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,
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,
When dealing with a Cancer patient ZVK should be more sympathetic and compassionate. The fright and stress alone of being told that one has cancer is hard to handle.
But for persons that do not know one thing about you other than what they read in your medical file, to be in charge of deciding your faith and can determine the outcome of your treatment is unacceptable.
My name is Sandra Rogers-Gibbs and I am 73 years young and I reside on the island of Statia. I was originally sent to Colombia for a check-up of a surgery I had earlier this year and while there I suddenly received a phone call that I had breast cancer. That is a very hard blow for anyone let alone getting this news while in a foreign country. Since I was already there, my doctor forwarded all the relevant documents pertaining to my breast cancer to Colombia.
I accepted my faith and did what the doctors suggested, knowing it was in my best interest. I had a total left breast mastectomy including the lymph nodes under my arm. The oncologist said I would need two different types of chemo and recommended I start as soon as possible as I had stage III cancer. It's because of the way I was treated in Colombia and the compassion and kindness that was extended to me by all involved, even strangers that it was so upsetting for me to learn that my chemo was denied.
Had I have known from the beginning that I would potentially have to do the follow up of Chemo or Radiation elsewhere than Colombia I never would have agreed to the surgery.
So, for Bonaire to deny my treatment is a hard pill to swallow. One’s life, no matter the age should not be more valuable than the other, especially when dealing with cancer. We are talking about a deadly disease not a common cold.
What makes the life of a Bonairean more valuable than that of a Statian? There are persons in Colombia from Bonaire and Saba receiving chemo because they have no faith in receiving the proper treatment on their respective (surrounding) islands. It's hard to understand how a Bonairean is not told to have chemo in Curaçao because it's closer but a Statian has to return from Colombia where they can get the best treatment possible to go to SXM to have chemo. Most importantly one must take into consideration the fact that medical health care in Colombia is far cheaper than the USA or the Netherlands. ZVK should be mindful of the fact that numerous persons from the islands who were receiving treatment in Colombia and were sent back to the islands for chemo to receive treatment in SXM have eventually ended up dead!
I had the support of my surgeon, oncologist and International Office in Colombia whose hands were all tied even though they all thought it would be in my best interest to stay there where they were already familiar with my case and ready to help me. Based on their advice I made a last ditch attempt on Monday, September 5, and called the Bonaire office to speak to a medical advisor about my case. In speaking to him the connection was lost twice. The saddest and most disrespectful fact is that in speaking to one of the medical advisors in Bonaire I was told that he can approve for the chemo to start ASAP but the hotel cost would have to be paid by me personally. This is unheard of and an injustice to the highest extent.
On the third try that I called back I was told that he was in a meeting discussing my case and I would be hearing back from them soon. Knowing that I already had my ticket to travel back the following day and it was almost 5 in the afternoon Bonaire time, I called back to see what had been decided and to my disappointment I was told the answer was "NO"! I thanked the gentleman for his time and told him I would be contacting the media and Internet via Facebook and the ombudsman.
I Therefore plead to you the ombudsman to intervene in this matter and help me in getting this situation resolved ASAP as I would feel more comfortable being referred back to Colombia to receive the treatment I desperately need.
But most importantly implore you to see to it that there are clear guidelines across the board for all citizens of the BES Islands and each and every person residing on these islands should be treated equally!!
Fighting to live,
Sandra Rogers-Gibbs,
Cherry Tree,
St. Eustatius
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.
Dear Editor,
Mr. Bas de Haan is among multiple fatal accidents we have had on the Airport Road throughout the years which is a clear indication that something needs to be done. How many lives need to be lost before the authorities implement safety systems such as speed bumps, pedestrian crossings and clear markings on the roads? Our lives matter and our safety matters!
It’s sad and disheartening that another young life is gone due to the recklessness and arrogance of another. How many lives need to be lost? Our lives matter and our safety matters! On June 17, 2016, I too had a bad car accident due to another young person’s recklessness and arrogance and what did the authorities do about it? Nothing! Instead our authorities understanding the severity of the situation when it comes to reckless endangerment, they want to know who was right and wrong was wrong; but when a life is lost there is no right or wrong; it’s a life lost, it’s gone forever.
Mr. Bas de Haan left behind loved ones; his family, friends and students who loved and respected him. It is extremely unfortunate that here on this 37-square-mile island we seem to have lost our sense of purpose, integrity and moral values. We have forgotten the meaning of righteousness, morality and worth. Every time someone dies in an accident we need to remember that that person’s life mattered, they left behind loved ones, they were loved, they were respected, they were a part of something bigger than themselves which is called “Purpose,” but most importantly we must remember that their life and safety mattered!
To our Government, Authorities and Law Makers, I pose the question once more, “How many lives need to be lost before the proper safety systems are implemented on our roads?” Enough is enough! We need speed bumps on the Airport Road to eliminate these horrific accidents. We need pedestrian crossings and clear markings on all the roads so that motorists and cyclists remain on their side of the road.
Additionally, there should be a straight, bold marking along with signs indicating that there should be no over-taking on the Airport Road as failure to do so will invoke severe penalties. Furthermore, the reckless endangerment of others on the road should be viewed as a serious offense and should come with grave penalties such as imprisonment, heavy fines, and licence being suspended or revoked so that these violations cease to exist.
Our island needs to wake up! We have been asleep for too long! Our lives are important, we deserve better because our lives and safety matters!
Lise Coats-Flanders
On behalf of Car Rental Companies, Airport Road
