Dear Editor,
I entered the labour market right after high school. Like most youth, I believed that having a job meant that life was going well. That is nothing but folly. What I came to realize is that the labour market is simply a modern-day plantation, where labourers are under- or misrepresented, disrespected and undervalued by their managers or employers. It’s a plantation, because just like in the 18th and 19th centuries, workers are being grossly underpaid for their hard work.
Added to this, many workers are unaware of their rights, which permit employers to exploit them. There are those who do know their rights, but won’t speak out because they know at least 10 people are eyeing their job. Thus, one is left to be satisfied with crumbs from massa’s table.
There is a great imbalance in the distribution of wealth in this billion-guilder economy, which is built on the backs of workers on the island. Therefore, the injustices we face have to be circumvented by government. It is their responsibility to make sure that laws and regulations are upheld, so that there is a balance of power between employer and worker. As history has proven, no barrier can stand against the tide of our struggle for justice.
However, our politicians focus a lot on economic growth and very little on the people’s development. This means that only those with capital are able to profit from the growth, including the parties who are financed by those with the capital. They profit because they can increase productivity in their business sector and neglect your development, since they have the means to invest elsewhere.
As Dr. Gordon Rohlehr wrote in Calypso and Society, "Money is King” begins with the assertion that if a man has money, people will overlook his leprosy or crime and grant him the highest social status. But if you are poor, de people tell you 'shoo’ and a dog is better than you'. That’s why certain individuals can get away for committing crimes while a worker or his child receives complete punishment by the law.
I guess that’s the reason why not one of the 5 governments we’ve had in the last 5 years, did anything of significance for the people. Each one had a hand in the nepotism and ship jumping that took place. Electoral reform cannot reform broken men, who lack political maturity and morale. Over the five years, we’ve witnessed a (D)own (P)ouring of hardship. Everything has gone UP except our salaries. Quality leadership is (N)ot (A)vailable and far too many (U)nchallenged (S)etbacks keep us from further development.
So, what are the solutions to our problems? Love is the first step. We must first love ourselves, and love our brothers as we love ourselves. In loving ourselves, we assert our human rights and ability to seek upward mobility. With self-love comes confidence, pride, determination and self-realization. With this in mind we’d no longer tolerate the disrespect and unwillingness on behalf of those we trust with our livelihood.
In loving our brothers, we create unity and strength among ourselves, which is necessary for sustaining equality in our society and respect in our communities. We must stop selling out each other, underestimating our power and challenge the status quo.
Our ancestors toiled enough land, cut enough cane and picked enough cotton for us to remain subservient to the owners and bourgeoisie of this modern-day plantation. It is time we work in our favour. Workers on the island must know their rights, invest in their children and stand up against corruption. Our challenge today is relinquishing the fear of defeat and betrayal. Remember that you also pay your bosses salary by the service you render. We are the ones who elect officials to work, and we must not be afraid to hold them accountable, not just to their words, but to our needs.
I ask of you to hold out your hands for St. Martin to see, but first ask yourself if you put them to use in her favour. What have you done to protect her? If your hands remain without a scratch, then maybe it’s time to pick up your tools. With love comes great sacrifice, and this plantation can no longer remain as it is. Let us begin to work for our island. St. Martin will make sure our work prevails.
Ralph Cantave
UNESCO Youth Representative
Dear Editor,
The precedent has been set for an all nude adult troupe that will change the face of Carnival in the not too distant future. It was an astonishing moment to watch a group of ladies clad in G-stings and bare buttocks, as they paraded the streets of St. Maarten.
It was as if they came prepared to send a message to the community. When they arrived at the area where I was standing, all eyes were focused on them. Several spectators sighed in disgust, some stared in disbelief, while others uttered words that are not suitable for this medium. One parent remarked that this will be the last time that she is going to watch the parade and expose her son to this kind of conduct.
Words cannot express the sickening feeling to see how one of the ladies posed for the many tourists and their children. She purposely bent over, pushed her buttocks up in the air in such a sexual position, where everything was exposed. It did not matter to her who was present and who was videotaping.
Here is my take: from the moment these ladies arrived at the start of the parade, the St. SCDF and the Police Force should have asked them to either put on a pair of pantyhose or a mini skirt. If they refused to comply, then the Director of the SCDF and the Police had to put them out. How is it possible that this kind of behaviour was allowed to take place?
These are the same organisations that have repeatedly condemned the behaviour of the youth; yet they have contributed directly to this improper conduct of the youth. What happens to the ordinance that governs the way in which a person dresses in public? Is the rule going to be bent just because it is Carnival time? Then, why criticize the children? Regardless of the activity, the rule of law must be applied.
This is why the youngsters look at the majority of us as hypocrites, because far too many say one thing and do another. It is a known fact that children do not do what we ask them to do, but exactly what they see us do. Do we see how some of the children were dressed for the children’s parade? Isn’t it heading in the same direction as what is taking place in the adult parade? It is a sad reality, but the foundation is being laid for what is to come.
When all is said and done the disheartening thing is that these same ladies, who behaved themselves in such an indecent manner, are usually the ones who will be telling the youth how to conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion.
If the SCDF plans to enhance Carnival overall, then this organization must practice what it preaches; therefore, this kind of behaviour that was displayed on the streets can never be allowed to repeat itself. And, if the Police demand respect from the community, they better reassess their level of tolerance and execute the laws accordingly.
Joslyn Morton
God save we queen
We kalipso queen
Ah mean
Fourty six years we jamming
We finally get ah queen
But we can never forget
The work of love and labour
Of mighty Barbara
And Singing Olivia
They paved the way
For you today
Big up to them pioneers
They were we queens
Without ah crown
But thanks to them
We are still Around
This year tis your turn
Shakiya
Because you are ah real Diva
So cheers to you
Our first queen of kalipso
Hoping that others will
In your footstep follow
For them macho men you outshine
With, more pep
In your step
And prove to them
Yes woman can
More than just a wine
For when it comes melody contents, And lyrics
You leave them men way behind
God save we queen Shakiya
Ah real St. Martin Diva
Raymond Helligar aka Big Ray
