Dear Editor,

  A recent letter by an MP in your Saturday publication drew our interest. The board of the United St. Maarten Party (US Party) has a simple message it would like to share with the people of St. Maarten, as it pertains to leadership and the role of Members of Parliament. It is noteworthy that a political party has included MP’s on their list, who only underscore the party’s lack of leadership by clearly demonstrating that they too do not understand the expectations of their constituents.

  Every MP, we are sure, understands the importance of the so-called “arms-length” approach when it comes to Ministers being given the space to execute their tasks. Every citizen, however, also expects his or her MP’s to ensure that assurances given to the public are honoured. This means simply that MP’s, who are elected by the people to improve their quality of life, must ensure that Ministers are fulfilling the mandate given to the MP’s by the people.

  It’s called leadership, not political intervention as the MP recently wrote. Leadership in our system is not defined as getting elected to Parliament, appointing Ministers, and then never ensuring that the people are truly taken care of. An MP who prefers to quote regulations and use that as an excuse as to why the people’s business isn’t being taken care of, does not understand his or her role as an MP to always put people first. After a while, the only thing that comes from talking is sound. There will be a point when the people expect you and the Ministers who are appointed by you, to act.

  Taking veiled political jabs is one thing, but implying that police officers are politically impressionable and corruptible is quite another. You are definitely not a leader if you casually imply that any of our civil servants, in particular those in law enforcement, can’t execute their jobs effectively, and in an unbiased manner, if they know a particular MP and Minister with affiliation to a particular party has made sure that a promise made to them, is a promise kept. This is an insult to the men and women in blue.

  Moreover, for an MP to state that “each citizen has the right to have confidence in law enforcement, knowing that it should be impartial and fair” is tantamount to telling citizens that if their party affiliation is different, they cannot trust a police officer to act on their behalf, if the police officer and his or her colleagues receive the tools they need to fight crime from a Minister associated with a particular party. This is an extremely dangerous and irresponsible statement for an MP to make.

  The MP continued by stating: “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 the role of applying equal justice to all.” Now we are very aware that the MP has some challenges keeping her word, which is definitely not her bond, but we are very confident that our police officers do not see political colours when they put their lives on the line every day.

  They deserve more respect than having an MP put to question their professionalism. Officers were denied of their rightful positions for quite some time under the party the MP now represents. The US Party assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Justice in February of this year and boldly said enough was enough. Let’s take care of our people. There is more work to be done, but we have delivered. We stepped in and didn’t look at anyone’s names or party colour. We looked at the fact that they are our people who risk their lives for us every day.

  Instead of congratulating the officers, the MP thought it more important to grind a political axe and decorate it in concern for "separation of powers".  The MP and the party she represents clearly prioritize vindictive practices, politics, and then people……in that order.

  It is even more ironic that the MP would speak about “political influence” when the same MP is famous for vehemently defending the Minister she was responsible for in the not too distant past, as if she were actually sitting in the Minister’s chair. When you lack leadership or leadership skills, and folks already know your “word” is meaningless, you need to be careful not to add “hypocrite” to the laundry list of descriptions.

The Board of the United St. Maarten Party (US Party)

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,

  Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address the St. Maarten electorate.

  Sint Maarten, let’s not be distracted!! Let us take our eyes off the regular, mundane political nit-picking, kleptocracy and nepotism that is taking place in our Island for a moment, and let us look to the future with objective eyes to see what is coming.

  If we continue to overlook and neglect the bigger picture, St. Maarten will end up like many other nations that have turned a blind eye to the realities of their present state and have ended up forfeiting the bright future that is to be had by developing a progressive vision for the nation. Let us not wait for a disaster to bring us together as a people.

  As it stands, we are susceptible to acts of terror, inflation, poverty, civil unrest, epidemics and bomb threats. The truth is that we have failed to enforce proper security measures to ensure the safety of our people and those visiting our friendly island. Let me ask the question: How safe are we?

  How do you inject hope in a hopeless community; how do you lift up the heads of St. Maarteners who feel betrayed by their own government. Our problems are plenty and we are facing an uncertain future: governmentally, economically, socially, financially and spiritually. The one thing we know is that we need the next government to emulate:  forgiveness, tolerance, love and altruism, which is putting the needs of the people above your own!!

  Let us put our energy to fighting for the people of St. Maarten and not each other. All the people of St. Maarten really want from those postulating themselves for the upcoming election is HEART! You cannot lead who you do not love!! St. Maarten people are smart people, they know who is only talking the talk, and who is walking the walk!!

  St. Maarten: elect “true representation”, namely people who will serve you for a change!! “True representation, is when one man can tell another man’s story with the same passion and heart“

  Tell them Mully say so!!

Mulrose Rogers-Toulon

Candidate for St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP)

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