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
Dear Editor,
Finance Minister Richard Gibson, Sr., at a town hall session held in University of St. Martin (USM) said, “We have struck the jackpot,” adding that the Chinese have promised to generate at least one million Chinese tourists annually to the country. A 326-room hotel with a showroom and 450 executive apartments will be constructed on the Belair beachfront by a Chinese public-private venture.
The Minister also stated that the plans for the “Pearl of China” project have already been approved by Government and the ground-breaking for the project is slated for September 17, and should take some two years to complete. A company reflecting 50 per cent share ownership of the Chinese Government and 50 per cent by the Chinese private sector companies has been established in St. Maarten.
To me this project seems to be very vague and leaves room for a lot of questions that I believe need to be answered.
1) Is our infrastructure capable of handling an addition of one million guests to the island annually as it pertains to traffic and power supply? Are we prepared?
2) What would be the impact on the environment from the additional waste that would be generated?
3) What would be the impact on the environment in the surrounding area? What will happen to the natural pond?
4) Who will be constructing this facility? Will our people be contracted?
5) Who will be operating this facility? Has it been ensured that our people will be employed throughout this organization from top management to the jobs on the lower end of the organizational structure?
6) Why does this project appear to have been done in secrecy and in a rush, seeing the huge impact it could have on the country?
7) Will our people still have access to the beach?
8) Other than looking for a new water source and plans to work with Government on cheaper electricity options, what other investments is this group going to make to social, educational and sporting aspects in this country?
9) Will this group be receiving a tax break?
These are all important questions that need to be answered because the people of St. Maarten need to know. I’m in no way trying to downplay this initiative, but I would like to see our people benefit from this project as this country tries to move forward in revitalizing its economy.
Jason Peterson
Dear Editor,
Please allow me to comment on all the hoopla surrounding the announcement of the Chinese investment into a hotel and apartment complex on St. Maarten.
It was quite interesting seeing Minister Gibson, with much enthusiasm announce that they had hit the jackpot. Not too many people knew at the time that a Chinese company had just agreed to buy a 50% stake into NAGICO Insurances for US $ 142,000,000. You read correctly a 50% ownership stake for US $142 million. Minister Gibson as a major shareholder in NAGICO can rightfully declare a Jackpot!!
The Chinese investment in St. Maarten, I am afraid not so much. The Chinese do not invest or commit capital to any country or island in the Caribbean without an end-game. Whether it's political favour in the United Nations, which we don't have, or colonization of smaller entities to further their global agendas through the investments they make.
Furthermore, the company that bought into NAGICO, has direct ties to the Foshun Corporation, which is part of the Bahamian disaster called Bahamar. This Chinese disaster has hurt the Bahamian economy and credit rating.
This Chinese investment will most certainly bring Chinese labour for construction. Where will these many Chinese labourers live?
The plan also promises to bring 1 million Chinese tourists to the island. That would be almost 20,000 Chinese tourists every week of the year. How will our island handle this congestion?
How many of our people speak Mandarin? How many foreigners will be brought in to accommodate these million Chinese visitors? Where will the children of all the expats go to school? We will again be relegated to menial jobs and become second-class citizens in our own country.
Prime Minister Marlin and the National Alliance for as long as the party and politicians have been in power, have always declared that they are against selling out to foreigners. This sell-out is the greatest fleecing of our people since we were brought across the Atlantic by the Spanish in shackles.
I don't think we fully realize the impact, selling out to the Chinese will have. How will our ethnic, religious, cultural, and political landscape look in the next 10 years? I understand when hundreds of millions of dollars are passing through the hands of our leaders, self-interest will always top the people's interest. That is why Minister Gibson's Jackpot is not St. Maarten's.
Concerned Citizen
Dear Editor,
In your editorial “fact from fiction” you outlined the highly improbable amount of tourists which, according to the information received, would visit St. Maarten yearly. I was pleased to read that there are more than me who are not gullible, but I want them to be man enough to add their name to their opinion. No matter what the topic, I have stopped reading an opinion of which the writer's name is not added. Regarding that I am second to none. Officially there are, give-or-take 42,000 legal residents on St. Maarten and housing is already a big problem.
Already in the 1980's just around election time there were 6,000 voters and when ALM landed with about 30 visitors who at that time were famous for overstaying their visit and worked illegally. The commissioner of labour was also on that flight and waited in my office for his transportation to arrive, so I had the opportunity to ask him "where are we going to put them?" I also laid out my reason for that question using the 6,000 voters as the key. He totally agreed with my opinion on the matter, but he told me that all of that is in the hands of "The Old Man."
So when I mention that nothing has been done to make the St. Maartener independent in his own country after so many years, neither by those same politicians who are out there trying to con the people out of a vote, these are the kind of things I mean. I have personally discussed several topics concerning the protection of the St. Maartener in the labour field. Once I refused to hang around to protect those who went to work during a strike because it was not in the interest of the St. Maartener and was reprimanded for it.
Those who went to work though they were here with working permits accepted to be underpaid and the St. Maartener went on strike. I am pleased with your reaction. You analysed the information and deemed it highly unlikely. I call it a blatant lie. We just had news of which, in my opinion, is a highly unlikely attempt to tackle short-term contract and also the building of the new hospital from one minister, now this lie concerning the outrageous amount of tourist a hotel will bring to the island in a year from another part of the government.
When are the lies going to stop? Every day we are hearing about untrustworthy presidential candidates; is that same pattern being used here, because the people will have to vote for the lesser of the evils? Is not more the reason for me to suggest to the voters to choose completely new candidates. At least they would try to do something to make a good name for themselves for the future. The older candidates have become complacent and definitely do not care about the people anymore. When one throws out those kind of figures, the person responsible for permitting this is very disrespectful to the people of St. Maarten and this is a case where the term condescending is in place.
Russell A. SIMMONS
Dear Editor,
Again a feeling of betrayal came up in me while reading the article in which a consensus document was signed on how to address the abuse of short-term labour contracts. As always has been the case, this is an election year, and all of these so-called pleasant promises are emerging. I used the term 'betrayal' because when you make a deal with people and they trust you to comply, and instead you back down on your promise, and you cater to their opponents that is a form of betrayal.
The past has proven over and over that politicians choose specific words to address the public. In this case, ironically, it is address. Meaning we are going to talk about the short-term contract (six-month contract, as it is popularly known). No promise was made to solve the problem, or better yet, to eradicate this ever ongoing abuse of humans. If this problem is addressed and not solved, 'We tried' is nothing new.
Yes, it is new; it will be new to those who replaced those who were not taken back. I have repeatedly mentioned that laws can be changed with a transition period attached, when necessary. So am I impressed with that news? Definitely not. Another case of our own people are being used to slap our own people in the face. I would save that newspaper clipping to prove to all those in the picture that they are frauds, when after years this problem is still not solved. And I will not be ready to apologize, because this could have been solved many years ago.
Every time I hear people, who come up with this kind of talk, it reminds me of ostriches after the fact. Names like William, Richard, Sarah, Theo, etc. have all been mentioned in the past addressing this issue and they are still there, so why does anyone expect me to fall for another scheme.
I used the word scheme because of the history behind this issue. Because of the number of parties, there are a whole lot of candidates, and there are certainly a whole lot more that 15 newcomers, who are also capable of doing a good job in government. Frankly speaking, I am not going to vote for any of the older politicians, who have been in government, and I would firmly advise everyone to do the same. I will not impose on anyone whom they should vote for, but if it depended on me, none of those politicians who are presently in government could get my vote. Not one of them care about the people who voted for them.
I would dare anyone to let the public know what they have done in favour of the community at large. Why is it that a civil servant, who started to work for Fls. 240,00 a month, and forty-odd years later, built himself up to a lifestyle of five to six thousand Guilders a month, not entitled to the same salary two years after he is retired to also ease himself back into the lifestyle according to his pension? Those older politicians got so accustomed to living off the people, that they are taking it for granted that this is how it should continue.
Do not put them back in! They have made too much money without doing one thing to protect the people. Very high house rent; supermarket prices going up every day, yes every day; games are being played with the gas- and gasoline prices, and more and more cars on the road. People walking over Pondfill Road reaching town before those driving because of slow traffic. I do not know who is profiting from this problem with the slow traffic, but one thing is sure, the gasoline stations are not complaining and neither is (are ) their supplier(s).
I know people will say that Sint Maarten ain't worse than anywhere else, and I would say, if I am accustomed to living at a level 8 and it falls to a level 6, for me it is worse than you who are used to living at a level 6, and it remains at a level 6. We know who have been in there for years, and we also know that it has not gotten any better. Court case after court case, fraud, embezzlement, vote buying, ship jumping, throwing down governments one after the other, shuffling of the members of government-owned companies, and the list goes on.
But none of this in favour of the people, who put them there, election after election. "Out wid dem". Things cannot get worse than they are now. So, I would suggest no votes for those who are already in government. We also know who the ship jumpers are, and what they stand for. You either do it my way, or I am jumping ship. Do not only address the short-term labour contract; eradicate it. Yes get rid of it and make use of the transition period if necessary.
Russell A. Simmons
