Dear Editor,

Even though I maintain that experience is the best teacher, I have to also agree that respect for knowledge has to be earned through competence, not inherited through seniority. I am going to be short because I was not literally involved in the conversation, but sometimes a second or third opinion can be convincing to parties. If one earned a degree and never worked in that field, whereas another person who did not earn that degree but actually works/worked in that field, in my view the person who did the actual work is more experienced.

I also have to be fair and admit that if somebody makes the observation that I (Russell) think that it is okay for people without a diploma for a certain trade, to be employed before a person with a diploma for that trade, that would be a reasonable observation. Having stated that and reacting to observations which I agree with, I have to repeat a question that lately has been posed to me by several young people.

Mister Russell all you seeing us on motorbikes and talking about us riding carelessly all over the place. How come you don’t write about those Chinese who doing the same thing riding all over up and down in one-way roads delivering food and groceries, and the police is not doing anything to they?

I have to agree that the law is laid down for all (exceptions noted), but not only the police is to blame. I also blame all the people in government because all of them are seeing the same thing that those young men talked to me about, but they only washing their mouth on the local young people.

My other observation is that I cannot remember ever seeing those nationals mentioned working on and in the road like so many other people from the neighboring islands. I was told that they are made to work harder than we think. But with me “seeing is believing”. And even if this is the case, are we saying that government is knowingly permitting this?

Not so easy to sweep things under the rug anymore, too many phones in the place. Bobo work on this!

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

There is this constant cry from the public for Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling to bring the crime situation under control. The focus primarily surrounds the following matters: excessive use and possession of illegal firearms, reckless scooter riders and robberies. These three issues are intertwined, and so it is easy to understand the motives and the gravity of each situation.

With reference to the illicit guns, this state of affairs has spun out of control for more than a decade - way before this minister dreamt of occupying her current position. The question is: What have the other justice ministers done to curtail this alarming situation, and is the public being fair to whom they are directing their demands? Because, it seems as though they expect the minister to tackle every single issue, all at the same time, when it is impossible for her to do so.

Yes, the level of crime is out of control, but what is the role of the police force, the customs department and the coastguard? Aren’t they the ones who are (on a broad scale), responsible for making sure that the laws of the land are being upheld? So, why is it that the population does not focus their attention on the effectiveness of these three organizations, with regard to tackling crime?

If these institutions were managed efficiently, crime would have been on the decrease, significantly. So, does the success of combating crime rest solely on the shoulders of the minister, or does a large portion of this achievement depend mostly on how the directors of these critical organizations manage their individual institutions?

I’m not sure who runs the customs and the coastguard, but Chief Commissioner Carl John manages the police force, and for sure, his management style is yet to be desired. Usually, whenever there is crime of this magnitude, the chief of police addresses the public to condemn these types of activities. With all the rapes, murders, domestic abuse, child molestation, robberies, untimely deaths of scooter riders, have the population heard him denounce any of these acts? Nope!

Instead, he sits in his office with this “don’t-care attitude,” but the public expects the minister of justice to fix it. How come the attention is not on him? Where is the collaborated effort with the customs and the coastguard to combat this monster? Frankly, I think that the police chief needs to step down and allow someone with the capability to direct the police force, where police officers feel motivated to do their job optimally, and be appreciated for doing so.

On Monday, January 26, 2015, I wrote an article entitled, ‘Retrieve the country or lose it to criminals.’ I started out by saying: “Generally, whenever a country is overrun with weapons and criminal activities, persons of position and power are directly involved. Who they are, and how they manage to remain undercover, is the duty of the investigating team to find out. But believe it or not, the radar spans much farther than what meets the eye.”

Again, on Monday, August 15, 2015, I wrote another article entitled “The handwriting was on the wall.” In this article I mentioned that, “Brandishing guns has become the norm, and the fear of law enforcement is no longer visible.” I also quoted ex-police officer and former Member of Parliament Janchi Leonard, who said, “You can go anywhere and find a gun…” “If you want to go tomorrow, you don’t have to know the people dem.”

One year prior, on Thursday, September 25, 2014, I penned an article entitled, “Our security in under siege.” Within that piece I stated, “It appears that we are on the verge of defeat, as criminals are consistently testing the complacency of our judiciary system. These law breakers have set this trend for many years and so there is absolutely nothing new under the sun.”

Today, who are the ones still committing these crimes? They are mostly youngsters. Has the situation changed from then to now? Nope! Why is that? When I summed it up, three possibilities come to mind: The majority of fathers have neglected their children and so they are left to raise themselves; the heads of law enforcement have failed us; and persons in high places are well aware of the origins of these guns.

Minister Tackling, the level of crime has been a plague for quite some time and the appeal to tackle this situation is paramount. Therefore, always look beyond what you see. If I were in your position, I bring in a secretive squad to monitor all areas of law enforcement and a regular independent body, to scrutinize the sources of these guns and the recipients of these weapons that are destroying the foundation of this nation.

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

Isn’t there a law on when trailer trucks and heavy equipment can use the public road to transport cargo and other hazardous materials? If the answer to this question is the affirmative, then why is it that for months now, the population has witnessed these vehicles travelling at all hours of the day?

Not too long ago, it was just one or two trailer trucks and a couple of huge trucks, taking a chance (it appeared) to finish up the day’s work or trying to hustle before the traffic built up in the morning. Now, there are so many of them traversing the road whenever the drivers feel like doing so, and without any ounce of fear, because of their size.

Has the population noticed that these trucks are getting bigger and bigger? No wonder the roads are constantly screaming for repairs. But the scary part of it is that these drivers drive so fast and we all know that these hydraulic vehicles do not brake right away, if any driver is forced to stop immediately. The question is: Who will be held responsible for destroying someone’s property or more seriously, taking someone’s life?

This is justice week and so I’m kindly asking the relevant authorities to look into this matter as soon as possible, so that this conduct does not result in a situation that becomes regretful.

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

By now your readers must know that I do not appreciate anyone who writes to you, voicing his/her opinion but then ask of you to withhold their name. That in my opinion is the action of a coward. In today's [Wednesday’s – Ed.] paper the writer is outlining what several of us have written in the past, but were not afraid to let your readers know who we are. This Island Boy is in my opinion displaying lack of maturity by being afraid to let the people know that he is not brave enough to voice his opinion in his own place of birth. That letter should have been an open letter to the Sint Maarten government outlining his grievances, with his name attached to it.

I believe that his points are well taken, but the Island Boy, has not proven himself to be a man. What the Island Boy has done here is exactly what people in government make use of. They will not take him seriously even though what is written is a fact.

They can never say that Russell did or did not say so, because I always add my name to the letters and am ready to accept any backlash. I must add that I have not had to approach you to correct any of my letters to you which you have published. Beside that, why would I go to such length to show people that I don't have any backbone. From what and from whom am I hiding in my own country? From that letter it seems that the Island Boy has potential. So it is time enough for that Island Boy to become a Sint Maarten man.

Russell A. Simmons