Dear Editor,

I listened attentively to the Prime Minister’s answer concerning public transportation (if you can call it that) and again it made me sick. He stated that this is on the governing programing 2016-2020 and went on to say that some kind of a service beside bus and taxi transportation should be introduced to be able to accommodate those who need transportation at odd times of the day (or night).

Again, our politicians, in this case PM Marlin, are (I'm fighting hard to use a euphemism saying) fooling us by pretending as if it is so difficult to get public transportation regulated in order to accommodate all the people on a mere 16-square mile of land. I am adamant in my belief that public transportation, especially bus transportation, should be in the hands of the public (government). We are not protecting the pillar of our economy by running the risk of gypsies transporting tourists with all ensuing consequences in case of any mishaps.

Public transportation should be able to reach all points of this 16-square-mile of land. PM Marlin himself told us about the person from Anguilla who comes to Sint Maarten, rents a car and runs gypsy and goes back to Anguilla in the evening, saying business is good. I do not know what he was trying to accomplish by that, but I would think of myself as incompetent after so many years in government in various capacities, and could not get help from the Dutch (my partners), who for years now, are no. 1 in the world in infrastructure of both the country and public transportation, and also no.1 in eye-care.

I added eye-care because we do not have an eye doctor on Sint Maarten. So why are we partners with the Dutch if all they can for us is to lock-up our people, using them to catch bigger fish. The Dutch always say, "Voor wat hoort wat". If this is so, then since they are locking up our people to follow the money, give us something back that we could use. For instance a few eye doctors and advice, or even help in fixing the public transportation, along with treating our pensioners on the same basis in the whole kingdom.

If we are kingdom partners, why let a whole island suffer for the deeds of a few? PM Marlin also knows about the large number of bus permits controlled by politicians and potential Ministers. He also knows that there are persons who have a permanent job, and also have a bus or taxi license. If PM Marlin is going so far as to regulate things as to be able to accommodate illegals, or even worse, if illegals are so powerful that their behaviour has government with its hands in the air, that is not saying much about him as PM.

Take the bull by the horns! Start the Sint Maarten Bus Company (SM.B.C.). Use the transition period to get rid of the personal permits, and use Holland (your partner) to help you with bus routes, etc. This is a way to alleviate the dense traffic and also get rid of the gypsies. They are illegal anyhow!

By the way, the nucleus of Sint Maarten could cause an international war every time anyone speaks of another country, because we are a melting pot of nationalities, so that does not even bother me anymore. Besides that, it is here that they are; we are not there doing it to them, they are here doing it to us.

Finally, someone has caught on and understands that we have to define who is a Sint Maartener, otherwise we are continually going to be like our Prime Minister; being careful and afraid to say what frankly has to be said. Our people have travelled the whole Caribbean and plenty of the world, and have often experienced a different kind of welcome than is displayed here on Sint Maarten, so they are also frustrated when they find themselves being skipped over for others.

So to repeat myself and amplify Minister Jacobs, we have to define who is a Sint Maartener to be able to do what every, and I repeat, every other of the surrounding islands and beyond do, put our people first. To sum it up, we need a government Sint Maarten Bus Company, we need eye doctors, we need our infrastructure adjusted for public transportation, we need Sint Maarteners in these positions and we cannot any longer permit illegals handling our visitors (gypsy).

Do not implement that irregular transport, or whatever the intention is to call it. Let the S.M.B.C. do its work first, let the hotels provide their transportation if necessary after the S.M.B.C is working. The taxi's will do their share, and then, if necessary, deal with that irregular transportation situation. Where there’s a will there's a way!

Now this question directly to the Prime Minister. I worked 41 years for government, yes government, and built up a certain salary. When I went on pension we all know what happened to that salary. Why should a member of Parliament, no matter what he or she did before, who worked only 4 years and had all those additional goodies, have rights to a tapering off compensation for two years, and not me and many of us who worked 10 times or more than that Member of Parliament? And should it really be so that I should be still paying tax contributing to, in my opinion, that kind of rip off. Especially when there has totally not been any kind of legislation coming from those MPs improving life on Sint Maarten?

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

The simplest solution to the growing crime being perpetrated against our jewellery merchants is to eliminate the getaway vehicles of the criminals.

First, all scooter and motorcycle traffic should be banned from the street during business hours. Two police officers should be stationed on Front Street at all times, one at L’Escargot and one in the square just beside Ballerina.

All cars coming down the street should be stopped by the officers, if the car is occupied by an obvious tourist or delivery vehicle then they should be allowed to pass. If the car in question is occupied by non-tourists or not a delivery person then those vehicles should be steered up the streets past Anand Indian restaurant in the case of the L’Escargot stop, or up past the courthouse in the case of the centre of town.

Presto, no more getaway vehicles.

Ian Shaw

Dear Editor,

Repeatedly, one can hear parliamentarians lamenting on the issue of not feeling any energy from the Minister of Finance. Is it really that the budget is missing its lustre, or parliamentarians have become frail, due to discontentment within the organisation? My conclusion: there is a dirty game that is being played and it is possible that the table will turn sooner than later. So, this dark cloud that is being placed on the budget has absolutely nothing to do with the financial statement.

Isn’t a budget similar to the weather forecast, which is compiled and disseminated, based on the elements that are in the atmosphere at that given moment? Therefore, a budget is a projection of the country’s revenues and expenditures, due to its current economic climate. Just like how the weather can change, so is the financial statement as well.

Parliamentarians need to leave their party displeasure at their headquarters and focus on the matter at hand. How could MP’s make a decision to support a budget before acquiring all of the specifics of the document? This is a very strange and immature way of handling such a critical manuscript. A budget needs to be analysed thoroughly; therefore, no MP should take a decision just for the sake of passing the budget. Then they display this feigned attitude of being frustrated because they are not feeling the Finance Minister? Parliamentarians are the ones who lack the energy when they chose to fight with the Minister rather than to have a meaningful dialogue.

Look at the MP who is desperate to be the next Tourism Minister. What does he do? He always disappears whenever there is an important discussion, even the one as critical as the budget debate. It is such an adolescent mindset to hold the Finance Minister hostage for presenting a “conservative” budget. Politicians are upset with him because he is refusing to allow them to spend monies that are not available.

Our elected officials have failed to realise that due to their lavish spending in the past is what has caused the Minister to present a “shotgun” and a “conservative” budget respectively. Isn’t this approach a model of financial discipline? Part of the assessment of the budget is to analyse the benefits to the country when it does not exceed its expenditures. Another aspect of the budget is to bring into focus that the document is a collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers. Together, they control the finances of the land. Their decisions affect the direction of St. Maarten; it is time that parliament exert its authority and redirect the course of this country.

For instance: the Labour Department is one of the four evils that have destroyed the integrity of St. Maarten. I expected parliamentarians to hammer the Labour Minister on issues that are affecting the livelihood of the people. This section of the Ministry is what is causing a lot of disturbances in this country. If the Minister wants to play hardball, then parliamentarians should give him a vote of no confidence and appoint someone who will stand up for the people!

Again, this is why it is absurd for any MP to say that the budget has his or her support, when answers to critical questions are not forthcoming. This is the reason why discussing the budget has become a merry-go-round because MP’s are the ones who are directing the game, by failing to apply pressure on the Ministers to demand proper representation for the citizens. But this approach can only be successful when elected officials quit the grandstanding and have an intellectual discourse with the Council of Ministers.

Looking at the allocation of monies, it is rather disappointing to see the inadequate funds that are distributed to the Ministries of Justice and Economic Affairs. These two Ministries need some serious revitalisation, otherwise this gloomy economy and sporadic crime will just compound themselves.

Everyone knows that I am a very strong proponent of education, but why is it that the Ministry of Education has to consistently get the lion’s share when it has failed consecutively to stay horizontal with the demands of the labour market? MP’s do not want to dive into the problematic areas within this Ministry. Some shifted the blame to another Ministry without looking at the long-term effect. I will repeat myself by saying that compulsory education has diluted the quality of education.

I have been very critical of former MP Leona Marlin-Romeo, but I must give her credit for being the only MP who has acknowledged this looming dilemma.

It is clear that the majority of parliamentarians do not understand the work of art of the organisation to which they belong. Until they do, mediocrity will continue to take centre stage and people will forever be excluded from economic advancement.

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

Self-control is the key to seeing if you will master your own destiny. I am a firm believer in not talking about other people, but talk about and examine myself. Reason being you are responsible for your own actions. Self-control is a spiritual thing. It is the war of the soul. Let me explain.

Most or all of us do what we want to do, but we do not do what we ought to do. In my life, I see the mistakes I made in the past, that if I had controlled myself, I could have been a very rich and powerful person. But at the time I did not control myself. Responsibility, endurance and discipline are the keys that will determine how successful you can be. All 3 put together are part of self-control. Lying, stealing, and cheating are all part of not controlling yourself, which every individual is responsible for.

I have seen families fall apart because one of the partners lacks self-control. I see family business fail because one of the partners lacks self-control. I have seen rich people become poor because of lack of self-control. I have also seen negative turn into positive, because people learn to control themselves.

The flesh is weak; it has desires and if you do not control it, it will destroy you. It is said how powerful is any man or woman who cannot control his or her own emotions. Guns do not kill people; people kill people. Making more laws do not protect people, it is self-control and obedience to God’s laws that will keep you safe.

It is the drunk driver in a car who is dangerous, not the car. Alcohol is not dangerous; it is the person who cannot control his or herself from drinking too much who makes it dangerous.

Whatever you do in life, think it through well; examine yourself. Please base your decisions on facts, not on emotions. Sex is great, but if you do not control yourself, it will destroy you. The flesh loves sex, too much is never enough. Now I understand why Christ said, “Crucify the flesh”. Many great leaders of the past, like King David and the world strongest man Samson lost, the lack of self-control made them from all-powerful to nothing.

The devil does not make anybody do anything bad. Satan motivates your weakness by seducing your lack of self-control, but in the end, it is your decision. You are responsible. The conclusion of self-control is the war of the soul, it is either your will be done versus God’s will. I am not judging you, I am fighting that fight every day. But I am determined to win. Remember, practice self-control!

The patriot Miguel Arrindell