Dear Editor,

They are a shining example of appropriate parenting and a model for their peers to value the importance of education! From the bottom of my heart, permit me to congratulate the parents and participating students of CXC. Despite the thunderstorm and treacherous flood of Monday, May 29, the parents made it their duty to take their children to school.

It is such an awesome feeling to know that all students were present. Both the children and parents have influenced my entire week. This situation tells me that this group of parents and students has put education as a priority. My sincere prayer is that these students would exercise this same commitment during their years of higher learning.

Due to this admirable situation, it would be a golden opportunity for the Minister of Education to honour the parents and students, by hosting a gala dinner for them at NIPA. There, the Minister can re-emphasize how their decision to show up for the exam has inspired a wide section of the community. To congratulate them at the upcoming press briefing is not enough. There must be a special celebration for them. And, if the students have siblings of school going age, they should be invited as well.

This recognition would be a perfect example of “Education on the move.” It would also be an incentive for other parents and a motivation for the little ones to emulate. Bravo to the parents and CXC students of St. Maarten Academy and St. Dominic High!

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

I have a question of which the answer in my opinion should be a no brainer, but permit me first to make a summation. The majority of our people have been loyal to the same leaders for many years. The same people for many years have been calling the shots. Both government and boards of government-owned companies are like a deck of cards. Same deck been shuffled. There was a time when the word affluent was not strange to us; nowadays more than 75 percent of the population is living below the poverty line.

The majority of our people in government have to think very long when asked what kind of government do we have in Sint Maarten. I still smile at an incident when someone high up in government wanted to know " wha yo mean by dah" when I asked that person that question. How long have we been partners with the other countries in the kingdom, whether equal or not? How long have we been governed by the same kingdom laws, while those in government do not even know how to explain to their constituents what kind of government we have in Sint Maarten?

We just had an extensive explanation about APS and our money (money which our representatives are using to bail out what seems to have been fraudulent behaviour of those who put government in debt) which over the years was constantly increasing in volume, and is now gradually is diminishing. The same people in government are plainly telling us that they take care of each other. They compensate those persons who have been in government and have not been re-elected for two years long to enable them to gradually go back to the lifestyle they had before being elected. This tells me that they are openly accepting and telling us that once you are elected to government, you lead an elaborate lifestyle off our money, and along with that, they have the gall (bile) to tell the pensioners of which the majority have contributed for much more than thirty-five years that our pension money is in jeopardy .

Since 10-10-'10, we have not had a steady government and still do not have a system in place to guarantee a steady government. There is a page in our book, once we rip that page out of the book, all the pictures of ships and busses will not be in that book any more. If you do not believe me, ask Michelle. There are projects like the Causeway of which we are still not clear how and by whom that money was spent. Our people in government are not permitted by their puppet masters to entertain the thought of determining who is a Sint Maartener.

Several people in government including political leaders, still put their country of origin before this goose which continues to lay the golden egg for them. Donald Trump is selling out. The country is getting congested with motor vehicles, which is a complaint being heard more and more from the tourists. That and limited parking spaces. We cannot even combat illegal transportation (gypsies). Several people in government are telling me that it is very difficult to regulate public transportation. They cannot even place bus stops along Nisbeth Road, which in my opinion is government property and does not need permission from anyone to place bus stop signs along that road.

We permit politicians from foreign countries to come here and organize political campaign meetings. People who have acquired the Dutch nationality here feel free to drive around with their country’s national flag with no regard for the kingdom flag, nor the Sint Maarten flag. With cruise passengers not spending like before (not me, worldwide report) for years now we are still exporting those crushed cars. Is not that a type of small industry that can be done here? I can go on and on with observations from many people who for instance would tell you that things they see the Sint Maarten government accept they could not do in their country.

How dare they use obscene language in the presence of government officials? Let us check the nucleus of the people living on Sint Maarten. Do they have the experience of having lived in an independent country? So here is my question of which the answer should be a no brainer. I know that every journey begins with the first step, but who are we taking that first step with? In other words, if we vote for independence for Sint Maarten, when that time comes around, who are we going independent with?

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

After sending a complaint to the TEATT Ministry’s inspection for sound pollution, we received the following reply.

“From: Inspectiedienst Ministry TEATT

The establishment was controlled on May 12th at night and given a warning for noise nuisance. The measured decibel level of the music exceeded permitted limits including the intensity of low-frequency sound i.e. bass. They were also given instructions to make adjustments to the structure to contain the music. We will continue to monitor for compliance.”

At the moment we’re off island, but we already received reports the noise level has diminished. We’re very grateful this situation will be monitored by the inspection. It seems they really are making good on their promise to do something about the sound pollution on the island.

Marga Hart

Dear Editor,

  First let me thank Algemeen Pensioenfonds St. Maarten (APS – General Pension Fund St. Maarten) for putting together an informative pension seminar on May 19, 2017 with the theme “Your Future is Our Day to Day.”

  The conference was opened by Ms. Rachael Geerlings followed by opening remarks by the Honorable Minister of Finance Mr. Richard Gibson Sr. Mr. Gibson opening speech gave a bleak picture of trillions of underfunded pension obligations in various states in America. He referred to an article in the Financial Times with the headlines “US faces crisis as pension funding hole hits $3.85 trillion”.

  The article mentions that for Chicago it has been estimated that they are underfunded as far as pension liabilities are concerned with an amount that equals 19 years of the total tax revenues Chicago expects to receive. Mr. Gibson went on to say that this is a looming crisis that not only Chicago is facing, but it is a looming pension problem that keeps increasing.