Dear Editor,
Wow! It has become unequivocally clear, that coalition governments do not work on St. Maarten. The unions are formed as a springboard to facilitate the thirsts of corrupt politicians and their entourage. Who could have thought that just before elections, MP Frans Richardson would be speaking this ill of the Finance Minister Richard Gibson? Is it not the same minister who the MP defended so fiercely, during the 2016 budget debate? Then how is it that all of a sudden, the minister is referred to as being too old to keep up with the times? This statement that the MP uses so conveniently will definitely come back to him.
The question is: in which category does he place the minister that he appointed and the individual who he supports to become the next director of the airport? More importantly, when he goes on the campaign trail hunting down the voters, does he bypass the ones who he considers to be too old to vote for him? Or, does he try to convince them that the US Party, under his leadership, is the only choice for this election? And, how does he integrate his party’s manifesto to suit the lives of these persons of a golden age?
It is time that the electorate wakes up and smells the coffee that is being brewed – the beverage that will give them severe diarrhoea, shortly after October 31. The moment has arrived for the people to use their discretion and scrutinize before they finalize.
As I mentioned in my article last Friday, these unprincipled politicians see you the people as nothing more than just a vote. This is the permission that they need from you to keep them in power – the control that politicians like MP Frans Richardson need to inform you later that you are too old to maintain a particular position.
Furthermore, people really need to pay attention to what is transpiring at the moment. If MP Frans Richardson is throwing rocks at the Finance Minister now, just to highlight his party, what do you think will happen in a few months should his party becomes part of the next government?
Besides, if he is one of the next coalition partners, do people really think that there will be easy sailing with his party? These renegade members of the US Party will dictate the direction of the country and if they cannot get their way, they will throw down the government again. People should never forget that MP Frans Richardson made it abundantly clear that he cannot help anyone from the opposition benches.
This election is the run for his cricket stadium and God only knows the desires of the remaining rabble-rousers that are on his team. Coalition governments have not functioned efficiently because of their infidelity, and to run this country has become much too costly. Therefore, the electorate has no other choice but to give a clear mandate to a one party slate!
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
Politician in both territories of St. Maarten and Curaçao should join hands with both UP and MFK leaders to help bring better opportunities towards the people whereas if UP and MFK get into power Aruba will join both UP and MFK leaders as a move toward The Hague to demand the needs for their people for each three territories of the former Netherlands Antilles.
But for this to happen for the three territories leaders to hold one head, one mind and determination to put St. Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba as one great team, the people must put the government in the hands of UP and MFK to govern.
The people in the region and the rest of the world seeing the politicians are fighting against both the UP and MFK leaders whereas voters still have great confident in both the UP and MFK leaders.
The writing is on the wall, the voters not against the UP and MFK leaders it is the local politicians that playing enemies against these two individual leaders. (The people Nelson Mandela.)
Let us all hope next election 20-20 there will be district representatives in every district whereas politicians will get votes.
Only at their district nowhere else and they will stop jumping ship. Take for instance buses not running Middle Region, Sucker Garden, Oyster Pond, Dawn Beach, Guana Bay, and Pointe Blanche if St. Maarten had district representative and the Minister for transportation from the district, no buses not running, he or she will not get a seat in these areas.
Look again US $2.00 from Philipsburg to Marigot but when bus drivers put Middle Region People by the tamarind tree for US $1. 50 and a gypsy take them from the tamarind tree to inside Middle Region, for US $1.00 they paid in total $2.50 more than if they were going to Marigot.
Middle Region people pay gypsies from Middle Region to Pointe Blanche US $10.00 to US $14.00 roundtrip per person per day no parliamentarians, government, or ministers for transportation has helped the people with these transaction problems.
Middle Region road is better and stronger than Philipsburg street, why no buses not running in these areas? Why there are so much parties on this small Island? Why candidates that not elected not remain active on things and situations that need to be done for betterment for both the Island and the citizen, and why you all not getting more involved in NGO's and more self-employment?
The World is watching the elections. I’m predicting eight to nine seats for UP party, three to four seats for NA Party, one to two seats for DP party and, two to three seats for US party. For those other parties there's a one seat opportunity for them depending on the number of voters cast their votes the people are fed up since Claude Wathey gone.
It don't seems there will be a coalition government because if UP party and MFK party win or get to govern St. Maarten and Curaçao, Aruban citizens will jump up to the sky, the Angels are singing and dancing (St. Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba government will become a great team; together these leaders have common creativities in mind for their people.
Concerning the Chinese project the population seem not appreciated, not going well with the citizen of St. Maarten, so politicians elected be wise, hold the bull by horns and act on all the negative things the people don't like about the Chinese people and if UP party and MFK party get to govern Aruba St. Maarten and Curacao will have one voice dealing with
Holland that will make history these leaders are powerful in the region.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
Since 10-10-10 our “country” has been plagued with all kinds of lawlessness. We have witnessed a spate of choke and rob, constant hold ups, break-ins, carjacking and the insane gun violence. We have heard time and time again of the plans of approach and the many options government is contemplating to address the scourge plaguing society. A gentleman once told me that the greatest threat to our economy and livelihood is not the risk of pricing ourselves out of the market, but the sense of insecurity.
People have a need to feel safe, and when they don’t they move on. We are all aware of the catastrophe that will ensue when those huge behemoths no longer call at A.C. Wathey pier because of lack of safety and security on this island. It would seem that our government, no matter how they struggle, just can’t get it right with the infrastructure necessary to ensure this important and cardinal prerequisite to instil a sense of confidence in local population and visitors alike.
As in all democratic societies, when someone is condemned to atone for whatever crime they were accused and convicted of, they and their families also have a right to believe that they will be kept safe being in the custody of government. Since we don’t have a death penalty, no one expects their loved one to be assassinated while in the care of government.
We have all read the reports of the justice supervisory committee and the continued calls for more to be done for the police and the prison, but alas, these reports don’t seem to have the effect of moving a government of the people. When one visits the Point Blanche prison there is a screening regime you must pass through to get in. I have seen and read of the lockdown of the facility looking for cell phones. However, we have lost a son, a father, a husband and a beloved family member to a shooting at this facility, and no one has an idea how a gun got into the hands of the culprits.
While government was not the perpetrator, it is culpable for not providing the standard of care and vigilance to prevent the incident. We believe government to be negligent and incompetent in the provision of minimum standard of care at the facility. It has failed and failed miserably, and again a family mourns.
We will be pursuing the options we have to hold the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Justice, “Country St. Maarten and the Netherlands, who likes to say they have the guaranty function accountable for our loss. I hope this warning will be taken in the light it is given, but I can foresee that a parliamentarian with whom someone might disagree, or a minister takes an unpopular decision might fall victim to their own incompetence and negligence in prioritizing the provision of safety and security.
The unfortunate soul(s) who carried out the act will be left to God. A heartfelt thanks to all of you who have called or sent your condolences and words of comfort; we are truly moved and grateful.
Elton Jones,
Father In mourning
Dear Editor,
I would like to address my comrades about the September 26 Parliamentary Elections. First of all, I have refrained from writing letters to the editor for about two years. I contained myself during the ten months that Mr. Marcel Gumbs was Prime Minister, although I disliked the fact that he suspended the Council of Ministers’ weekly press briefing. The Government dealing(s) was shrouded in secrecy for nine months. And in my opinion, his Alamo-style standoff was preposterous.
And to be fair, I have contained myself from writing about this Government too. Mr. William Marlin is having his chance as Prime Minister, but he is on a short leash. Comrades, September 26 will be judgement day for the Government and the opposition (the whole Government).
“You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.” Comrades, our politicians appear to be having problems with getting people to be willing to go to the polls on September 26.1 meet people daily who tell me that they would not leave their homes to go and vote for liars. And I do not try to convince them to make use of their right to vote.
Simply because who feels it knows it, comrades. That is the price that you politicians have to pay for those who have deceived and misrepresented the people who put their trust in them. I have heard some politicians beseeching people to go to the polls, citing that minorities and women have fought (some of them died) for universal suffrage. And that is true, comrades. But when you consider all the senseless ship jumping, betrayal of people’s trust, and a parliament with a high rate of absenteeism, I would boldly say why the hell bother to go to the polls?
I myself have an ambivalent attitude about the September 26 Elections. You heard all of them talking about “moving the country forward.” But if all our leaders had put their heads together from October 2010, we (the people) would not be in the deplorable conditions in Middle Region, Dutch Quarter, and Cay Bay.
I believe in moving the people and the country forward simultaneously. But when they talk about moving the country forward, they mean projects – more concrete structures. That is how they get to line their pockets. But we (the little ordinary people) get little or nothing from the cash flow, comrades. People have become disaffected because you (politicians) have not been passionate about public service. The politicians have told us that if we do not vote then we have no say. That is a small price to pay if you are a hard-working man or woman. But they have alienated themselves from the aspirations of the people, so who the hell cares about having a say regarding politics?
While the right to vote is a good thing, it is not a sacred thing. You do not go to hell for not voting. But your vote puts the politician in heaven while you live in hell. One can be a conscientious objector (like some religious groups). God gave man a free will. End of story.
Julien F. Petty
Dear Editor,
Well dear readers of this great newspaper, this is an opportunity to say something to you all including the parties we have to vote for. Obviously, there will be another coalition in Government.
