Dear Editor,
Many years ago when I first came to St. Maarten, on election day I was placed to work at the polling station at a hotel in Cay Hill. In those days one police officer was stationed at every polling station because of, among other reasons, the amicable manner in which the voters behaved.
Coming from Aruba and Curaçao, what stood out was the camaraderie between the supporters of the DP, the SPM and the WIPM parties. Everybody, and I mean everybody, as we would say here, ate out the same plate. People with three different color T-shirts, caps and flags, all eating together. Voters wearing T-shirts of a different political party, meeting and hugging each other. Even hanging out for a while with each other after having voted. This was the trend on election day here in St. Maarten. Even after 2010 during all of those toppling of governments with all its ups and downs, the people remained civil.
Notwithstanding COVID and [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma and the other ups and downs, we had four years of stability. As usual, not everybody, including myself, agreed wholeheartedly with what was going on in government, but nothing to compare with what has become of St. Maarten during the last I would say nine to ten months. Suddenly everybody has become corrupt, thieves, dirty this and dirty that. People who formerly stood firm on their feet all of a sudden became followers.
Social media is used to degenerate no matter who. Holland is advocating same sex marriage, and who am I to determine how people should feel about each other. Of late we increasingly see that kind of behavior revealing itself.
There were elections in Holland before ours and the party led by Geert Wilders emerged the biggest party. One of the first things that was highlighted was his sexuality. Not in defense of anyone and definitely not in defense of the Prime Minister because, after 10-10-’10, anyone who succeeded in keeping a government functioning in St. Maarten for four consecutive years should be able to defend themselves in personal matters. I read a letter to you in the paper of January 16 which ended: “Sincere statesmanship involves accountability and self reflection.” Qualities that seem to be lacking in your recent statements.
I have also expressed myself sometimes tough, in my letters to you.
Also I agree with some of what is written in the letter “A woman of state?”, but the contents of the whole letter was as if the writer was spewing venom.
There are two things which irk me: When people write to the Editor about others and are not responsible enough to let their name be added to the letter; and when women denigrate and belittle each other. I do not approve of women smearing each other. And that is simply because they are women and should know what the result of smearing each other brings. It remains that the way the world looks at women is different than the world looks at men. Men do not get pregnant and are not the subject of ridicule of pregnancy out of wedlock; men do not have abortions; and I can continue with a lot of things that bring (probably not rightfully so) scorn to women.
With the formation of this government and knowing the political history of those involved, it confirms the saying “Politics makes for strange bedfellows.” So I would like to ask the people of St. Maarten: When you sit back and think, is it so that politics really hurt you that much that all of a sudden people who you do not know where they come from could turn you so much against your neighbour, who cared for your child when you could not afford a babysitter, or what about the neighbors who pass each other food over the wall? Who are we going to fight with or ridicule or expose their dirty linen when in six months there is still no minimum wage regulation or when we have to continue bleeding through our noses because the water and light situation is not regulated?
When I see all of this reaction, I have to think, “What’s in it for me?”
Russell A. Simmons
Madame Prime Minister,
You are showing that you are as weak and petty of a loser as you were in governing this country. Your first statements following the elections were to a Curaçao newspaper where you slyly questioned the stability of the new coalition and called one of the coalition parties corrupt. You even somehow managed to imply that you and your opposition-bound party are victims.
Reading your recent interview left me baffled at the audacity with which you paint yourself as a victim of political circumstances. It’s quite a spectacle to witness someone who lost two seats in Parliament, failed miserably to form a new government, and got out-polled within her own party, carry on as if the people just removed the greatest remedy for all of their ills. Your expression of concern for the stability of the new coalition seems more like sour grapes than genuine worry.
The irony is staggering. You talk about integrity and label others corrupt while conveniently forgetting the corrupt members and actions within your own government. It takes a special kind of hypocrisy to accuse others of corruption while turning a blind eye to the skeletons in your own political closet.
Your party’s recent electoral defeats should serve as a wake-up call rather than an opportunity to play the victim. The public is growing weary of your vindictive ways and self-absorbed governing style.
Your so-called representation at the “highest possible level” seems to be nothing more than a façade for a government that increasingly believes its own hype, neglecting the call to serve the people that was placed upon it 4 years ago. Ironically, in your attempt to paint the opposition parties black, you inadvertently, through tone and attitude, showed the world why your party lost the election, but I’m guessing you didn’t even realise it.
Maybe it’s time to take a hard look in the mirror and reflect on the actual reasons behind your party’s decline. Blaming the opposition for keeping you out of government is a feeble attempt to deflect from the real issues. The people of St. Maarten deserve better than a leader who sees every setback as a personal attack.
In conclusion, Ms. Jacobs, it’s time to drop the victim act and face the reality that your party’s shortcomings are a result of its own actions or lack thereof. Sincere statesmanship, Madame “Woman of State”, involves accountability and self-reflection, qualities that seem to be sorely lacking in your recent statements.
Name Withheld
Dear Editor,
Hypocrisy is another buzz word these days, as politicians are revealing their true colours, day after day. It is ironic that Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs could find time to run to every radio station to market herself, but couldn’t find time to address the population on matters of concern. Now that she sensed that she won’t return as prime minister, she is negotiating to be the president of parliament.
Why vote for Rolando Brison, an MP who refused to hold his coalition partner accountable to parliament and to the people whom he was elected to represent? This braggadocio claims that he initiated the most motions in parliament, but never being ratified by government. So, who is fooling who? This narcissist has disgraced the reputation of parliament. Never again should this behaviour be allowed to repeat itself.
MP Melissa Gumbs sat for four consecutive years in parliament and did absolutely nothing. For the most part, she was very much disengaged in the meetings. This MP passed her time by playing games on her computer like a little kid who is bored. She was completely engulfed in her own world, while the business of the people was being conducted.
It’s amazing how her party consistently preached about the issue of change. But what is the real motive behind this change? Is it a change for the youngsters of St. Maarten to adapt her lifestyle? MP Melissa, level with the people and let us know if it’s your intention to go to the schools and encourage the students to be engaged in same-sex relationship?
MP Melissa Gumbs, be up front with the parents and let them know if it is the vision of the party to demand that the schools adopt unisex bathrooms. Be straight with the population and tell us if it is your party’s dream to turn St. Maarten into a woke society, like how it’s destroying America today.
MP Raeyhon Peterson is no different. He too has failed miserably. This MP is always late for meetings and when he does show up, he has absolutely nothing to offer. Probably he suffers from a lot of party hangovers and from smoking too much. It is so sad that this MP can boast about mastery of the Dutch language and has done nothing to elevate the level of parliament.
Finance Minister Ardwell Irion has demonstrated that he is just a little kid, still crying for his pacifier. Imagine, a grown individual constructed a paper plane and had the nerve to look for it by a garbage bin? Then, he rode up and down in front of the government building on a scooter, as if he was still in primary school?
Minister Irion, was your family member correct when she said that you are false; collecting rental payment that should be distributed among the siblings and you are not living up to your obligations? When would you quit going to these houses of ill repute and behaving drunk? This is not the conduct of a minister. It is time that the population hold our elected representatives to a level that exemplifies their positions.
Tamara Leonard is back, still pretending to have God at the center of her being, but running with a party leader who has not displayed any form of respect for women nor the position that he holds. How can she brag about writing books with values, but associate herself with a party that does not value these principles which she is promoting.
Doctor Mercelina is always advocating for the poor and improved healthcare for all. What has he done really, to better these conditions? Absolutely nothing! All he does is talk, talk talk. Why doesn’t he tell us the truth about the amount of amputees that has quadrupled in recent years? Is it true that for every amputation, he is compensated a certain percentage, along with his salary?
MP Sidharth Bijlani is just a rubber stamp for MP Rolando Brison and the UP party. This illiterate was given a chance to elevate himself as the chair of parliament and he blew it, by being too cocky, instead of taking the time to understand the workings of parliament.
Minister Rodolphe Samuel’s time has come for him to retire as a politician. He was just the wrong choice to be appointed as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. No one likes him in his ministry because he speaks to his personnel like he is so superior to them. And, the worst thing he could have done was to rehire the previous Department Head of Education as his cabinet chief.
Hypocrisy does not blend well with democracy.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
The first thing that comes to mind is that one cannot overstate the value and beauty of democracy. Democracy functioned; it prevailed on St. Maarten.
Many were convinced that the old government that successfully managed to stay in power for four (4) years, an admirable achievement on its own, would be reelected straight out.
Others started talking about the so-called silent opposition, especially in the last months leading up to the election. This, with the expected speculation about which party would be supported by the Silent Opposers.
All communities have their unique characteristics and so also our relatively small village called St. Maarten. If this election taught us anything, is that the St. Maarten people are not only resilient, as shown time and again after hurricanes/disasters, but also very perceptive. Often, silently perceptive and decisive.
The election showed that – the majority of – the St. Maarten voters value:
1. Decency, an attentive, down-to-earth, straightforward way of being of our political leaders, instead of arrogant, belittling and demeaning attitudes, often premised on a false perception of power;
2. The rulings by the St. Maarten Court. This, by not reelecting and/or supporting those convicted for corruption and/or withdrawing their support to their network;
3. The – semblance of – integrity, by also withdrawing support to those who in the court of the people’s opinion maybe insufficiently managed to concretely disprove or even contest accusations of improprieties, specifically of corruption.
The, for the time being, new coalition, is wise to consider and respect these core values of the St. Maarten people. If history teaches us anything, is that the St. Maarten people can namely today support you, and tomorrow not! Another attestation of the beauty and functionality of democracy within our society.
There are also hard-working and dedicated politicians, with tangible achievements, who will now be part of the opposition or maybe even no longer in the political field.
Be perseverant!
Also, don’t forget that the tides change fast on our beautiful island.
More importantly, that whilst criticizing on the sideline is relatively easy, governing, the ability to come up with, implement and realize constructive solutions/projects, isn’t.
Let’s all, finally, not forget that government functions are not ours. They belong to the people whom we can, if elected and under given circumstances, temporary serve!
Jairo Bloem
Dear Editor,
By now we should know that without stability in government not much happens.
A person who always needles me about my opinions called me on Wednesday and told me that he expects me to vote for Anna Richardson tomorrow because I have highlighted what she has done throughout her reign as Minister of Justice, because he has to accept that even though she was criticised, when it come down to facts, she did more than plenty of the others since she got in there.
I personally will not boast about that because I realize that Minister Anna Richardson was aware of the fact that she was put in government to do a job and that according to me she did it to the best of her ability. Also, when I evaluate the kind of blows she got, and from those whom one would least expect, with her endeavor to get more than 700 justice workers what is due to them, and she was not deterred from completing that which she set out to do.
Right now there is a picture of a party leader circulating social media who as of present spent 10 years in government and in those 10 years did not propose any laws or propose to amend any laws. He did not have any laws passed nor did he achieve anything for the people, but his accumulated salary during those 10 years was NAf. 2,280,000. That is one circulating on social media, but I believe that there are a few more who have similar records who dare criticize the Minister of Justice negatively.
I do not have to think twice. I worked for the Justice ministry since 1965 and in St. Maarten since 1975 when the police were practically involved in everything pertaining to the government in St. Maarten, Statia and Saba, and I also believe that I have a good idea how things work in government. The St. Marten government has certain stalwarts who have sustained the daily operation of the government for years, who because of their tireless effort could be the cause of envious tongues saying, “Nobody is indespensible.” That’s the kind of impression I got of Minister Anna Richardson as she went about making sure she got things done for those 700 justice workers. I do not believe that everything is perfect, but it should only take the finishing touches.
I believe that any normal-thinking citizen of any country would like for there to be stability in their country. Take it or leave it, we all know that this has not been the case for almost 10 years since 2010. Stability in government has returned to St. Maarten since the National Alliance-led government took over and is the first government which against all odds was not toppled before the end of its term, putting St. Maarten back in a positive light, while members of the other political parties also being part of the government, but constantly positioned themselves in opposition.
What I would like to see if justice is done, with a little tweaking, is for the majority of those people in government to return in order to anchor the stability.
In ending, permit me to state this: When I stressed that stability in government is a big thing, I was asked, “what did the stable government do?” Knowing which political party he patronizes, I asked him to mention to me something that his party, whose members have consistently claimed to be in opposition, had done for the people in four years? His answer also was they are not in government. Automatically I retaliated with, “What have they done to justify that salary which is almost 10 times the minimum wage?”
Could it be that because Minister Anna Richardson did her utmost to accomplish what she did for those justice workers, envy is showing its ugly head?
Russell A. Simmons
