In memory of the Late Henri (aka Maurice) Cannegieter (1943-2016)
Dear Editor,
In his smooth and insightful introduction to the Hamilton White House performance on March 14, 2016, President Obama stated: “Hamilton is not just for people who can score a ticket to a pricey Broadway show. It is a story for all of us and about all of us.”
The President was addressing folks in the United States. We must take him at his word for most of us have not seen, will not see the show on Broadway but the reviews have been very positive, in keeping with the President’s assessment. Fortunately, there are recordings of the show and more importantly, there is the book that inspired it. It is therefore truly regrettable that this show has elicited, is eliciting, such a crass display of partisanship in commentary online.
Having recently read the book that inspired the musical I venture that it would not have received the kind of attention it deserves and is getting were it not for the show. I, for one, would not have read this biography published in 2004 were it not for the commotion surrounding the musical. The book is about the vital role played by Alexander Hamilton, a young West Indian genius, in the founding of the United States. It is about Caribbean history as it relates to Hamilton’s indispensable contribution. No wonder young Lin-Manuel Miranda (of Puerto Rican descent) was so moved by this biography.
Chernow’s peers are unanimous: his book is a magisterial reassessment of Hamilton’s legacy. Indeed it is a brilliant accounting of a past that, like all pasts, never passes completely, even when one tries to repress it, to suppress it or to rub it out completely. “Violence was commonplace in Nevis, as in all the slave-ridden sugar islands [...] All of the horror was mingled incongruously with the natural beauty of turquoise waters, flaming sunsets and languid palm fronds” (Chernow, 2005:19). Instructive and edifying accounts: true stories about us and others, and about us as others.
This biography and the musical it inspired, though separated in time, are inextricably linked. The book was published in 2004. Eleven years later, in 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop musical opened off Broadway. But before this providential twosome, there was the young man from St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Croix; with family roots in Europe, and all over the Caribbean. The book tells the story of the young clerk who sailed away from the islands for the North American Colonies; away from a past that would never really past. Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton is an awesome garden, sad and splendid, full of gut-wrenching flowers; his scholarship and writing are the envy of all scribblers like us.
In New York, he got a first class education “partly underwritten by sugarcane harvested by slaves” (p.41). He toiled, loved, fought and feuded. He made it big, very big, but he could not fit in tout à fait, completely; he was too different. “He had expressed an unwavering belief in the genetic equality of blacks and whites – unlike Jefferson, for instance, who regarded blacks as innately inferior – that was enlightened for his day. And he knew this from his from his personal boyhood experience” (p. 210).
Hamilton is about all of us because of his race – because of the human chattel of his ancestors: “No less than in Nevis, slavery was all-pervasive on St. Croix – it was ‘the source from which every citizen obtains his daily bread and his wealth,’ [...] – with 12 blacks for every white [...] So extensive was the sexual contact between whites and blacks [on St. Croix] that local church registers were thickly sprinkled with entries for illegitimate mulatto children” (p.23). These accounts sound very much like the history of Saint Martin (French and Dutch), but we don’t write or talk about ours much, and that may not be healthy.
In a chapter entitled “Hurricane,” the disaster that struck St. Croix and other islands in August 1772, I came upon a name I recognized from the writings of Senator Will Johnson of Saba. Here is that gem in Chernow’s book: “Ordained by [Aaron] Burr in 1755, [Rev. Hugh] Knox decided to propagate the gospel and was sent to Saba in the Dutch West Indies [...] Knox left a bleak picture of the heedless sinners he was assigned to save” (p.35). The “picture” of those “keepers of negro wenches” is bleak indeed! I will refrain from quoting Knox’s description of that flock of unheeding sinners he left behind in “the Bottom,” rather I will suggest that the United States of America is, forever, deeply indebted to Sabans!
According to Chernow, the Rev. Knox was more than happy to climb up and out of “The Bottom,” when he moved on to St. Croix. There, he tutored young Hamilton and played a key role in the life of one of the future revolutionaries and Founding Fathers of the USA.
As for the Aaron Burr who had ordained Hugh Knox before he left for Saba, that gentleman was none other than the president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton): the father of the Aaron Burr who would mortally wound Hamilton in a duel on July 11, 1804.
I could go on for hours clipping flowers in Mr. Chernow’s awesome garden: yellow bells and hibiscuses; tropical lilies and Bougainville flowers; orchids of all colours; and lots, lots of arrows: the arrows of sugarcane that aim at the Heavens as if to reproach them of something. I could go on snipping lots of other handsome flowers to try and persuade my reader of the treasure-trove in Chernow’s magnificent garden; all in an effort to convey a sense of adventure; of discovery; of commonality, community and identity.
Gérard M. Hunt
Dear Editor,
Kindly allow me to respond to the article of Mr. Koos Sneek which was placed in The Daily Herald of December 5, 2016 with regard to the mobile phone companies on St. Eustatius.
I find it highly unfortunate and disappointing that our elected official, in what seems an attempt solely for political purposes, would choose to present misleading information which would only serve to stir up more confusion in what is an already complicated situation. As a small island community, the public expects our officials to be uplifting and when needed constructively critical. However, this seems to be a case of criticism taking a malicious tone that only seeks to divide us as a community by creating unsubstantiated rumours. As a rule I generally try not to go back and forth in the newspaper, however, councilman Sneek’s comments leave me no choice but to respond, if for no other reason than to state the facts.
Mr. Sneek incorrectly stated that Eutel had two concessions, one which they use for each mobile carrier partner, which is not correct. Each mobile operator is issued one mobile concession, which it uses to provide service to its clients. Mr. Sneek also states that the Island Government issued a business licence to a second mobile operator, erroneously implying that the Island Government somehow did this with the intent to destroy Eutel.
Mr. Sneek, who has been involved for many years with the Business Association and Chamber of Commerce, and also served as Commissioner in the Executive Council, knows that a legitimate request of any business for a business licence must be honoured by the Island Government unless there are very significant supporting arguments to the contrary. A point he argued in the interest of several businesses over the past years.
Mr. Sneek also seems to object to the presence of Windward Island Cellular WICC (a subsidiary of UTS and the licenced mobile concession holder) who is a legally established business registered in the local Chamber of Commerce, which he also referred to as a foreign business. Mr. Sneek forgot to mention that this company, through its local partnership, has been providing the leading mobile services to its Statia Chippie clients for the last decade.
However, he does seem to want to welcome a legitimate foreign company, namely KPN under the conditions that he specifies in his article. In addition to all of this, he also fails to mention/realise that the company which he refers to as “foreign” through its partnership with Gem Enterprises, is providing employment to five “local” staff directly, and income to several other “locals” who provide services to them.
On the issue of Gem Enterprises NV (our family-owned business) for which Mr. Sneek implies that I misused my position within Government to somehow cause them to do business at the Mazinga complex. I shall not dignify these comments and insinuations with a response, as again these go to the lowest level or rumour and other false implications not expected from any responsible citizen let alone an elected member of our island council.
I assume that Mr. Sneek, who is also a business owner, is implying here that anyone serving or having served in Government should close down all business interests once in public office such as to not have any conflict of interest.
Here again he fails to inform the public that this is not the case as I am sure he is aware, more than most citizens, that there are checks and balances in place and requirements of all public officials to register and make known all business and financial activities of their own to the kingdom representative before assuming office and again when leaving office. But that aside, I welcome any inquiry in this regard should there be any doubt regarding my activities before, during or after my tenure in public service.
Any vibrant economy thrives on competition. We have seen for years the result of monopolistic companies and the effect on service to our little island. In the short time the two separate mobile operators have been engaged on Statia, we have already seen the service offering to the people of Statia improve and quality of service offering increase. I am sure this trend that will continue in the future.
The community of Statia deserves, just like any other, the right to choose. And at least with regard to mobile service now they have that choice. I think this is a moment Statian’s at home and abroad should be proud that as a small economy our people, like all others, will have the right to choose. And the spirit of competition will bring about increased service both in quality and quantity. Anyone choosing to see this as negative would leave one to wonder what their real motive and agenda is.
We look forward to be of service to the people of Statia for many years to come. We hope that the same way we were inspired by other local entrepreneurs, others will be inspired as well to start their business and provide quality products and services to the people of Statia because our community needs us all.
On behalf of Staff, Management and Clients of Gem Enterprises NV
Gerald Berkel
Dear Editor,
I would like to give a special thank you to SMMC nurse Monique Gumbs for a job well done. Mr. Provance was admitted to the SMMC; this patient was taken care of by the nurses of the SMMC. When we his friends came to visit him we were amazed to see how this patient was looking. When we asked who did such a good job for this gentleman we were told it was done by Nurse Monique and that is what she does for each and every patient for many years.
Mr. P. was looking new, face shaved, haircut and well clothed. Nurse Monique does supply clothes, toothbrush, comb, etc. for patients that do not have anything or cannot afford.
Soon after some of his family arrived in St. Maarten they came to the SMMC to visit their uncle. They all were pleased they got to see him before he died. Once one of his family members went to the nurses’ station and asked if she could see Nurse Monique. The lady told the nurse that she does not know Nurse Monique and Nurse Monique doesn’t know her, but she would like to get to meet Nurse Monique personally to give a word of thanks and let her know we, the family, appreciate such a job well done for our uncle.
After getting to meet Nurse Monique the family sat around his bedside relaxed and comfortable, knowing he was well taken care of until the last breath left him. May his soul rest in peace.
Good job Nurse Monique. God bless you and the rest of the nurses. Just could not keep it to ourselves.
Family and friends of the late Mr. Provance
Dear Editor,
Police Officer Richmer Michel Patrick York is entitled to a just and fair court hearing which he has not yet received.
Police Officer R.M.P York is not a villain, nor is he a criminal but is rather a victim.
Police Officer R.M.P. York is an innocent victim that is being falsely and wrongfully accused of the shooting death of Mr. Hakeem Isidora. Officer York is also the victim of a distressingly faulty system – systemic malfunctioning law enforcement and justice chain involving the legal, Police Force, judiciary and penal prison system that have repeatedly skirted freely obtainable and easily accessible information that is vital, essential and directly related to Police Officer York’s court case, that if ever examined, would result in the consequential speedy exoneration and hasty release of Police Officer York from the present confines of prison.
This skirting of and omission of prior disclosure of information critical to the consequential exoneration and subsequent release from prison of Officer York represents a grisly violation of Officer York’s basic human rights to a just and fair trial in the court of law. This tragic violation of York’s right also represents a pitiful breach of the system of democracy.
The court proceedings, hearing and possible verdict relating to Officer York’s court case, slated for December 7, 2016, at the Philipsburg Courthouse, should not and cannot rightfully be the last hearing pertaining to Officer York’s court case until all of the relevant facts and pertinent information is properly and appropriately presented to the court in a manner and setting that is dignified and respectful of our democracy, judiciary and of the accused Police Officer Richman Michel Patrick York.
Cimmaron Marlin
President, The Talking Drums Foundation
Dear Editor,
Please allow me some space to air my frustration over the road situation at Cupper Drive, St. Peters (location of Sister Magda Primary School and St. Maarten Academy, together about 700-800 students).
