Dear Editor,
Now that the names of candidates have been made public, is the population really paying attention to the manner in which family members are scattered over the various lists? Take for example: 5 grandchildren of one family have postulated themselves on 5 different lists. So, what is the strategy? Was each register designed to recruit persons, who have a sincere interest in politics, or strategically orchestrated to force family members and friends to split up their votes?
The electorate must bear in mind how the votes are calculated. If there is no outright winner, then the votes from all of these little parties will be added to the one that got the most seats. Then what? We are right back to square one!
Do people remember the scenario of 2014, when MP Cornelius de Weever ran with the Democratic Party, while his brother supported the UP? Family members endorsed the former Minister of Health publicly, but split the vote privately for the other sibling. This is exactly what will be playing out; only this time around it is on a much wider scale.
The following questions are for the electorate to answer: How come the brother is not on the UP list this time? Back then, what was the real reason for MP Cornelius de Weever to abandon his own party? Which party benefited from the combined votes of these two candidates? Do we see how politicians and these newcomers are testing the intelligence of the electorate?
Based on this strategy of the century that started in the last election, the 26th of September could never be about the people of this country. It is clear to see that it is riddled with self-interest, greed and elements of dictatorship. Look at how ship-jumpers are consistently rewarded for destroying the future of the country. Pay attention to their positions on the lists. When one ship-jumper was asked which party she is going to support, she remarked that she will go where she is comfortable. Before that, the same party was absolutely no good!
Definitely, politicians with a semblance of integrity, have a very difficult time in performing their duties. If asked, the Prime Minister might be reluctant to admit publicly that the Council of Ministers is constantly threatened by the leader, who was given the Ministry of Justice.
When he cannot get what he wants, he vows to throw down the government. This is what has been happening all the time; so when the population hears this so-called leader speak about integrity and stability, take his words with 10 grains of salt.
When the government fell in 2013, I mentioned in an article that I was disappointed in the Prime Minister, the then Minister of VROMI, when he did not inform the public how the coalition was endlessly intimidated by MPs who supported the union. Today, he is confronted with the same behaviour. MP Frans Richardson should be ashamed of himself.It is like committing treason. This is the same MP who stood up in Parliament and denounced the conduct of the young man in St. Peters, who threatened to hurt the Prime Minister. What is the difference MP?
Politicians must always remember that the longest rope has an end. I will repeat, people need to pay attention to the political development of the country. Shortly after 10-10-10, one politician jumped ship. It wasn’t too long ago that he brought shame to the island’s name when he was caught on camera filling his pockets with money.
The next ship-jumper was MP Frans Richardson. Look at the kind of candidates he is attracting. This is the MP who also stood on the floor of Parliament and made it abundantly clear that he does not want former MP Romain Laville on his list. Truly, birds of a feather flock together!
Come September, the electorate must give a clear mandate and vote out all of these ship-jumpers. There can never be a coalition, otherwise the government will always be unstable. This is why the ministries of Justice, Economic Affairs and VROMI have been a complete failure. Greed and self-interest have hijacked our democracy and the only way to proceed is to devise this strategy of the century!
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
I commend Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Angel Meyers for executing the very important project of connecting the homes on St. Peters Road to the sewage line, and for upgrading the trench behind St. Maarten Academy School.
Sewage has been a big issue in St. Peters for a long time, and it is good to see Government is addressing the issue. I advise the Minister to put funds aside in the draft 2017 budget for sewage connections to homes on Tangerine Road, Lime Road and Grapefruit Road and the hard surfacing of the Genip Road Trench.
As co-founder and former president of St. Peters Community Council, I am very happy to see the vision and hard work of the current Government on Infrastructure projects, such as the paving of the main road and adding of sewage connections, the hard surfacing of the dirt roads and the upgrading of the trenches in the area.
I look forward to Government providing work to the “local boys” of St. Peters/Marigot Hill. We need to make sure that the contractor gives a sub-contract to hire the local boys with the new projects in St. Peters.
Maurice Lake
Independent Member of Parliament
Dear Editor,
The United St. Maarten Party (USP) and its membership is proud of the fact that it honoured the memory of Officer Gamali Benjamin by ensuring that his brothers and sisters in blue of the Police Department have received some of the tools they need to stay safe and fight crime. Officer Benjamin sacrificed his life in August of 2015, while responding to a robbery call of a jewellery store on Front Street. He was shot on that day, August 5, 2015 and died three days later on August 8.
The entire island and elsewhere was thrown into a state of shock when Officer Benjamin was so brutally gunned down. In reflecting on that tragic day, and remembering Officer Benjamin, we figured the best way to honour his memory is to keep our promise to his colleagues that we will do all we can to make sure they get the tools they need. Are we 100% there yet? No, but we have put forward a genuine and sincere effort to take care of the civil servants that fall under the Justice Ministry and that will continue.
When it assumed responsibility over justice in the current governing coalition in early 2016, the USP instructed appointed Minister Edson Kirindongo to “take care of the people first and foremost”. This directive has resulted in more than 140 national decrees signed for police, immigration, customs, national detectives and coast guard; the forensic lab and shooting range building was signed, bought and executed; the camera system was finally realized, the insurance coverage for Ministry of Justice personnel and the establishment of the K-9 brigade, etc.
Officer Benjamin was a decent soul, a good Police Officer and a solid member of this community. All of us felt a sense of loss, many still feel that today. He is never far from our thoughts as was expressed during the launching of the camera system and forensic building. To his family, on behalf of the USP, please take comfort in knowing that he will never be forgotten, cherished forever. The USP honours all law enforcement officers, who put their own safety at risk to ensure the safety of our community. We urge everyone to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that have been made.
Frans Richardson
Member of Parliament
Leader of the United St. Maarten Party (USP)
Dear Editor,
It is somewhat comforting to read in a press release from the Senator of Saint-Martin that “The financial and fiscal autonomy of Saint-Martin is a myth”, following the decision of the Constitutional Council of July 1. It would have taken about 13 years - from 2003 to 2016 – to understand that the top elected officials then – Mayor, Regional Councillor, General Councillors 1 and 2 – were taken for a ride by their socio-professional “advisers,” and that in fact, the autonomy wished for by the top elected officials was but an illusion.
Our Senator is credited in this press release with having stated with courage and fairness the opposite of what the other elected representatives still repeat today with certainty and conviction.
At least, the Senator is admitting what the true reality is. Can we, therefore, hope that the Collectivité will take a more honourable stand in order to put back this part of the island on track, and stop its endemic decline? Will the Senator’s “astonishment” and “disappointment“, the President’s “real disappointment” and “feeling of shock” serve as a wake-up call? The ousted President of the Collectivité, in a letter to all the elected officials of Saint-Martin, called for their collective resignations dubbing the decision of the Constitutional Council as “a violation of our rights “and a blatant “injustice”.
He may be right. But his demand seems to be mere wishful thinking, because our Deputy (MP) believes in “the rule of law”. Beyond the harsh criticism directed towards the former president and refusing, as he stated, to indulge in “futile emotion”, “disappointment and helplessness”, he preferred to engage in “a true concerted strategy of all the forces of Saint-Martin, in order to make both Saint-Martin and the general interest winners”. Yet, Saint-Martin has been a loser for the last thirty years and decision-makers have turned their backs on the general interest. Should we consider this approach as naïvely optimistic?
Elected officials, this situation has been going on for 13 years and more. What are you waiting for to act efficiently, as expected? Ask the people what they think? After all, you are in this position thanks to them, and on their behalf, in order to defend their “own interests”. It’s still time for the Deputy, the Senator and the President to discuss together with a Minister and Advisers of an “omnipotent State” - according to the Senator - only dedicated to take care of its own interests, whereas the Constitutional Council has already pronounced its verdict. Let us stop dreaming!
One month has elapsed since. What do you intend to do collectively? The same project of filling the sea of Marigot Bay, a project that is in the pipeline since 1997! The rehabilitation of our capital after its loss of vitality has been programmed with your help! Indirect taxes which every taxpayer had to pay in order to replenish the coffers of the Collectivité! It is too simple to tax the same taxpayers – who have always paid - the sum of 100 euros for administrative fees on the income tax since 2015. Income is not extensible in a dying economy.
Do you think that with this state of affairs the State and your”advisers” will stop cheating you? On the contrary, they do rejoice at you eagerness to protect their interests. Nevertheless, the people are expecting better from you. The people believe that your indignation should not be abandoned. How much longer will you allow yourselves to be controlled remotely by the same “advisers, who have dragged you to the path of disillusion? Such disillusion was actually predictable since 2003. The Steering Committee was announcing in its press release:”74, it is power together with means”.
The Paris government was sharing competences, yes, but not power. In the presence of the top elected officials on the occasion of their visit to the Overseas Minister on the question of autonomy in February-March 2005 (See my book, The Status Scandal ... L’Harmattan, 2006), the Minister precisely stated: ‘Autonomy was not discussed with the voters at the consultation of December 7, 2003, and it would be incompatible with Europe. The competences of the future Collectivité falling under the law are too less to justify autonomy, unlike Saint-Barths…It would be a manifest error of assessment, for which we will be blamed, to give autonomy to a Collectivité under the supervision of the Regional Chamber of Audits”.
Was the Minister referring to a different autonomy?
Daniella Jeffry
Dear Editor,
Over the past few weeks, the Ministry of Justice has been justly and actively unveiling the plans of the ministry. Plans and projects that have been in the queue to be executed, though commendable, it is important for the Minister of Justice to exercise the separation of powers, and not let the good efforts be tainted with politics
Law enforcement/Justice and politics should never be intertwined, mingled with or even wear a political colour. There is no place for it in the justice system, as each citizen has the right to have confidence in law enforcement, knowing that it should be impartial and fair.
Once that stigma of politics is placed or the affiliation with a political party, then that confidence is broken and Lady Justice no longer wears that role of applying equal justice to all.
At the same token, Members of Parliament should also remember their role and allow ministries to function as they should.
As parliamentarians, our responsibility lies solely within the realms of Parliament; crossing those responsibilities often blurs lines and in fact goes against the checks and balances that were instilled in our Constitution.
Leona Marlin Romeo
Member of Parliament
