The more words one uses, the less are remembered. The success formula is to skip the convoluted and elaborate, the irrelevant, and the unnecessary. Cut the bluff, fluff and stuff.The greatest virtue of a speaker is to say what is necessary, but also not to say what is not necessary. Many take far too long to get to the point and then there are those who like to hear themselves talking. Communication should be focused, simple, tranquil, and have a mindful approach. Conversing in such a way that others love to listen.

Actually, some people are even proud to be able to speak without thinking. And it is noticeable that they are able to say nothing like no one else can. In William Shakespeare’s charming way of expressing it: “You speak an infinite deal of nothing.” Or stated in a less charming way: it is a bunch of diddley squat. Brush up your Shakespeare. Blessed is the person who has nothing to say, but abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact.

In essence where it boils down to in communication is attention span. It is the time people are willing to listen or read before the timer goes off and the rest of the information is dismissed. The average attention span is 8.25 seconds according to recent studies. Long enough for a catchline or rallying cry. The next two sentences will determine the value of message for continuing to listen or read.

Mosquitoes are notorious for their short attention spans and are easily distracted by movement. That’s why it is so annoyingly difficult to swat them away. A study has shown that adults check their messages 25 up to 80 times a day on average. The attention switches between social media, smartphones, tablets, TV, radio, or other media with an overload of numerous tasks, thoughts, and distractions. It makes their minds juggle and what is left over may be for your message.

The two sentences after the headline should show the value or benefits to continue. Audiences hear what they want to hear and often disregard the rest. But even what follows needs something to keep the spark alive. Such is often tried with predictions like: “this year looks promising and next year things will be extraordinary”.

Some speakers are like a fortune teller who is trying to seduce the audience and predict like an astrologer. And then there are those who like to add spice to their presentation and try to make it as hot as a chili pepper with a conspiracy theory. One can only hope that aliens come to take the person in their flying saucer on the way back to outer space and removed from the planet.

Think about who you have the honor to address! You think you communicate well, don’t you? Then you probably know the difference between speaking to a constituency, conferencing during a preacher’s convention, and being a disciple making pitches in a jungle of disbelief. It is all around one theme.

But if you cannot understand that difference, how can you get your message across effectively in each case? Effectively meaning, do the audiences buy it so well that they will stand in line to get it? However, victory is only assured if the arm is as mighty as the tongue.

Everyone wants to hear the truth, but no one likes the facts. It is a fact that light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. And that is exactly how things often get out of perspective in communication.

There are two things that will utterly offend almost anyone, even if it was expressed and even meant with absolute sincerity. The one is telling them that they don’t communicate well and the second is that they might want to seek help from a psychologist.

Perfecting one's intellect is achieved by using less words, and those few words spoken will be adorned as wisdom. Audiences will wow. Not using many words can be a welcome relief.

However, it shouldn’t stop one from highlighting the most important words with more intonation. But then again mind the native Apache saying: “It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand.”

“Boastful speeches are the first sign of weakness, and those who are capable of great things keep their mouths shut” according to Cicero, the Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, writer and academic skeptic. He is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.

In our modern time one would say that two barriers to successful communication are message overload and complexity. So, keep your speeches short and simple, skip the poppycock, and never miss a good chance to shut up.

Express key points that really stand out from everything else that is stated. Give the audience catchlines. Don’t even try to make them experts on the subject as a result of listening to you. Such belongs in academic classrooms.

Too much messaging can lead to boredom. Messages come across better when they are extremely short, like slogans or headlines. The shortest message that exists, consists of two letters: NO. What part of NO don’t you understand?

The more words used can lead to a meaning lost or misconstrued. If one is not careful, they can backlash in some way or another. One cannot misconstrue NO.

Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

Dear Editor,

I stand corrected, but I cannot recall our Minister of Justice publicly blaming anyone for the cause of her department not complying with the desires of the in-excess-of-700 justice workers. If I have it right her explanation was that the governor wanted a little more information and explanation.

Why am I going down this road? Because for years now I have not seen any improvement in anyone vying for office in our government. Their motto is “Layback and lay and wait”.

As I continue, permit me to ask if there is a difference between “Judicial system” and “Justice system”. I ask this because, at the risk of being accused of nitpicking, I noted that in a letter to you, “Process of nation building is a priority”, in the enumeration of the consolidation of the pillars, “Justice system” was not mentioned. I believe I know why.

I have to point this out because I maintain that so many people have been in government since 2010. People who have profited and are still profiting, people who could have contributed, but did absolutely nothing, people who have seen an integral part of the justice system systematically degrade, now that the present Minister of Justice who fought and is still fighting tooth and nail to bring the justice system up to par, those same people are devious where it comes to criticizing the tireless efforts of the present Minister of Justice.

I read the letter to you concerning “… how police holding cells were managed in the past” and when I saw who it came from I automatically said to myself, “Twaalf ambachten, dertien ongelukken” (Jack of all trades, master of none).

Someone who also knows the individual called me and told me that he should be the last person to attack the Minister of Justice. My answer was, “Possibly he is thinking if others could use all kinds of indecent language and get votes via social media, he too could attack the Minister and also get votes.”

They are applying Trump’s tactics “Go at the man to get”. And the person “to get” for this election is the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, because she is the most popular right now in the sight of people. If they did not jump on her they might have had a chance, but by jumping on her they draw attention to what she was and is still doing, which is tirelessly and selflessly trying to get rectification of monies owed to approximately 700 justice workers.

I will continue to highlight this kind of behaviour from aspiring politicians. Since the author of that letter is so well versed in the history of police holding cells, I will assume that he is also well versed in another integral part of police work, which is the traffic laws.

One of those laws, which plays a vital role in obstruction of the traffic, is the law concerning the layout and purpose of “bus stops”. I am citing this because the author of that letter, who is criticizing the minister on her views of how the holding cells were managed, claims to be a candidate for the NOW political party. So I am asking him to find out if his party leader was “confused” when he decided the manner in which those bus stops and bus-stop huts should be laid out and erected along Walter Nisbeth Road?

Not being biased, my advice would be to look up the laws concerning the layout of bus stops and even if it takes another half of a page of the newspaper, explain to the people the intention of bus stops and how they should be laid out and used.

Even though I am aware that politics and integrity do not go hand in hand, I still expect some kind of dignified behavior from the candidates of the various political parties. And lying is not showing a composed or serious manner that is worthy of respect. That is just like James Russell wrote, wrong, wrong, wrong.

A word of advice: “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” And I would add for all of those critics of the Minister of Justice: She has a listening ear and an open door policy, make use of it.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

There are basically two major methods of collecting tax. One is collecting a percentage of personal incomes and corporate incomes. This is called direct taxation. The other is to collect tax from transactions and this is called indirect taxation.

You will have heard our politicians argue the case for indirect taxation in St. Maarten and indeed over the years a larger percentage of tax collection has occurred in this manner, Indirect taxation is likely to be a significant part of tax collection in the future and our main instrument is called Turnover Tax.

Most islands in the Caribbean have chosen to collect indirect taxation at the border for important practical reasons, In St. Maarten in contrast there is no collection at the border and indeed transactions originating abroad are not taxed at all. The lack of border taxation stems from a long history of an open border with the French side and a history of rapid development that was associated with the ability to purchase goods abroad and land them tax free.

This anomaly in taxation where imports are free of “turnover tax” whilst the sale of inventoried goods on island creates an unlevel playing field for all parties. This anomaly has to date not heavily impacted the island’s economy. But slowly and surely the purchase of goods offshore, assisted by online facilities is going to negatively influence trade in the country. Especially with high ticket goods the opportunities for local traders will reduce and the country will be unintentionally providing benefits to unregistered traders in other countries.

Making any change to this situation requires there to be some arrangement with the French side so that importation to either side would attract the same level of taxation and the taxation revenue would accrue to each of the tax authorities in a balanced fashion. Without that no effective control over importation is possible. The IMF have recognized this challenge and pointed to the need to have good management over indirect importation. There seems to be little optimism that the French side might ever collaborate to help eliminate this problem.

Due to there being no border control that has the responsibility to report, it is not possible to know the extent to which importation by unregistered businesses are using the territory to trade without any tax burden whatsoever.

There is a gain to be had for country St. Maarten that will have long term benefits if this tax conundrum is to be solved. To date there is little evidence there is much motivation to solve the problem.

Robbie Ferron

Dear Editor,

The decision by the Minister of Justice, Anna Richardson, to return the responsibility of the police holding cells after 12 years to the management of the police force of St. Maarten (KPSM), in the manner of which she did, has only caused confusion within the organization.

It is indeed the norm in the Kingdom and worldwide that the management of any police force manages the police holding cells, but that is done with a proper plan of approach and structure. The Minister of Justice also mentioned that it is not unique for the police force of St. Maarten, as the holding cells were managed by the police management in the past, that the Ministry of Justice and Police Force has updated its function book with the function detainee guard.

The Minister of Justice stated that the decision was not abrupt in the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday November 8, 2023, and that discussions had been ongoing for some time and even years since she assumed office, with KPSM and the prison management but have proven futile and the respective managements would need to elaborate further on the matter.

The function of the detainee guard is new to KPSM. No recruitment was done for such a function. The Minister of Justice doesn’t have a clue as to how the police holding cells were managed before the so-called temporary decision by then Minister of Justice Roland Duncan back in 2011. At the beginning of each shift, two police officers would be assigned to do a cell check. Not that police officers would function as prison guards and definitely not as a detainee guard attached to the police holding cells.

My question to the Minister of Justice: What is the job description of a detainee guard or security? What salary scale is attached to that function? How many positions are available for the function? What type of training would one get for such a function?

The Minister failed to mention that the new function book is not in effect and that no one should be placed in such a function that currently doesn’t exist in the current organization and is also against the current police legal position “Rechtspositie”.

The management of KPSM has issued letters to certain police officers. Many of these police officers are considered “persona non grata” or police officers that aren’t liked and or continuously being victimized by the management of KPSM.

The signed letter by Chief of Police Carl M. John reads:

“With this letter, I would like to inform you of an important development within the Ministry of Justice. The Justice Minister has recently assigned KPSM to take over the management of the cell complex effective from November 11, which means that from then on we will be in charge of the task of detainee security. This change was initiated from the Ministry of Justice.

“The management of detainee security will be transferred to the divisie Executieve Ondersteuning and this will be the responsibility of the Head of Executive Support. This will ensure a more streamlined and coordinated approach to our activities.

“Management has decided that you will become part of the new team of detainee security guards. This means you will be working in the cell complex at KPSM starting November 11.

“A coordinator has been appointed for day-to-day management and as a point of contact for the new group. This coordinator will ensure that operational tasks run smoothly and will be available to handle any staff questions and concerns.

“The new shift schedule will be on a full-continuous system, meaning that four shifts will be used. This means that day, evening and night shifts will be run to meet the operational needs of the cell complex.

“Next week the new schedule will be published in mDr and it will be in effect from Saturday, November 11. So please keep a close eye on mDr. We understand that these changes may require adjustment, but we are confident that these changes are in good hands with you.

“We appreciate your dedication and commitment to KPSM and trust that you and your colleagues will meet the new challenges with the same determination. We look forward to a successful transition and thank you for your continued dedication to the security of St. Maarten.”

This is an insult to police officers who have studied for 16 months to 2 years to become full-fledged police officers to serve and protect the Sint Maarten people. This decision by the Minister was abrupt and will hinder growth of police officers within the organization. Some of these officers share their ambition to become detectives or to be specialized in other functions. Many officers share the sentiments that this is rather a demotion with no possibility of growth.

In such a situation, If I was Minister of Justice, I would have waited until the function book was official and started a recruitment drive for the position of detainee guard or security within KPSM.

Lyndon C.J. Lewis

NOW political party candidate