Dear Editor,
One of the most prominent institutions on the 6 islands of the previous Netherlands Antilles is the Chamber of Commerce & Industry which they have inherited in 1945 from our European mother country the Netherlands. Nowadays the three bigger islands have a Chamber of their own while the smaller three have one for them together.
Said Chambers, through their Trade Registers, aide in providing a secure environment for business undertakings on our sister islands. Indeed, by constantly upgrading their organizations to provide the best possible service, the Chambers’ Trade Registers are nowadays also used to register other legal entities like associations and foundations.
Regretfully, however, our now respective Chambers have also inherited from the Dutch a phenomenon in the functioning of their legal organizational structure, which, like a snake in the grass, suddenly can arise its neck and with a single bite cause tremendous damage.
Said phenomenon is the relative “passivity” of the Chamber regarding controlling the correctness of the information, particularly at its issuance of so called “extracts” in regard to the state of affairs of legal entities, for example, regarding the persons who are legally authorized to represent an entity which is registered at the Chamber.
Said extract has become indispensable for verifying the proper performance of legal acts on behalf of legal entities: the government requires them when a company applies for an employment permit for an employee, the bank asks for one when granting a loan to a foundation, the notary wants to see it when preparing a deed of sale and purchase to which a legal entity is a party and the court wants to verify it to ascertain that the person representing, for example, a company at the court indeed is authorized to do that.
Everybody accepts that an extract issued by the Chamber is correct, which is very understandable because of the good name of our Chambers and also because everybody expects that the Chamber has done the proper research into all the documents in its files before it issues such an extract, which latter, however, (even) by law (being the Regulations governing the functioning of our Chambers), because of the mentioned concerning passivity of the Chamber, is not necessarily the case.
The extreme confusion such can cause is illustrated by a case which, (although it has not yet gone to Court) has been affecting great interests of many residents on St. Maarten.
Representatives of two associations claiming to represent certain residents of government housing projects have been addressing the government, the foundation representing the government in this matter, the Chamber and the media in regard to vital decisions which have been pending to be taken on behalf of the concerned residents.
The first and older association has been dormant for the last 4-5 years and consequently has not held any membership meeting in which board members, according to its Articles of Association had to be (re-)elected while its alleged representatives have been showing extracts recently issued by the Chamber and displaying them as board members.
The second, newly established association has contacted mentioned authorities pointing out the illegality of the former individuals as board members and claiming that it is the real representatives of said owners.
Elco Rosario
Dear Editor,
When an organization has acquired a reputation for operating in a deficit mode, is it wise to compose a delegation that comprises the “principal” members of that organization? Is it not that such a decision would create an imbalance of work ethics and a blurred sense of direction for that entity?
These views reflect the lobby group that is currently attending the IPKO meetings in the Netherlands. From observation, it seems rather irresponsible that Chairlady Wescot-Williams would travel to Holland with the sole colleague from her party, along with the first and second vice chair of Parliament. When all of the above mentioned MPs are in Holland simultaneously, then who is in charge of Parliament in their absence? In the same breath, should there be an emergency that is linked directly to Parliament, what happens then?
This inequality has been practiced throughout the existence of Parliament, but it does not reflect the proper governing of such an important body. Gone are the days when Parliamentarians are selected as a tag along; intellectuals have become the demand in today’s world. With this vivid picture, it is always mind-boggling to see the MP, who told Holland to shut up, that consistently craved to be a part of a delegation that sits with the same country that he despises. Then what is his true motive in this educational process?
MPs who contribute nothing to the advancement of Parliament should not be allowed to participate in these vital discussions. In fact, why would the same individuals consistently demand to be in charge of certain committees when these very local commissions have remained dormant for years? It is time that the Chairlady of Parliament restructures the manner in which MPs are selected to these committees and insert a more stringent method of how they are managed.
This would avoid retaining the same persons to be in charge of committees, just to enjoy the glamour of travelling and having a title attached to their names.
While in this vein of deficiency, often times one can hear members of Parliament complaining about the lack of legal representation of the organization. If this is the case, then what purpose does their legal advisor serve? Likewise, why do Parliamentarians who arrive late, choose to walk directly in front of the cameras? Why can’t they enhance the production of the broadcast by using the lanes to sign in and to sit or exit their seats?
The population is at the stage where the consciousness of the people has been heightened more than ever. Therefore, this community will no longer accept the notion of Parliamentarians attending vital meetings within the Kingdom and then return as if they were on a vacation.
The people want to know the intricacies of the discussions. Details like: How does this dialogue regarding education and youth affairs fit into the situation of St. Maarten? How does Parliament intend to integrate the information and when? This means that there must be a discussion in Parliament – one that will give us full understanding of the value of the IPKO meetings and the seriousness of our Parliamentarians engaging is such dialogues.
This responsibility now lies in the hands of Chairlady Wescot-Williams, who must exercise her expertise in bringing about meaningful change that would stem the entity from this consistent mode of running on autopilot.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
Sometimes the impressions created by information coming from Parliament and our ministers press briefing are very confusing while giving a glimmer of hope of things to come.
Just recall that our Parliament had such great concern with the secretly established “afpak” team that they called a meeting to debate it. Somewhat like putting the cart in front of the horse because we were thought that there should be debate before decision making and not the other way around. It is extremely dangerous and an affront to the legal and democratic process to allow a minister and the Prosecutor’s Office to start an action by an arrangement that never was handled by the representatives of the people and was not published for anyone to see in the national gazette.
This weekend our Minister of Labour, in an address to the ILO conference, stated that too many work permits are being disseminated to foreigners for jobs or functions that locals can do. It is hard to figure out if the minister resides here for this has been the cry of the people for the longest of time. It had become so that our people lacking information on how the system works started to blame everybody. God knows the Department of Labour took its share of the blame even though they are not the competent authority for issuing work or resident permits.
Our government has become so complacent with this unfair and abusive action that to justify it they have joined with others to sell the false narrative that our education system does not produce what our economy needs. Strangely enough the same people responsible for the resident and work permits are responsible for scholarships and the school curriculum.
We are falsely and screamingly told by members of government that all this would change with the arrival of “The Pearl of China” project; that we appear sceptical or cynical about that assurance is that government has never, to date that I can remember, stood up to guaranty employment for locals. They argued to the joy of the employer that they can’t tell investors who to employ or that securing gainful employment for our citizens is protectionism.
There is new ownership at Rouge et Noire Casino in Philipsburg, and we see that they have brought in staff down to waitresses. I guess after more than 60 years we can’t do that either. It is almost a stuck record to speak about Front Street and Back Street, where we are said to be ill-equipped to sell T-shirts and jewellery. While the imported labour hardly speaks English clear enough for anyone to understand; and by the way, if a certain qualification is needed why not have these folks evaluated to see what credentials they have beside their place of origin and complexion.
As the heading states, it offers optimism because our Parliament and ministers have awoken and at least began the conversation that should have started 20 years ago. We, however, remain cautious when we see them making these statements during a Kodak moment, but without motions, draft laws or solutions. If governing was solely about pinpointing the problems and challenges we would have 20 geniuses between Parliament and the Executive.
Elton Jones
The St. Maarten flag symbolizes the qualities we should represent as a Nation; our flag represents the unity and love we should have for humankind, the strength and courage we should represent as a land and the appreciation we should have for our ecosystem and those that inhabit it.
Dear Editor,
The talk on both French side and Dutch Side, Hamlet is the best Candidate to vote for.
So French St. Martin citizens must go out and vote in Great Numbers and elect Hamlet.
The voice in every district and communities; Let’s give Hamlet a chance. We have heard his Creativity voiced over SOS. He is concerned about the senior citizen, high house rent, high unemployment and a win, win, win, win for investors to come and invest in French St. Martin.
Mr. Hamlet sees a need for good and excellent cooperation with all French Caribbean colonies to live together as one spiritually, with love, and ambitions towards Development.
Together, Theo, Sarah, William, Frans and Christopher are willing to work with Hamlet.
Go out and vote in great numbers for Jacques Hamlet June, 10, 2017.
Cuthbert Bannis
