Dear Editor,
On July 1st, Parliament went on a four-week recess and will resume on Monday, July 31st. In December/January upcoming, Parliament will also take a two-week recess. I hope that our MPs are aware of the fact that a parliamentary recess is not a holiday, and that they can be called back to work during their recess.
The website of the Dutch Second Chamber or Parliament describes its recess as follows: “During the recess periods, the Second Chamber does not convene. Members of the Chamber can study various files and documents, and prepare themselves for the next session of meetings. Often, they also use the recess period for working visits, field trips and meetings with their constituents throughout the country”.
Note that these are all activities that Dutch MPs are unable to do when parliament is in session, because they are then too busy with meetings of Parliament, Central Committee meetings, Permanent and Ad Hoc Committee meetings. The Dutch Parliament has five recesses during a parliamentary year, which coincide, more or less, with the school vacations. Therefore, many Dutch MPs also take their holidays during the periods of parliamentary recess. However, should any business occur, on which Parliament would need to meet urgently, then parliamentarians know that they are required to break their recess and return to The Hague to attend to the people’s business.
In the days of the Netherlands Antilles, I can understand the Antillean Parliament taking over the Dutch parliamentary recess schedule, because Antillean MPs at the time hailed from six different Island Territories, three of which were located some 565 miles from the seat of Parliament on Curaçao. However, I do not understand the reasoning why fifteen MPs, all living within a radius of a few miles from the House of Parliament, who every other week are given reading and study time and if necessary can interact on a daily basis with their constituents, still get a six-week recess every year. This is clearly a Dutch/Antillean tradition that our Parliament in Sint Maarten has adopted without taking our local context into consideration.
As far as vacation is concerned, the holidays of parliamentarians are regulated by the ordinance covering the vacation of the ministers and the minister plenipotentiary. As a result, a parliamentarian is entitled to six weeks of vacation per year, which apparently is equivalent to their six weeks of recess during the year. The Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the National Ordinance on the remuneration of persons holding political authority (AB 2010, GT no. 9) explains in Article 6 that Members of Parliament “have no holidays, as Parliament has recess periods”. In other words, recess is not a holiday. This would then mean that, separate from the recess periods, MPs would not be able to take holidays, neither would they be entitled to the 6% annual vacation allowance which is now being paid out to them.
During election campaigns, sitting parliamentarians and would-be parliamentarians are very visible as well as vocal in the media on all kinds of issues related to the people and to the community. Beautiful manifestos are disseminated and many promises are made. You also can find these parliamentarians aggressively active in the community, trying to get the people to vote for them. But during the period between elections our parliamentarians seem to forget, maybe even ignore, the people who voted them into office.
In the Netherlands, during the parliamentary recess, members of the Second Chamber also use the time to reconnect with their constituents. As our parliamentarians on Sint Maarten are directly elected by the people, they should make time to remain in touch with the people as well, hear their concerns, be their voice, ensure that legislation is initiated or drafted that benefits the people and the community.
In this context, I want to commend MP George Pantophlet, who, during this parliamentary recess, has taken some time to speak out in the media on the issue of the short-term contract. There are many more issues in the community on which the people would like to hear the views of our parliamentarians.
Do members of parliament have an opinion on the situation taking place at NIPA, where the education of the students seems to be in jeopardy? What about the views of parliamentarians on the Pearl of China and the Chinese tunnel? What do our Parliamentarians think about the Asset Recovery Team and the latest agreement that our Prime Minister made with the Dutch concerning the Integrity Chamber, whereby our Parliament has also been compromised as far as the date is concerned.
In 2015, Parliament was very upset with the then Prime Minister, the Honourable Marcel Gumbs and the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Dennis Richardson, for signing an accord with the Dutch without first consulting with the parliament. Two years later “l’histoire se répète” but thus far we have heard nothing from our parliamentarians concerning this matter.
Since our parliamentarians are so busy during the rest of the year, it would be good if, during their parliamentary recess periods, they can be more visible, more vocal and more interactive with their constituents.
Wycliffe Smith
Leader of the Sint Maarten Christian Party
Dear Editor,
This has been getting on my nerves for the last 8 months or so, being surrounded by people who try to convince themselves (and me) that their being different is a handicap compared to people they deem “normal”. Now please explain here what ‘normal’ is. What is the norm for normality, do tell me what the insane notion that entails such a thing as “normal” must consist.
Curiously looking into the dictionary, (Merriam-Webster, btw my fave) one of the definitions of “normal”(if you can state or describe exactly the nature of this word, so fleeting in its obscure essence as such) mentions a “normal individual” as a person of an average development and intelligence. Wow, hold it there! I for one certainly do not strive for that particularly dismal objective! To be of an average in any which way or for that bland goal simply to obtain the nirvana of “normal”….. You have got to be kidding me!
OK, my “normals” are actually facts, for instance the fact that the original kilogram is kept under guard in Sèvre, France, as a norm of a standard kilogram. Even so, to my disappointment, there is no more such thing since the original artefact has dwindled in its environmental demise to minus 50 milligrams less the original kilogram. Sadly, even facts cannot be measured to normalcy. Bad example, maybe not.
So here we go with the self-pitying mantra, “I always felt different”, well duh, maybe because there is no one like you ever and will never be. No wonder you are different! Even identical twins are different. So does that mentioning of their feeling “different”, enables the free fall for all actions on their behalf not perceived “normal”? By whom? The so-called averagely boring “normal” persons? I wonder.
Embrace your uniqueness and comparing is an obsolete void into nothingness. Normal is different since there is no such normal to everyone else’s different.
M.I.A. Roos
(Curaçao Chronicle)
Just over one hundred years later, in 1776, the devil himself arrived on the Golden Rock in the shape of British Admiral Sir George Rodney. Earlier that year, eighteen ships heavily laden with provisions and ammunition from St. Eustatius ran the British blockade and reached rebel ports in revolting North American colonies. The British were furious.
When a small American Brig, the Andrew Doria, flying the Grand Union Flag arrived in Statia’s Harbour, on November 16, 1776, Statia was propelled into an international conflict. Isaiah Robinson, Captain of the Andrew Doria, was looking to buy gunpowder and military supplies for the Continental army. The Andrew Doria fired a 13-gun salute, upon arrival at Statia – one for each former British-American Colony.
According to protocol, Governor Johannes de Graff ordered an 11-gun reply. Thus, Statia fired the first salute of international recognition of the American rebel government in the British colonies, a salute that echoed around the world.
When British Admiral Sir George Rodney received word of this historic salute, he supposedly bellowed, “The cup offered by the Dutch was already brim full; this last insult caused its running over.” The British declared War on Holland, on December 20, 1780.
Admiral Rodney arrived on February 7, 1781, with 15 British ships-of-the-line with over 1,000 guns. (Note: a ship-of-the-line was a type of naval warship constructed for line battles at sea.) Rodney’s armada was followed by support ships, five frigates and smaller craft transporting 3,000 ground troops.
The Dutch garrison of Ft. Oranje, of only 61 men, surrendered. The British captured almost 200 ships in the port, the warehouse stores along the waterfront and the most of the population. The wealth that Admiral Rodney stripped from Statia was more than 15,000,000 pounds, an incredible sum. Admiral Rodney, who was entitled to a share of the loot, pilfered the lucrative trading port.
As if that was not enough, Rodney ransacked the Jewish quarters. “When noticing that the people were heavily dressed, he ordered slicing pockets and hems of their coats.” The Jewish townsmen had sewn coins into the inseams of their clothing.
Rodney hated Jews in general and particularly those he found on Eustatius, as reported in his log. “They (the Jews of St. Eustatius) cannot too soon be taken care of – they are notorious for the cause of America and France.”
Rodney arrested 101 adult Jewish males, brutally locking them up in warehouses without food and water for days. He also deported the heads of over 30 Jewish families to neighbouring islands.
From the Jews alone, Rodney confiscated over 8,000 pounds sterling, an enormous sum. That amount did not include Jewish goods, ships and property. Rodney made sure to impoverish the Jews. Jews were easy prey; they had no army, no navy.
Admiral Sir George Rodney victoriously destroyed the synagogue and burned Jewish warehouses, homes and the property. Jewish graves were dug up when some tried hiding their wealth and possessions in the cemetery.
The Admiral happily wrote to his family “…with promises of a new London home to his daughter he promised, the best harpsichord money can purchase. He confidently wrote of a marriage settlement for one of his sons and soon to be purchased a commission in the foot guards for another son. He wrote of a dowry for his daughter to marry the Earl of Oxford. He noted he would have enough to pay off the young prospective bridegroom’s debts.”
Rodney’s orders were to destroy the supply depot of St. Eustatius. He was to return north to aid the British forces fighting the American Revolutionary armies. Those orders were ignored.
Almost two months after he captured St. Eustatius, Rodney diverted a significant part of his fleet to carry his fortune from Statia back to England. The delay cost the British the war. The war was lost and the American Revolution prevailed.
Ironically, the Jews of St. Eustatius lost to the anti-Semitic greed and hatred of a British Admiral helped win the American Revolution.
By Jacob Gelt Dekker
Dear Editor,
During our nightmarish week last week, with our Nursing Instructor resigning, police coming to the school, having to do exams under stressful conditions and same instructor being pinned with false complaints, only to then have the parent come forward and call the Social Worker, the minister and the board members liars because she never filed a complaint against our instructor.
Our instructor was told she couldn’t correct our exams, so we went to the inspectorate to find out why, because she was the only one teaching us the material. Suddenly the school issued a statement that our teacher can correct the exams, but we were still confused about the other exams we still had to do, so we went to the inspectorate a second time.
It was immediately observed by the inspectorate staff members that it made no sense going there, because of the stupid questions they asked, like: “Did your teacher influence you to come here like board member Annuska Friday-Illis said in the newspaper? Of course not! We are all adults with minds of our own, and yes, we love our teacher and we support her 110%, but we cannot be controlled to do anything we don’t want to do.
Annuska Illis-Friday has never once spoken to our class and rarely ever greets us with a ‘good morning’, just like board member Aventurin. No manners. So how can Annuska know about our emotions or if they are being played on? She probably was ordered to say that, and they are the ones that have no mind of their own, and do what Aventurin tells them to do. Only one board member greets us, the tall redskin one.
The inspectorate (Saskia) was wrong for asking such a question and their attitude towards us was very standoffish, as if they were already convinced by the Board or the Minister. Saskia seemed more upset than us, that we came there. Who else were we supposed to go to? We even asked our teacher to meet us there to get answers.
There was a news article a few weeks ago, stating that after our protest last month, the inspectorate met with students at NIPA and said everything was handled and over. News Flash: That was a boldfaced lie and no one from inspectorate met with none of the students that protested because it was our class; we have 24 students, and not one student had any meeting with them. That was a secret cover- up operation, where Mr. Garfield set up his two nieces and their friend to meet them, and I guess state everything was okay.
All of this is wrong; the inspectorate is obviously corrupt and has orders to hide and cover up for the Minister and the school. Our teacher spoke to the inspectorate and shared the issues with them last month, and from then she was being targeted by the board, Our teacher is brave and fearless.
It is a sad day in any country when students are not free to speak up without being victimized, and the ones that are put in place to protect us are in the pockets of the people above them. Now, we have students that may not graduate because she stood up. Suddenly a new teacher, who is the Minister’s daughter, is trying to fail her thesis.
This is wrong on so many levels and it’s sad. She worked 3 long years off and ironically in the week before exams, this teacher suddenly finds that her project is not good? Go figure! We are calling on the Prime Minister to act on these issues at NIPA. Please help us! Some of us are attending NIPA for a second and even third time; each time we had to stop or leave because of the past issues when they had no teachers and other problems. When we were going to quit last year because we heard they had no teacher, Miss Farrah showed up and saved us.
When we were frustrated because we couldn’t afford the books, Miss Farrah got 28 books donated to us from a company “Boolchands.”
When we had no material for skills lab and her request was taking too long to be processed, she took her own money and bought the materials. It is only as of lately with the board drama, the board seems to be spending money for the things we needed long ago.
Please Prime Minister, please intervene; we don’t have any more years to waste.
Student
Name withheld at author's request.
(Curaçao Chronicle)
Dear Editor,
On November 20, 1493, Columbus had named a little Caribbean Island, Santa Maria del la Niebe, St. Mary of the Snow. Whether it was out of gratitude to the Saint for a safe crossing or a fata morgana of snowy Spanish Sierras appearing to a weary sailor, we do not know. Columbus’ name did not stick and was overwritten by a new mystery, one of family discord.
What was the dramatic family dispute on the island that its people called for the intervention of Saint Eustace? Eustace is one of the Fourteen Auxiliary Saints, a healer of family troubles. The Islanders even named the island after the Saint; it became known as Saint Eustatia or Statia.
In 1636, 80 Dutch families migrated from the Republic of the Low Lands and settled on the Island. Why they renamed the island after the Roman Catholic St. Eustatius, remains hidden in obscurity. Dangers seem to loom from every direction.
The fledgling Reformation in Europe, which started with Martin Luther’s statements at the Wittenberg chapel in 1517, had matured by 1618. The Synod of Dordt, where most European Protestant churches congregated, designed robust institutions for administration and religious dogma. Predestination versus free-will prevailed in a one-year long discussion.
The beheading of the 72-year-old Secretary of State Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt for his support of Arminians, the free-will advocates, sent shock waves through all of Europe and the Caribbean. Was it the ambitious Stadtholder Prince Maurits who eliminated his political opponent so that he could be crowned King? Or was the “Protestant Inquisition” as ruthless as the Catholic?
Were the settlers of 1636 maybe all Catholics who feared dissent and family discord and eventually cruel, summary justice by the Protestants? It was rumoured that also Peter Stuyvesant (1610-1672), nicknamed ‘Peg Leg Pete’, was out for personal revenge. He had lost his leg in the 1644-campaign on nearby St. Martin.
Discord out of envy was a rapidly acting poison when wealth accumulated in extraordinary proportions with a small group of Jewish traders and pirates. Jews, fleeing Iberia after the expulsion of 1492 and 1498, often became privateers and pirates out of revenge, attacking the Catholic Spanish Empire’s shipping economy.
It did not take long before Jewish pirates controlled most of the commerce from New Amsterdam to Netherlands-Brazil, with Statia as a comfortable halfway harbour. Anti-Semitism by French, British, and even Dutch grew in equal proportion with Jewish wealth and influence.
Supposedly, the Statia Jews had to appeal to their brethren in Holland, leaders of the Dutch Jewish community and significant shareholders in the Dutch West Indies Company. And it was the Dutch WIC that ultimately controlled the Caribbean Islands, including Statia. Honen Dalim, Statia’s synagogue, was built within sight of the large Dutch Reformed Church and the walls of Fort Oranje and under the express condition that “the exercise of their (Jewish) religious duties would not molest those of the Gentiles.”
Statia was the Golden Rock and for many Jews became a Golden Door to the New World. Thousands of ships called at Statia’s harbour annually. Hundreds and hundreds of warehouses, crammed with trading goods and slaves, lined the shore below the walls of Fort Oranje.
In April 1665, Gerrit Gerritzoon, alias Roche Braziliano of Groningen and Port Royal, was ordered by Governor Sir Thomas Modyford of Jamaica to raid Statia with a fleet of privateers.
“To fall upon the Dutch fleet trading at St. Christopher’s, capture Eustatia, Saba, and Curaçao, and on their homeward voyage, visit the French and English buccaneers at Hispaniola and Tortuga.”
A charge by 350 Buccaneers easily overwhelmed the island’s outnumbered and surprised Dutch garrison. Gerritszoon and the other privateers remained in control of St. Eustatius looting and pillaging what they could. “They seized 910 slaves, and considerable booty renamed the island ‘New Dunkirk,’ and deported 250 residents to Barbados.”
Jacob Gelt Dekker
