Dear Editor,
I read an article in The Daily Herald of Wednesday, August 10, entitled, "No more accomplishments, please" signed by someone, who didn't dare to put his or her name to the article, and so it was signed: "Name withheld at author's request."
The unnamed author wrote about some of the ills plaguing our country for years, and blames the current government for these ills. So, unnamed author, let me elucidate the facts to you.
1) The 15% decrease in tourist arrivals did not occur after November 2015, when the current coalition took office. It stems years and years back when the former government was in office.
2 and 3) The 30% loss of Island spending and the loss of Disney and NCL cruise lines did not occur during the current coalition's term either. This happened while the previous government was in office. Check your facts.
4 and 5) the unprecedented number of fires on the landfill. Please, don't tell me that you are not aware that fires on the landfill go back many years. Years that the previous government was in office. I hope you don't believe that these fires started only after November 2015. I recalled being called to the homes of several disgusted residents of Walter Nisbeth Road to see what damage the smoke from the Landfill has been causing them. That was certainly not under the watch of the current coalition.
6) A waste of taxpayers' money for a parking lot on Kimsha Beach. First of all, unnamed author, the name of the beach is Simpson Bay. There is no beach on St. Maarten or St. Martin called Kimsha Beach. But, despite that, I know what you mean. You may consider the parking lot to be an extension of the Causeway Bridge: a true waste of taxpayers' money.
7) Finalizing the government building is a task that the previous government was unable to accomplish in their many, many years in office. How incompetent!
8) Increasing taxes via fuel tax and electricity consumption (Is this a joke, or what?) Citizens of this island have been complaining about the high fuel clause attached to their electricity bill for years. The same years that the previous government was in charge. And, unnamed author, I wonder if you were aware of some of the measures that the previous government was about to apply before leaving office, but were annulled by this coalition. Measures such as 18% increase on road tax and to taking away the civil servants' (including school teachers) vacation allowance, etc.
9) Management of GEBE in total disarray. I somewhat agree with that statement, but it was the former government that had GEBE's management in disarray. This government is responsible for the recent appointment of the new COO and the new CFO of GEBE. Is that the disarray you are referring too?
10) Total lack of vision for our one-pillar economy. Who are you praising for having our economy as a "one-pillar" economy for 40 years and more? Certainly not the current coalition. Lack of vision? Please, unnamed author, go back to your drawing board and check your facts. The lack of vision comes from the former government's years and years of governing with no plan of action.
When you criticize, be truthful with it. By the way, I know why you didn't put your name to your letter. I wouldn't had put my name to such a ridiculous letter either.
Fernando R. Clark
Dear Editor,
On Thursday, chairman of the Island Council Julian Woodley, made his sixth attempt to call an island council meeting requested by the DP faction. Just like what happened in the previous five meetings, the sole agenda point the financial household of government and the recently introduced stop on the undertaking of new financial obligations (verplichtingenstop) by the minister was therefore again not debated. This time, however, also Councilman Merkman of the UPC was present at the meeting, thus avoiding the customary tie with the votes whereby the point was stricken off the agenda without the need for a second meeting.
I do not want to waste much time on the yelling, name calling and foot-stamping, which the PLP faction members resorted to in order to convince the chairman on how he should chair his meeting. It was more interesting to learn what the reasoning was of the ruling coalition to avoid the debate on such an important topic. According to Councilman Van Putten, the debate could not yet take place since, according to him, an investigation at the finance department is ongoing.
According to him, this investigation is a direct result of the initiative of the commissioner to travel to The Hague, where she convinced the ministry that it is time for action. The Commissioner of Finance needs her time to bring to light, with the assistance of a handful of external accountants, what exactly the problem with her finance department is.
Therefore, according to Van Putten, it is premature to have a meeting at this point in time and this meeting should take place only when the coalition parties decide that it should take place. This does not sound very democratic either.
To start with the last part, in our democratic system also a minority has the right to have a meeting called when they feel it is the right time. This right is clearly being trampled on by the coalition parties. Furthermore, contrary to what Van Putten wants us to believe, there is no investigation going on at all. The accountants are instructed by the minister to clear up the mess of the budget 2016, whereby it has become impossible to establish what the status is.
In other words, the commissioner lost complete track of what she spent and what is still in her wallet. In its letter of July 19, the ministry clearly stated that there is no longer confidence in the financial reporting, since the information is untrustworthy. Halfway the year budget items may already be depleted, while others appear soon to be depleted. The assistance by the accountant was also already put in place since at least June 27 (see a letter of the Kingdom Representative of that date).
The visit of the commissioner to The Hague might have sped up the process a little. The fact that now the good Councilman Van Putten comments the commissioner with her visit to The Hague, is in stark contrast with the instruction he gave her and then colleague Zaandam more than a year ago to abort a visit to The Hague for the same purpose. If he had allowed the assistance of the ministry at that time, a lot of the problems we are now facing could have been avoided.
The accountants have until the end of August to have a clear picture of where we stand with the 2016 budget. After this, a budget amendment will be required in order to get it back in line, the way it is stipulated in the FINBES. How this exactly will look like I am unwilling to predict.
Koos Sneek
Democratic Party (DP) Statia
Dear Editor,
Long ago and times away define friendships today as yesterday. We were as being now, interactions always the same, chemistry as never changing.
Having lived through things as part of conversation still maintains the profound cord of underlying understanding settled at the fist spark of “yes that will be my friend”, I recognize her/him right away. That recognition is the infinite of not going back.
Be it in absence or presence. The conversation might teeter on a slight or hold, but once taken up has never faltered and gaping holes sporadically shattered filled back in an easy stride to have never happened.
Our inner self is what we are and speak to everyday, and that is the same as it was as from the onset. Regardless of the piled-on experiences, that core is what we were and still will be.
History is our bond and my friendships are cherished forever.
M.I.A. Roos
(From Curaçao Chronicle)
I would like to share my bad experience at C-Post with the community of Curaçao.
About 2 months ago I bought an interior panel for my car from Canada and asked my cousin to do me the favor and send it to Curaçao directly as I found no shipping facilities to the island by the seller. So my cousin received the part in London and had to send it by express shipping as it’s the only method to Curaçao which is more expensive.
The part arrived in Curaçao while I was abroad, so C-Post returned the part to my cousin stating no one picked it up. I was upset to hear that but I thought it was my fault and didn’t stop on. I asked my cousin to send it again and he did it and of course repaid the express charge again.
After 3 weeks I still didn’t get any arrived note mail, I decided to call C-Post and they replied; “Ohh we just returned the part to Canada.” I got upset and I asked her to help me returned it back. She said I have to talk to the supervisor. I went to the supervisor and claimed that I didn’t get any notification mail from C-Post. “How do you decide to return it so quickly?” She promised to inform Canada Post to send it back on their responsibility and I calmed down.
A few days later my cousin called and said that they returned the part to his office again. I couldn’t understand that so I went to supervisor again. She didn’t have an answer and said; “We cannot do anything else as he received the part.”
I had to contact the director of C-Post and talked to her and she didn’t let me even tell her what happened. She got my name and said that she will ask her colleagues what happened and she will call me back later … that was about a month ago … didn’t get any response yet.
By Moe
Dear Editor,
With much amusement I listened to the National Alliance introduce their party's slate of 23 candidates, and tout their list of accomplishments over their 9-month governing period and I have to wonder if they believe the people of St. Maarten to be uneducated, ignorant or uninformed.
What has this Government done for the people of St. Maarten?
1)15% decrease in tourist arrivals, while neighbouring islands are experiencing record growth.
2) A 30% loss of on island spending with the loss of Disney and NCL cruise lines.
3) A missed investment of $65 million in St. Maarten by Disney and NCL cruise lines to Tortola.
4) An unprecedented number of fires at the Landfill spewing toxic smoke in our communities.
5) An unprecedented number of asthma and other lung related ailments reported at our hospital due to the same landfill.
6) A waste of taxpayers’ money on Kimsha Beach for a parking lot.
7) Finalizing of the government building, which was the fiasco created by National Alliance candidate and convict Louis Laveist, that is costing taxpayers millions of dollars unnecessarily.
8) Increasing taxes via fuel tax and electricity consumption.
9) The management at TelEm and GEBE is in total disarray.
10) Total lack of vision for our one-pillar economy: tourism
Based on the above I am asking, no, pleading with the National Alliance Government; No more accomplishments please!!
Name withheld at author's request.
