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,
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,
The call to serve is not one easily or readily answered. Deciding to be the one who runs toward a disaster while helping others to escape it, or understanding that your time is no longer your own is not a choice many make. When you decide to enter this service, to wear the badge and to live the pledge, you do so knowing that it means that you will put other families above your own. You do it knowing that you will put the community above yourself.
The call to serve comes with a mandate to protect. It is not just a motto etched on our cars and badges. It is indelibly etched in our consciousness. It is woven into our basic foundation.
The spirit of a police officer is much like that of a warrior because of our deep love for everything within these shorelines; we fight fiercely to protect the land and more so, our people. We are all pieces of the whole that make up this nation we love. Each of us is like a single thread in a tapestry. One role or placement is not more important than another, but with each of us giving our contribution, the beauty of the image is visible. The tapestry cannot admire itself, but that does not diminish its beauty.
I wouldn't say that Benjamin was perfect and none of us are, but on Wednesday, August 5, he exposed the fibre of his true character. He ran towards the disaster when others were trying to escape it. He put the safety of the community above his family and above himself.
On that day, his action began a domino effect; as a people, for the first time in a very long time we stood shoulder to shoulder, hands to hearts and flooded the atmosphere with prayers for his healing and recovery. It was devastating to have to say goodbye, but look around, our prayers have been answered. Benjamin gave us one last gift before he left – you see we are the ones receiving much needed healing. Our hearts though crushed are not destroyed and will recover. This event could have easily divided us, but instead we are more of one community, one people, than ever before. That is a tribute to Benjamin.
We can understand better the concept that the stone on top of the mountain is not more important than those that form its base. We need each other for support, to rely on, to cover us and to stand in the gap for us. Regrettably the price of admission was steep.
We all have our favourite memories or stories about Benjamin; that is where he lives now. I implore you to keep them alive and keep sharing them. One day his legacy, his heartbeat, his son Keenan, may need to be immersed in our memories of his father.
As we witnessed St. Maarten come out in support of Benjamin, it was evident that we, the people, saw him not as he was, we saw him as we desired. We saw him through Heaven's eyes. We had hoped that he would get to see how much we loved him, but we weren't deterred from standing in support of him. Whether you knew him as a friend, colleague, from his bike route or his neighbourhood, we can agree that he changed our world. It can never be business as usual again.
We are now responsible for paying this debt forward. Whether it is a kind word or a good deed the opportunities are endless. We can no longer pass someone in need without caring or showing compassion.
Most of us did not get to say goodbye to Benjamin before he took his leave of us on Saturday. We did not get to wish him well on his new journey or to thank him for his years of tireless service. We did not get the opportunity to let him know that we appreciated his sacrifice or to remind him that we would never forget him or to ask him if he would remember us.
The Police Department has lost an officer and a comrade, but St. Maarten has lost a son, father, friend, brother, mentor, and a hero.
Gamali Benjamin, you lived well and you died honourably. You have the gratitude and respect of a grateful nation.
BRAVO 1, We salute you. Go well.
Inspector S.P. Carty
Bike Team
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
Dear Editor,
Please allow me an opportunity to express my disgust with the tremendous waste of taxpayers’ money on “Kimsha” beach in concrete for a so-called parking lot.
For as long as I can remember parking in that area has never been a problem, yet MP Lake, Minister Meyers and the current Government thought it was an urgent project that just had to be completed, coincidentally before elections. Perhaps it is their proverbial notch on the headboard of what the Government has accomplished.
The only one benefitting from this slab of concrete seems to be the roadside food hut which is now prominently situated on the parking lot.
For arguments sake, let’s say this wasteful project is costing, we the people, NAf. 500,000. Yes, I know, I am being conservative after all this is a Government project, but to keep matters simple let’s call it half a million guilders. Where else could this money have been spent?
How about the school fees for 1,000 students of parents struggling to make ends meet this month?
Or 100,000 warm meals for our students who sometimes go to school hungry.
Or perhaps 55 30-second ads on CNN to promote the island.
Or maybe 700 laptops for less fortunate kids to have access to a computer.
Or even six months free electricity for all our senior citizens.
We need to keep things in perspective and hold our elected officials accountable for their decisions and actions. We do not need or deserve this level of misuse of our tax money.
Our people are struggling, so I have to ask or rather demand that MP Lake and Minister Meyers and the current Government forget “Back to Basics” and Get Back to Reality.
Name withheld at author's request.
