Dear Editor,

Prime Minister William Marlin is showing his weakness when he allowed MP Lloyd Richardson to lead him to Pointe Blanche to have a simple conversation. Immediately, he should have anticipated that someone else was about to join the party. When the minister got to the designated spot he should have never invited the UP leader into his vehicle and entertained such comical discussion. Instead, the prime minister should have suspended the meeting and drop the MP off. On the other hand though, probably the move was necessary to further expose the devious minds of those who were elected to serve.

   Why is this widespread anxiety? The process for the eventual passing of the budget is very clear, and so there was no need for an MP to ask the assistance of anyone from the opposition. Likewise, Prime Minister William Marlin is also familiar with the procedure, and so to engage in useless conversation is a waste of time. Why stoop to a level that is incompatible to the usual conduct of a prime minister’s office. If the “Super Seven” wants to flex their muscles just let them. The people will be the judge, and it is just a matter of time before they are rewarded accordingly for their performance.

   For the opposition to continuously take the stance on signing in only if all members of the ruling coalition have done so is such an immature view on the running of Parliament. This is such utter nonsense because it is the responsibility of every MP to sign in, coalition and opposition! How do they expect Parliament to function properly if they continue to block the process of enhancing this entity? And, how could they feel comfortable stating that, “St. Maarten is a new country that is in the developing stage,” when they are the ones who are refusing to support this developmental process?

MP Leona Marlin-Romeo consistently speaks about the importance of voting her conscience. As a matter of fact, when Julio Romney launched his book at the University of St. Martin last year, she took him to task over this same notion of voting one’s conscience. On several occasions she has also echoed similar sentiments in Parliament and has vowed to do the right thing whenever necessary. Now is the time for the MP to put her money where her mouth is, but instead she continues to show the public that she is just a good storyteller and her word is not her bond.

MP Tamara, the queen of drama, really needs to sit out the rest of term at home until election comes around. Her presence in Parliament serves no purpose at all. Whenever she feels like attending meetings she consistently begs for assistance because she claims that she does not understand anything, but the MP lives on Facebook, instead of focusing her attention on understanding the laws that govern the various branches of government.

Definitely, this lack of understanding is a challenge for anyone who cannot differentiate when it is appropriate to apply personal beliefs. It is such an act of mockery to hear MP Tamara Leonard start off her presentations with this annoying line, “To God be the glory.” When one uses a quote or a slogan, it is because it means a lot to the individual and the person’s actions will be aligned accordingly. What has been displayed over the months is just fallacy and the MP needs to quit the charade.

It is also because of her deficiency in understanding the significance of the budget is why she does not find it important enough to support it. Yet, the MP expects the population to support her come this election when she blatantly announced that she will not endorse the budget prior to it coming to Parliament. The saying is really true: “When ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise.”

It would be interesting to see if these two MPs will have the nerve to congratulate women on “Women’s Day,” when they are stifling the progress of women in this country. Women think differently from men; they generally make decisions that are in the best interest of their children and the country. Why hijack the entire population for self-interests – the same population that is feeding them, to the point where MP Tamara Leonard could admit openly that she cringed when she got her first pay check as a parliamentarian. How shameful it is to be ungrateful to this public!

For every decision there is a consequence; therefore, it is amazing how the UP leader could keep these parliamentarians under constant hypnosis. This is the effect and the reward for those who love to bask in play dough. So, line them up Theo; who gave them permission to venture onto your patio?

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

Déjà vu we must say. This is nothing new for our people. After reading about the arrest of MP Silvio Matser and the fact that the budget meeting, during which one of our most important documents that has to be approved by our Parliamentarians was postponed because of a lack of Quorum, Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) is wondering if our elected officials are serious about the positive advancement of our country, or just about their own selfish desires.

Having to postpone the 2016 Budget meeting when there is a deadline to have our budget approved, we believe is a very irresponsible act. CPA would like to know from our Prime Minister William Marlin and Governor Eugene Holiday what is next for St. Maarten and its people. The people need to know that they can rely on the word of these two very powerful positions and leaders of our country as opposed to being led by rumours they are confronted with whenever there is a political crisis on our island. Who should we turn to for answers? Where is St. Maarten heading?

Like a lady wrote in one of our newspapers, is St. Maarten truly being governed similar to a banana republic, where everyone can do whatever they wish to do without any consequences. Can we rely on our justice system to treat our citizens and elected officials in a fair manner? Can we expect that our leaders will be transparent enough to tell us the truth, and nothing else but the truth, because that is what sets us free?

Or, do we just use words to appease our people to make them believe that we have their best interest at heart when we full well know that we are all about self and big egos, which keep us in bondage. This Government calling itself an open and transparent Government is a fallacy. In addition to that, could we rely on our newspapers to truly bring us information that has been properly researched and not mislead our people, so that even if our leaders do not bring accurate information, at least our newspapers could be a buffer to represent sound information?

Sad to say that our people are all confused because of the feedback we are getting from them, whenever we are out on our weekly Tuesday Neighbourhood visits. We hear the cries of our people and we keep on telling them they should not cry, but make the difference because they have the power to stop their cries by supporting and ensuring that St. Maarten be represented by persons who have their best interest at heart, especially the best interest of our next generation, our youth.

Should they inherit a country without integrity and moral values? Is this fair to our children whom we all say we care so much for, or is it that we are misleading them as well by making them believe that we really care. What message are we sending our own local youngsters when we see that immigrants from far away can be appointed in political positions, while our own people are being neglected and left behind?

What kind of leaders from any country will ever put others above their own? According to CPA, St. Maarten should not have such leaders in power. St. Maarten, you are the judge and jury. You have a secret weapon in your hand called the ballet, not the bullet, which can bring about a radical change. Use it to your advantage to make a difference. CPA encourages and supports the empowerment and protection of our people, and especially of our next generation. What is next for St. Maarten and its people? The answer is: Together we can by being the solution to the many challenges we have. St. Maarten will live on!

Leader Jeffrey Richardson

              and Board of Concordia Political Alliance          

Dear Editor,

We took note of Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority’s (SLAC) two-page ad in The Daily Herald newspaper on Tuesday, March 1st. To be clear, SLAC itself is not the problem; the manner in which the executive team of the Port St. Maarten Group of Companies (Port) manages SLAC is what concerns us. The actions taken by the Port’s executive team, who controls not only the Port, but also all of its subsidiaries including SLAC, should be of major concern to the Government of St. Maarten and all of our Country’s citizens; after all the Port and its subsidiaries collectively represent some of St. Maarten’s most valuable assets.

In SLAC’s response to us, they (SLAC – read: Port) used their normal strategy of providing a lot of information that may on the surface seem reasonable, but in reality has little to do with the issue at hand and in most cases is misleading, or plain wrong. The representatives of the Port also like to use buzz words like “truth, transparency and integrity” while in practice they uphold none of the virtues of what these words actually represent.

We have always maintained that the Port should not be allowed to directly compete against the private sector as long as they control SLAC, the entity that has been tasked to oversee Simpson Bay and Simpson Bay Lagoon in the broadest sense of the word. The Port tries to discredit our position by stating in its response that “SLAC does not operate a marina in Simpson Bay Lagoon.” This indeed is a fact. SLAC does not currently operate a marina in Simpson Bay Lagoon, but its parent company, the Port, does in fact operate mega yacht slips in Great Bay that directly compete against marinas in the lagoon; some of which the Port has recently tried to purchase.

The fact that Management of the Port does not consider this as a direct conflict of interest is exactly the problem. In our opinion, the Port’s executive team is systematically trying to control the St. Maarten marine sector by leveraging any influence they may have, including collaborating with key government officials to support their agenda.

There are many issues that have been misrepresented by the Port in SLAC’s ad in The Daily Herald on March 1st. We will address SLAC’s statements in multiple press releases going forward, as the concerns raised are complex and somewhat difficult to understand and relate to without a bit of history and knowledge of the St. Maarten marine industry. Each statement by SLAC will be analysed and commented on, so that the general public has the opportunity to better understand what is really going on with the Port and those who control it. This is no longer an issue that just affects the marine industry. In our opinion, what is happening at the Port is a prime example of how corruption is allowed to breed and flourish within our community.

The executive team of the Port has been allowed to control and operate one of St. Maarten’s most valuable assets with utter immunity during a period of ever-mounting evidence of the Port’s questionable dealings. As the representative body of the largest group of St. Maarten marine industry stakeholders, we have therefore officially requested the Council of Ministers to thoroughly investigate the Port and its executive team and to have the results of such an investigation made public in the interest of real transparency.

St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA)

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address all little children, youths, adults, middle aged and elderly.

Since we are living under the laws of the Dutch crown, I hereby want to explain you some more things.

The people living in country St. Maarten are owners of the assets in country St. Maarten. Tangible assets are GEBE, Telem, Cable TV, other public assets such as library, schools, community centres, ballparks, etc.

Under the Dutch laws, parliamentary democracy, people can be prosecuted for breaking or mismanaging these laws and assets.

A distinction can be made for Dutch passport holders and non-Dutch citizens, but in practice there is not much difference, only in voting.

I have suggested school meals, but for children who are too poor to “give themselves” a cooked meal in the weekends, you can go to the community centres closest to you.

That is why it is so important to take good care of your community centres.

If you feel, as a group of people, that the organisation is not taking good care or are mismanaging your community centre, make complaints on TV, newspaper, radio or public prosecutor.

Make sure have evidence by taking pictures or having two to three eyewitnesses.

I hereby recommend for the Chinese supermarkets in combination with the Chinese restaurants to give cooked meals to those in need via the community centres.

These meals can be an option of four different meals.

1. Vegetarian meals.

2. Chicken with rice or potatoes with vegetables, etc.

3. Fish with rice or potatoes with vegetables, etc.

4. Pork with rice or potatoes with vegetables, etc.

The Chinese supermarkets and restaurants will therefore own their buildings they will be exempted from paying rent and taxes. This is a means of helping you, especially you poor people.

The community centres should be owned by country St. Maarten, in other words, no politician or person is owner of these buildings. The community centres can be run by an organisation.

Even though the community centres are run by certain organisations, I am asking especially the youths to do regular checks and balances on their GEBE bill, current, water and telephone if there is any, or internet if there is any. Also do checks and balances on any necessary repairs or replacement of contents of buildings such as tables, chairs, cable TV, air condition and fans, fridges and stoves, microwave, etc.

Mother Earth or Mother Nature plays a vital role in feeding us, clothing us and giving us to drink. The earth or ground, the rain, the sunshine, the trees, the oxygen that we breathe all is necessary to feed us.

I gather clothing, especially school uniforms is “given” taxpayer by the Indians. Same policy concerning taxes and rent is applicable here.

Do not forget, we need people to do the work “sinners,” so we have to pray daily to God and thank Him also. We always need people, if we do not behave ourselves, then we cannot get along with people. Then we will not be able to live with Jesus in eternity with people.

Food taken from the ground is then processed in the factory and from there it is transported to supermarkets. In our case it has to be shipped overseas and transported via the harbour in Pointe Blanche and then to the supermarkets, before we can eat it as food.

In my thesis “Petition country St. Maarten” when talking about doctors that are needed in hospital, I forgot to mention paediatricians, children, how can I forget you!

Philippians 4: 11-13. Verse 11: not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Verse 12: I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need.

Verse 13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Since people in government are not “God” or gods we can only do so much “good” for a limited number of people.

Therefore proper immigration control is essential for whatever service is being offered to the people. Proper immigration laws and controls are needed!

In these modern days family planning is also very important!

Faith without works is dead!

Dr. Angelica Arrindell-Villous