(Curaçao Chronicle)

Tagging along Hispaniola’s south coast from Haiti to Santo Domingo took six days, or was it eight? I hardly remember. It was treacherous and very tedious; the seas were bumpy. With a GPS-compass linked to my pilot, navigation was child’s play.

Being aboard alone with my ghosts gave me plenty of time for long monotonous dialogues. Contemplating the intricacies of navigational techniques and how navigating the globe worked from a cobweb’s viewpoint?

“Anansi, you are a man of the world, a world nomad right? You, with Akan-ancestry, in Suriname and Antilles’ exile for generations, and then in the most recent chapter, Holland as repatriation destination, you are a true global citizen.

Let me ask you a tricky question. How did you manage to find these places? How could you figure out longitude and latitude in the ocean without any coastline in view?”

“Well silly white man, of course, we always left it to the crew. You know, we were only passengers, voluntary or not. These sailors used weird instruments, weird!

“You ever studied my cobwebs; radials, and then straight connecting tangles of the silken threads? I always set out my webs for symmetry but mostly end up with asymmetrical, woven with irregular patterns, but you need the regular ones.

“Never mind, these smart sailors used our very best and most symmetrical cobwebs as grids and then looked at the sky. They superimposed reference points for the sun, and the moon and bright stars, and their bookkeepers kept extensive, minute logs of time and place for comparison! Without us, spiders, they would still be lost.

“The moon and the stars travel across the night sky, so the angle with the horizon is changing with time. Take a dinner plate and a few wires, and by measuring those angles, you know what time it is. Compare it with tables, and you also know where you are.

“Yes, Anansi of course, the dinner plate of 360 degrees became the astrolabe or a quadrant as was used in Persia, and a sextant or octant used until today in the West.”

Getting my other stowaway to give up precious secrets of navigation was a bit more difficult.

“Captain Hendrick, how did you manage to know where you were? Did you know longitude and latitude? Did you have instruments?”

With some reluctance, after a few tries and pitch black, starless nights, Captain Hendrick shared his valuable knowledge.

“Dr. Gemma Frisius, (1508) of Dokkum sold some of his secrets to the VOC and later the WIC. He was a mathematician, cartographer, and instrument maker. Using a clock for longitude was a revolutionary idea, and no such reliable device existed yet.

“Another Dutchman, Christiaan Huygens (1624-1695) also sought the solution in timekeeping. He invented the clock pendulum, which was an improvement but still sensitive to the movement of the waves.

“Finally in 1765 John Harrison, an English watchmaker, created a chronometer that was sea-resistant.”

The Amsterdam clergyman and cartographer, Plancius (1552-1622), considered another system (Simon Stevin (1548-1620), gave the theory of Plancius a mathematical foundation in his book “De Havenvinding,” 1599). For nearly a hundred years, Dutch sailors were confused and often preferred coastal routes.

Longitude, Frisius understood, could be found by comparing the time of the actual position with the time at home. The globe rotates around its axis every 24 hours, so one hour is 360 degrees divided by 24; that makes 15 degrees per hour. Each Degree divided again by 60 Minutes comes out that one Minute is equal to one Nautical Mile.

Willebrord Snellius (1580) measured the distance between Alkmaar and Bergen op Zoom with triangulation and thus got the measure of a minute, and the circumference of the globe.

But for latitude, Frisius used of the cross-staff or Jacob’s staff. By day, it was necessary to measure exactly at noon the height of the sun above the horizon with an astrolabe or cross-staff. (See Willem Blaeu (1630) of the Jordaan in Amsterdam in his mariner’s guide “Licht der Zee-vaert.”)

By Jacob Gelt Dekker

Dear Editor,

It is so incredible how some situations have become more mysterious than the “Nancy Drew” series, yet hardly anyone seemed to be bothered by these gradual episodes that are forever changing the landscape of this country. What has happened to that fighting spirit of the people who are indeed the real overseers of this land? Has their desire to demand answers diminished due to the mounting distrust that is plaguing the political administration?

Case in point: How many times have we read that several passengers were nabbed at Juliana Airport with drugs – sometimes swallowed, strapped to their bodies or packed away in suitcases? The inexplicable thought that dominates my mind is: How is it that these offenders pass through security from wherever their flight originated without being detected? Similarly, how is it so that shipments of drugs are confiscated at the Harbour on a periodical basis and there is no indication of where it came from? The dominant question is: Are these just random circumstances or a fragment of a larger missing link?

The most intriguing aspect of these situations is that in recent years, after the drugs have been confiscated, there is absolutely no mention of the smuggled goods again. If the situation occurs on the Northern half of the island, the drugs are destroyed and the process becomes public knowledge. What happens to the confiscated contraband in the South? This brings to mind a topic that needs to be tabled for a well-spirited discussion: Should impounded monies be used to “combat” this illicit trade or go up in smoke?

Anytime a crime is committed that involves firearms, the focus is always on the brazen act of these youngsters, but never on who is supplying the weapons. Equally, when the youth are forced to sniff cocaine and other hard drugs the finger is pointed at them instead of the drug pushers. Why is this? In past articles I have said that whenever a country is overrun with drugs and guns, persons in high places are directly involved. Has anyone paused for a moment to deliberate the possibility that adults are behind these vicious crimes? So, it is time that law enforcement quit demonizing the youth and target the source.

Over the years, has anyone really paid attention to the numerous ads that were

placed in the newspaper regarding lost passports of nationals from this one Asian

country? Almost every week a different name appears. Was this a sincere act or was this the strategy to anchor and gradually take over?

Now let’s get real. I am curious to know what was the population ratio in 10-10-10, versus what it is at present. If the community remains this complacent, in the next five years, the Afro-ethnic people may not be the dominant group anymore. The governor and prime minister may very well be one of those who blinded the authorities under the pretence of losing their passports.

Where do local universities get their human remains from to experiment and how do they discard them after use? How come this never became a public discussion? The Village, which is the people’s property, is under heavy dispute because one of these politicians has taken it away and now hides behind a foundation. Then they want to get upset with the Dutch for denouncing corruption? SCDF has to keep the pressure on even if it means taking the matter all the way to the Supreme Court. If there is such a resistance to stifle the cultural and educational advancement of the people, then Walter Plantz was not designed to promote the ambitious small man. When these business owners submit their rental fees, in whose account does the revenue goes?

Have we realized that the entire world is being controlled by just a few people – persons who have exploited our weaknesses and stole our freedom just to enrich themselves? Yes, technology is important but to what extent? Why would every device have a built-in camera and tracking mechanism? There is more to this than just convenience. Very soon we’ll all become like robots. They will control every move that we make. Not even going to the bathroom and having sexual intercourse would remain a private affair.

Speaking of sex: Why hasn’t the world challenged the internet proprietor to erase pornography completely from its server? This prickle is a constant contamination of the minds of our youngsters. It is so sad to see that nothing is sacred anymore. Why has the truth been concealed from the people and no one wants to be held responsible? I’m just curious, how about you?

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

I have never stopped going to a church service at some time during the week. I have heard at least 3,700 hundred sermons in my life. As the years go by and life evolves some sermons come in just at the period in time when it is most appropriate.

Well, on Sunday, June 18, 2017, I listened to one those sermons. This one was most appropriate for Father’s Day. I know that the sermon from the Sunday service at the Anglican church is aired on that same Sunday at eleven o’clock on PJD-2. It is a sermon which is appropriate for fathers and could be repeated all during the year, so I’m wishing that that sermon gets more airtime during the year to awaken the responsibility of those for whom the shoe fit. That was not the original intention for writing to you, but since I know that it is more than necessary I had to mention that.

It seems as if this letter is going to be in bits and pieces so here we go. Someone asked me what good does being a member of Parlatino do for us? Meaning, what are the benefits of St. Maarten being a member of Parlatino? I was explained this in a nutshell at one time, but I told that person that he should get someone from the newspaper to interview those who go to those meetings and from whom we do not get any feedback, and ask the important question so that we also can get an idea what our money is invested in and what the returns should be.

Another person stopped me in the parking lot and told me that my government is showing off with a building that the pensioners paid for from their savings while the Minister of Finance is letting us know that our pension fund is in jeopardy. I told him that I had already written about that several times. He told me that I should take a ride at night to see it lit up, and he wanted to know why waste the money that the lighting is going to cost, while the finance minister is complaining about we do not have any money. A few flood lights would do the same job. What I know is that those lights are not safe during a hurricane.

When it comes to government saving money and definitely lowering the gasoline bill all government has to do is get smaller cars, and yes, not only from Motor world. The majority of the car dealers have several models of which the prices do not vary that much so that the wealth could be spread and not only one person get the lion’s shear. Government has to make sure everybody lives.

If we keep a close eye on what is happening in traffic on St. Maarten we would notice that beside the gypsies, police, ambulance, fire trucks and customs department, eight out of every 10 cars in the traffic is occupied only by the driver. Stand by Air Lekkerbek and monitor it. This also is the case with government driven vehicles. Only one person in each vehicle, so why do we need SUVs. Get smaller vehicles and with the worsening traffic congestion, because we refuse to regulate public transportation in the adequate way for St. Maarten, I would suggest acquiring motorbikes. Let’s save some money people. By the way, young ladies are riding more and more these days also.

The Minister is telling me that my pension money is in jeopardy so I have to show him that there are more ways than only collecting that measly 13 million to help the government coffers. I was told that effort is being made to get back the money from whoever is responsible for government having to spend large amount of moneys because of litigation. I believe somehow that money should end up where it belongs and those who are not responsible should not have to be punished for incompetence and irresponsibility of others.

Permit me to ask this question – If government put seven sleeping police across the Soualiga Road, does that mean that those drivers who pass you on that road because you are adhering to the intention of those sleeping police, have the right to look at you as if you are the criminal or even blow at you because they mean that you are driving too slow over that road?

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

I am writing this article because many of our young men are being carried away in shackles to the prison cells in Pointe Blanche. Our prison cells nowadays have become a home not for the old, but for many of our young men who have fallen into crime. I am writing this article because many of our youths are brought up in homes where there is violence, abuse, and lack of a father as a good role model. I am writing this article, because there is a growing number of single mothers out there who have to fulfil the role of not only mother, but also father because of absent fathers in the homes.

Raising a child in the proper manner does not begin in the schools, the church or in the neighbourhood. Yes they all can contribute, but primarily it begins in the homes where there should be a good caring mother and a dedicated and responsible father.

I can recall some time ago while riding on a bus there were two young school girls among the passengers having a live conversation about the social situation in their homes. These girls were about 13 and 14 years of age, yet they were not ashamed of openly discussing the kind of affairs their single mothers were having with other men. I recall the older looking girl saying: “The man who does be with my mother don’t like step children.”

Now dear Editor, I believe in her situation, according to her complaint, that this gentleman as a possible step father is only interested in the mother. So having a child, or children around is a problem. Matter of fact they are not his own anyway so he probably feels that he doesn’t have to give a damn. He is only there to help keep mom “warm.” Then the younger looking girl responded: “I know my mother does have a man come sleep with her.”

Dear Editor, this situation presented here is just an example of many other children who are growing up in homes today where the father is absent, where children are raised by their grandmothers or where mothers too are showing or giving a bad example to their children. How can these children experience that faithfulness and through love of a marriage relationship between a mother and a father if both parents are failing to set the right example? Homes with absent fathers as well as divorce, separation, fathers who abuse their wives or children, can affect a child psychologically. Boys, particularly, are in need of their fathers in the homes to spend time with them and teach them how to grow up from boys to men.

In the neighbourhood where I live there are two young brothers who sells drugs. These boys grew up without a father. One of the brothers, who is the leader of a gang, surprisingly confessed to one of my neighbours, who made an effort to council him after being arrested on numerous occasions for possession of arms and drugs that he would like to change and start going clean. This kind of confession would indeed bring great relief, not only to his concerned and troubled single mother, but I believe also for the judge who probably must be tired of seeing this young man being ushered in and out of the court house for repeated criminal offences, enough to fill a book.

This young man may be like many others who may want to get free, but have to battle the demons of drug addiction and rebellious life style, that has wrecked not only his youth full life, but also the lives of many others who have fallen or being misled into this path of psychological destruction. He may even be an example for many others to follow, but there is a problem. Some of these young drug-pimps are in too deep; they know too much and they have connections with bigger undercover dealers who are depending on them to sell their “merchandise” So they know they are being watched.

There was a time I use to shun these neighbourhood boys as well as others because I considered them miserable bad boys, who no respectable person should have anything to do with not realizing that the reason why many of these young men turned out the way they are is because they grew up in troubled homes without proper guidance and loving care.

Putting aside my personal pride and arrogance to communicate with them I realized that they too have their inner struggles and are willing to listen or take advice. At times, we as adults or fathers should help mentor the fatherless. The problem we are facing is that many of the absent fathers themselves grew up in homes without a father so in the end the cycle of the family degeneration will continue.

This Father’s Day just look around and see, we have lost many of our young men already. Tomorrow, June the 18 is celebrated as Father’s Day, so have a wonderful day dear fathers with your families. Happy Father’s Day to all dads.  

Name withheld at author's request.