’t be long now. If St. Eustatius and Bonaire are any examples, we now know that all top positions must be held by a European.
In any case I do wish the new administration well for the sake of country and people; however, I foresee a difficult and tumultuous two years ahead. This promise might be our undoing as a people though I hope I am wrong.
God bless our leaders and bless St. Maarten. We truly need divine intervention.
Elton Jones
Dear Editor,
Hurricane Irma destroyed our country, displaced our people and exposed our government. Governing now appears to be dominated by politics. Decisions that should be made in the interest of the people seem to be solely politically motivated.
Take for example the decision to hold elections at a time when people are roofless, homeless and suffering. Apparently, the coalition members knew months ago that if parliament gave government a vote of non-confidence, due to ship-jumping, government would retaliate by dissolving parliament.
This was purely a political choice and had absolutely nothing to do with what was best for the people of Sint Maarten at this time. In the eyes of the government, calling for snap elections may have been a smart political move, but from the perspective of the people it was a very bad governance decision.
Limited space in this paper will not permit me to chronicle all the details leading up to the vote of non-confidence and the retaliatory decision by the Council of Ministers to dissolve Parliament. Neither will I be able to detail the process of tinkering with the constitution by our Governor in order to accommodate the political decision to have snap elections.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, one could clearly observe the buildup of political tension in the NA/DP/USP coalition. In Parliament, DP members Sarah Wescot-Williams and Perry Geerlings were very critical of the Prime Minister, the honorable William Marlin, and his government. Consequently, the DP stepped out of the coalition together with another member of the coalition and joined with the UP Party to form a majority coalition of eight members of Parliament, the so called Magic Eight.
On November 2, 2017, the Magic Eight made use of Article 33 of the Constitution and passed a motion of non-confidence in the government. That same day, Prime Minister Marlin tendered the resignations of his entire Cabinet to the Governor and simultaneously submitted a draft national decree to dissolve parliament.
One week later, November 10, 2017, the Magic Eight passed another motion discharging Prime Minister Marlin of his duties with immediate effect and resolving to install Acting Prime Minister Rafael Boasman as the new Prime Minister. Popularly speaking, parliament fired the Prime Minister twice and then requested the Acting Prime Minister, in whom, one week prior, they had no confidence, to become the new Prime Minister.
What makes this matter even more ridiculous is that parliament has no authority to enforce their decision or motion to dismiss the Prime Minister or to appoint a new Acting Prime Minister. According to article 40 of the constitution, Prime Minister Marlin has to prepare his own dismissal decree as well as the appointment decree of the proposed Acting Prime Minister, after which he would then have to send these two documents to the Governor to be co-signed. You can imagine Prime Minister Marlin thinking “what chaos, they haven’t a clue of the power of the Prime Minister.”
Since 10-10-10, article 33 of the constitution has become a very controversial article. It states that “if a minister no longer has the confidence of Parliament, he SHALL resign. SHALL is the operative word and is subject to various interpretations. However, article 33 need not be controversial or disputable because the constitution allows for parliament to enact further rules to regulate this matter.
Isn’t it strange that despite the regular contention caused by this article not one of the past parliaments or parliamentarians have done anything to ease the execution of this article! We surely love chaos!
If Prime Minister Marlin and his Cabinet had refused to resign then parliament had one big stick in reserve. According to the explanatory notes of article 33, if a minister refuses to resign “he will be acting beyond the rule of constitutional law”. This means that Parliament could then take the matter to court and eventually be able to evict that minister using the strong arm of the law. But is our Parliament up to this?
The motion of non-confidence triggered government to draft a national decree to dissolve parliament. It must be noted, however, that the constitution does not oblige the government to dissolve parliament. Article 59 of the constitution reads “parliament MAY be dissolved by national decree”. The operative word here is MAY.
Two years ago, then-Member of Parliament, William Marlin condemned Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs for dissolving Parliament, but two years later he does the said same thing.
Furthermore, we did not have to be in this constitutional chaos, because the Governor is not obliged to sign the dissolution decree. Seeing the damage done to the island and the resulting social circumstances, he should have refused to sign it or he should have sent it to the Kingdom government for annulment according to article 21 of the Governor’s Regulation.
Moreover, if he had consulted with the institutions involved in organizing and facilitating the elections, such as the Main Voting Bureau and the Post Office, he would have known that elections at this time was not a good choice.
But no, the Governor upheld a bad government’s decision, seemingly motivated by politics and retaliation, and signed it into law within 24 hours without considering the hurt and suffering of the people.
The fact that ten days later the Prime Minister and the Governor modified their decision goes to show that it was not a carefully considered decision!
Wycliffe Smith
Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party
