My fellow St. Maarten/St. Martiners, as we assemble together once again this year on November 11, to commemorate our national day, let us ponder for a moment on how far we have come as a country.
As we look back, we can truly recognise the numerous achievements we have made thus far. We should pride ourselves that as a young country, we are making bold steps in order to ensure that our “Sweet St. Maarten’s land” remains the jewel of the Caribbean.
We must be mindful of the fact, however, that building a nation or the course of national development is an ongoing process. And before this process can fully come to fruition, we must ensure that our executive, legislative and judicial systems though independent, are fully functioning to a level where our people will be able to benefit and be provided with opportunities that will fuel a better quality of life.
We must be also mindful that St. Maarten, just like every other country in development, will face many, many challenges. The focus of our governing process as well as our constitutional stance irrevocably concludes that we are committed to the strengthening of our institutions in order to manage our affairs. We must remain vigilant in our endeavours, however. We must continue to work diligently and responsibly to build upon our accomplishments with the foundations that have been established.
On this St. Maarten/St. Martin’s day, let us continue our quest for a more resilient country; one that that continues to harvest through the peaceful cooperation and in the true essence of friendship, which has been solidified over the past centuries by our forefathers.
Let us in the process of nation building remain a people of hope, a people of optimism, and a people who are committed to propelling our nation forward in a collective manner. Let us remain true to the precepts of Christian values and principles and never lose sight of our vision as a people.
On behalf of the Parliament of St. Maarten, I wish to extend a very safe and Happy St. Maarten/St. Martin’s Day to all. May it be a memorable one for you and your family as we celebrate our patriotism in reverent togetherness.
May God continue to bless our beloved St. Maarten/St. Martin.
Claret M.M. Connor
President of Parliament
Dear Editor,
Rain Forest Adventures would like to express gratitude and a sincere apology to the residents, students, teachers and professionals of the Saunders/St. Peters area.
In hindsight, we should have warned people of the noise utilizing a helicopter to assist in the construction of Rockland Estate. I hope you will share our view that this project will be very good for St Maarten once complete.
We intend to be complete with the helicopter work by November 18.
Rain Forest Adventures
Dear Editor,
Some people may not know this, but we do have a new Parliament. I am not sure that we can afford to give them 100 days (over three months salary) to learn the ropes.
Some of us may not last 100 days. Some of our children are being affected, as I write this.
Some of our elderly are being affected. Many of our taxpaying residents are being affected. Can they survive 100 days?
MPs, you asked for a job, you were hired now do the damn job. How difficult is it to talk to each other by phone, via WhatsApp, by email, on the road or in the bar? If those supporting government won't call a meeting, then the five in opposition must request one, for the health of the residents in Cay Bay, and the students and teachers who go to the area. The situation in Cay Bay must be resolved post haste.
And, while resolving that we have an “asbestos situation” at the King Alexander School in St. Peters that must be properly explained to the residents of St. Peters. Is there an asbestos threat in St. Peters? Is the yellow tape around the fence keeping the asbestos dust secured within the school premises? Let me remind you that there are four schools and the “old people’s home” in close proximity to the King Alexander School. The residents of St. Peters matter too.
This not a rant. It’s a demand for action
Clifton R. Wilson
Dear Mr. Editor,
In the relationship of The Hague and the islands of Bonaire, Statia, and Saba, The Hague has, among others, also the responsibility to make sure that each island’s administration provides basic service to the people of the island. So far Statia has failed miserably to comply with that responsibility. This is the result of the fiscal distress suffered by the island now for years. This distress is notable by the imbalance between the level of financial resources committed by the island/The Hague and the basic expenditures of the island.
Dear Editor,
For nearly a year, up until this past July, the FBI under the direction of James Comey had been examining the private emails of Hillary Clinton to determine if there were any criminal violations. This was spurred on by the loud clamour of Republicans for such an investigation. Comey and his associates questioned Clinton at length last spring, and in early July, Comey at a press conference reviewed the investigation, and stated that there was no evidence of any criminal violations.
This set off a firestorm by Donald Trump, his supporters and allies. Trump, who has no legal background, called Comey incompetent and suggested there was a cover-up. His supporters, activated by his rantings, were equally condemning of the FBI Director, and Paul Ware, the House majority leader, also with no legal experience, echoed Trump’s accusations.
This issue quieted down over the next few months as the candidates had three debates and other issues had developed, including a video of Trump bragging about being able to kiss and grope pretty women because he was a celebrity. According to polls, Clinton had a 5- point lead on Trump with clear support in the critical key states. But then out of the blue, on October 28th, 10 days before the election, Comey submitted a letter to each of the Republican committee chairmen in Congress, reporting that additional emails had been found and the FBI was re-opening the investigation of Clinton.
Later it was revealed that these were not Clinton’s emails, but that the FBI found these emails while investigating emails on a computer of Anthony Weiner, the disgraced former member of Congress from NYC and former husband of Huma Abedin, an assistant to Hilary Clinton. Weiner had been sending emails to an under-aged girl. Apparently, there were some of Abedin’s emails on this computer as well. Comey acknowledged that he and his associates had not read these emails before sending the letter.
The Hatch Act, which had been enforced for decades, prohibited Federal officials from supporting candidates in elections. Comey knew this when he sent the letters supporting Trump’s positions. There was also an unwritten rule in the Justice Department and FBI that nothing would be revealed about an investigation until after it had concluded.
Members of the Justice Department warned Comey about what he planned to do, but he ignored them. Lastly, FBI and Justice Officials had a longstanding rule that no information, which could affect the outcome of an election, would be released within 60 days of an election. Yet, Comey sent out his letters ten days before the election contrary to these rules and the Hatch Act, even though he had no evidence of Clinton’s involvement.
Democrats and even some Republican politicians strongly criticized Comey for what he had done. One longstanding Republican said what Comey had done was “disgraceful”. He boosted Trump and his followers by re-introducing Clinton’s emails as a big issue in the campaign. Trump immediately latched on to this. His ads the past few days have highlighted Comey’s investigation as proof against Clinton, and reiterating that Clinton is a crook, who has repeatedly violated the law.
He lauded Comey as a brave and intelligent man and went on to assail Clinton as the “most corrupt politician” to run for president. Polls showed that Clinton’s lead had shrunk to one point within a few days, and indeed, one-third of voters said they could not vote for here now.
Then on November 1, the FBI released documents which were part of an investigation by the FBI in 2001 of Bill Clinton’s pardon of a businessman at the conclusion of his presidency. No charges were assessed. Why release these old records at this time, days before the election? Talk about “piling on”.
What Comey has done is disreputable and his questionable actions could very well affect the outcome of the election this coming Tuesday, allowing Trump to win. Having in mind what Trump has been saying and doing during the campaign and in his private life, this would be a disaster for the future of the United States.
Steve Hopkins
