Dear Editor,

The statements made by Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs, Derrick Simmons, in the newspaper of December 30, 2016, are irresponsible and misleading both regarding the procedures followed with the signing of an agreement with Mr. Corbin and his interpretation of what he calls the wishes of the people.

First of all, there is no executive council decision on the trip to New York and the signing of the agreement. There was merely an agreement to look into the possibilities of such an agreement. There can also be no valid agreement since Mr. Simmons did not have the authority to sign such an agreement on behalf of the Public Entity St. Eustatius as he has not been mandated by the Governor to do so. Furthermore, there was no approved budget for his trip to New York, neither is there an approved budget for the advisory cost of Mr. Corbin, which is said to be some USD 4,000 per month.

Also, prior approval by the Kingdom representative of such an agreement, mandatory by law, has not been requested. It is extremely worrisome that the commissioner, whether is not aware of the proper procedures or he simply feels that he can ignore these procedures.

If the latter is the case the scarier it becomes when or if the island will get an autonomous status and there will be no more checks and balances by the national government and thus allowing government officials to do as they please. Also, the fact that according to the commissioner the island council can disregard their own laws by validating the outcome of the referendum, which in fact was invalid, feeds this scary feeling.

The statements by Mr. Simmons are inaccurate and misleading where he says that free association can be an autonomous arrangement within the Dutch Kingdom. Ambassador Fred M. Zeker II wrote in the case of decolonization of Puerto Rico: “Free association is a treaty-based sovereign-to-sovereign relationship. Free association is recognized as a distinct form of separate sovereignty, even though legally it also is consistent with independence.

Specifically, free association is consistent with independence because the special and close bilateral relationship created by a free association treaty or pact can be terminated in favour of conventional independence at any time by either party” (this is also confirmed by Dr. C. Corbin). In other words, for Statia to have a free association with The Netherlands, the island must leave the Kingdom and will no longer be Dutch citizens.

Mr. Simmons, in the newspaper article mentions Statia’s desire for full autonomy in free association with The Netherlands, while the option on the ballot in 2014 was “autonomous territory within the Kingdom of The Netherlands.” This option favoured by the majority of votes cast, is like that of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten. He now says this option does not meet the requirements of the UN. One may wonder then why his predecessor and former party colleague had put this option on the ballot? The commissioner further states that seeking autonomy is in line with the wishes of the people. Only 26 per cent of the eligible voters have opted for the autonomous territory option in a referendum that was invalid. 74 per cent of the eligible voters at the time did therefore not support this option. In my humble opinion this means that seeking autonomy is not in line with the people’s wishes!

Koos Sneek

Dear Editor,

  Marcus Garvey said: “A people without the knowledge of their history and culture are like a tree without roots.”

  It would appear that our current government is intent on carrying out the threat that Mr. Bradshaw made so many years ago, and as the good book says, “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

  “What fruits?” you ask. First and foremost, was the deliberate destruction of the privately owned indigenous banks, and that’s just for starters. I can go on and on for this government is the gift that keeps on giving.

  Though the Hubert Hughes government was responsible for bringing in the Central Bank under the guise of Anguilla’s failing economy, it was the Osborne Fleming administration of which Victor Banks was the Minister of Finance, who actually set the ball rolling when he secretly colluded with then Governor of the Central Bank, Sir Dwight Venner, to amalgamate both indigenous banks. Mr. Banks, your finger prints are all over this carnage and so is your face – this will hang around your neck like an albatross.

  This government had two options; one put forth by the British government and the other by the Central Bank in St. Kitts. Our government obviously chose the lesser of two evils and decided to adapt the plan put forward by Dwight Venner and the Central Bank. Now it is important to understand that we were following the advice of a Central Bank, who oversaw the banks in the eight countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

  The Central Bank or any Central bank for that matter is the lender of last resort. It’s their job to see to it that the banks with which they’re tasked to oversee adheres to strict guidelines and is able to recognize signs of trouble and to take the necessary steps to avert catastrophes such as the ones we encountered. When that does not happen, then it’s dereliction of duty pure and simple. We continue to head in the wrong direction.

  Our Minister of Finance’s reference to our upcoming 50^th anniversary which he calls “Celebration and Realignment,” is nothing more than a joke. What is it that he plans to celebrate? The fact that he was responsible for the destruction of our two indigenous banks and with them our wealth? That he has without debate, signed into law a Banking Act that is injurious to us, an Act that will devalue our land that will then go to the highest bidder, and eventually turn us into paupers?

  Is that what he plans to celebrate?  Mr. Chief Minister, please tell us, what are your plans for us before you take your golden parachute and head for the Golden State?

  As Minister of Finance, Mr. Banks had all the power in the world to make changes that he deemed necessary, changes for the sake of shoring up the banks to guarantee their solvency. We can only speculate why the Minister of Finance acted the way in which he did, but it was wrong. He continues to act as our Lord Protector, among other things.

On December 6 the Government went into the House of Assembly with the sole purpose of dealing with the Cap Jaluca debacle. Not satisfied with giving the operators of Cap Jaluca an EC $17 million tax break, they went on to sweeten the pot, all under the guise of saving three or four hundred minimum wage Anguillian jobs for four or five months and all without proper debate.

  When the lone Opposition member Ms. Webster voiced her objection to the proceedings, the CM called a point of order and accused her of imputing that the process was corrupt. She had made no such assertion. It didn’t stop there. The Speaker got in the fray and basically shut the Opposition member down. She did the only honourable thing by walking out of the House.

  It was ironic that the leader of this government, a man who was recruited by Mr. Webster, is now the very same person who seems hell bent in destroying all that Mr. Webster laboriously built, even as he lay in State. Shakespeare said: “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child.” The actions of this government exemplify the previous quote to the max.

  It is imperative that all Anguillians far and wide take stock in what’s happening to our beloved rock. Those whom we’ve entrusted with our birth rights have played fast and loose with them. Where do we go to seek redress? As a British Overseas Territory we have a direct relationship with Her Majesty the Queen. Maybe they are again secretly wishing that we were under water. How can anyone justify what has happened to us?

  Where have you seen a privately owned bank fail to issue a statement to its shareholders for three consecutive years? Where have you seen a report being released to the government where the Minister of Finance tells the people that there’s no smoking gun, and refuses to release said report to the shareholders? Are we being played for simpletons here?

  And where have you seen the administrators of CCB’s pension fund stop paying its recipients and turning over the fund to the receivers? Where have you seen a minister of Finance tell said pensioners that it’s either pension or job? Where do we turn for relief? Where are the lawyers? There comes a time when it’s not about billable hours. Are we not our brother’s keeper?

  As we prepare to inter the Father of the Nation, let us reflect on something that he said on his 85^th birthday as he addressed the nation’s youth, “I am appealing to all Anguillians, old and young, to bury their differences and ill-will and to seek to be united again. Let us make this emerging nation a land of glory and opportunity, a land where one can say with pride that we are Anguillians: a land in which paradise has been regained, with God being our leader.

  We seem to know what needs to be done, but there’s no one willing to break the glass to try and extinguish the raging fire. Until such time that we are able and willing to break the glass, may God bless us all and may he continue to bless Anguilla.

Tyrone Hodge

Dear Editor,

  In The Daily Herald of Monday, December 12, Joslyn Morton asked, "When will logic and intelligence supersede their emotions.” I believe she wrote that letter to you to be understood, but also in case it was printed, for it not to be misunderstood.  Among so many truths, she also wrote "Being sarcastic does not equate to the level of being intelligent; it just reveals the inability to dialogue in a logical and composed manner."

  Wow! I have known people to say this to each other in so many different ways over the years. I have personally explained it to acquaintances, who I know have not learned to read nor write, and react mad when they find themselves cornered, but it is the first time that I have seen it laid out in one sentence.  I compare it to some popular sayings, like, "I shall return" and "Don't ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country" and  "The best minds are not in government, if any were, business would hire them away" and also "We must adjust to changing times and hold on to unchanging principles".

  I hope it will be repeated so that it could be an influence on whomever wants to be sarcastic to first take a good look at themselves before levelling criticism. Hopefully that quote will resonate so that it will also make us recognize our own ignorance in subject matters.

  I've mentioned in the past that no minimum in education is required to be able to be elected to government, but that there are minimum requirements to be able to be employed by government. The person who is calling the shots on the licensed employee

does not need a licence to do so.  One person, let us call him S.J., decided that those of us who recognize these shortcomings, and frequently comment on them or voice their opinion, are out of place. It is people like us who feel free to make use of our rights to free speech, and try to stop whatever seems to be aggression.

  My father, who read a lot, made notes of a lot of quotes because according to him, they may come in handy one day. I also got into that habit and one of them is, "Aggression unopposed becomes a contagious disease ".  So Steven Johnson (The Daily Herald of November 23) should know that because I refuse to be infected, I will not permit the disease to become contagious.

  I refuse to insult anyone or call him or her names. It seems as if I am following strong black women, because I am following what Michelle Obama is having so many people repeat these days, namely, “When they go low, we go high". Johnson chose to single out the two boys from down St. Johns to help strengthen his point, while at the same time pointing out to us that we are losing our time.

  I am confused, because what is he doing and where is he doing it? One of the things I was taught from very young is that when you are envious of something (someone), it works like a brick wall. You cannot pass through it, you have to go around it, or try to break it down. To break it down takes effort and if you cannot afford the effort to break it down, you do like the fox when it could not reach the grapes. 

  Whoever would like to be like we who voice our opinion, but cannot bring up the courage to write it or say it like it is, should not be envious and write negative things about others who he or she does not know (it cannot be denied, because it is black on white). Just write about what is known to be the truth.  Here again, I have to refer to that saying about sarcasm by Joslyn Morton. It reveals the lack of ability to dialogue in a logical and composed manner. Those who have followed what I have been writing about would know that members of government should do what they were elected and appointed to do. "Do things to better life for the people of Sint Maarten".

  I read what Governor Holiday said to the ministers whom he swore in on Tuesday last.  "Address challenges and develop opportunities to meet the needs of the people ". He just said it in a different way. I do not believe anyone can criticize the Governor for pressing this upon the members of government, because that is why they are there. Some of them even demand to be there. They have the best salary in the Kingdom and should not feel offended when we call them out for not living up to expectation.

   2017 is just around the corner, and I would like to thank you for permitting me to publicly voice my opinion on the developments in the country during 2016.  I usually react to what I believe to be slack execution on behalf of government. I hope that in 2017 these reactions will be obliged to be brought to a minimum. A healthy, blessed and prosperous 2017 to all.

Russell A. Simmons

(Curaçao Chronicle)

Nicolas Maduro Moros, the 65th President of Venezuela since 2013, is still firmly entrenched in his power seat as de facto dictator of the Democratic state of Venezuela. Since 19 November 2013, Maduro ruled mostly by decree. Mass demonstrations, organized by the opposition, had very little or no effect. Venezuela is only a democracy in name.