Dear Editor,
For everything that's in darkness shall come to light. It might take a few years, but light always wins darkness no matter how much they fight.
Numerous of us know what our responsibilities are in St. Maarten. What I don't really understand is why say the things we already know; why not come up with something different, say for instance: Where do you want to work, study or live when you're finished with your secondary education?
Why not say the different things you would like to study for when you're finished with school? It’s not acceptable in our country, because the older heads are not coming down from that position, or must I say we're overqualified. Is that really even true?
Your presentation stated this famous quote by John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. In my head I was brain storming all sorts of things you can think about, but I thought, why didn't you mention a few of the things you've accomplished for our country?
Or why the government keeps falling? Yes, you did mention that, but why not tell us the truth. On how really does the government fall, and politics is an amazing thing, but some people just get too greedy and try to develop the island/country when it's nearly time for an election, or when they see it's beneficial for the public to speak about them to gain more popularity. Yet again, a mother never tells all the secrets of their children to others, so I guess that's why not much truth and actions are taking place.
I was kind of disappointed on how the presentation went and what you really came to speak to us about. I was really expecting an eye opener on different things happening on St. Maarten. How can you develop the teaching skills and the parents acting as if the teachers don't really do their jobs? How can we as teenagers better ourselves and even try to become better and wiser; and which politician hears the cry of his people.
Also my ears were eager to hear different important things prior to Civic Responsibilities. Don't get me wrong, the different sectors that were mentioned were okay. Governor Eugene B. Holiday, it was a pleasure of you visiting and speaking to us about things that we may know a little too much about. But as we grow older and there aren't any blind folds on our eyes, we can see practically everything and we're brain storming about how things are being done in St. Maarten.
And how can we better understand, and solve different circumstances that arise in our country? For every glass house must have a crack and all the glass will be shattered, then we will really see what has been happening on the inside. Just an opinion of an average teen!
An MPC student
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
You’ve got to give honour to whom honour is due. The Honourable Minister Emil Lee stepped out from the comfort zones of his air-conditioned office and upscale neighbourhoods and visited one of the homes in Middle Region that has been experiencing hell when it comes to running sewage and mosquitoes. Though I applaud his visit to that one location, I am curious as to what steps are being taken or even considered to bring an end to that deplorable situation.
This should not be the last visit by the Minister of VSA. I am not the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Development, but I’ve taken the opportunity to visit several homes that have been affected by constant running waste. I’ve listened to the complaints of residents who feel betrayed and forgotten by politicians and the different departments. Unfortunately, those residents continue to pay taxes so Ministers can be paid their monthly salaries.
It may not be an entire community, but make no mistake it always starts with one home. There are similar and maybe even worse issues of running waste throughout several neighbourhoods that have been neglected. South Reward, St. Peters, and Cay Hill are areas that I have been informed where such problems exist and where residents live in fear of an outbreak of viruses like the Zika virus. At time of writing, there is one confirmed case on Dutch St. Maarten.
One home, then one neighbourhood, then one community, and eventually the entire island. Yes, focussing on one home is important. I have seen the dirty water running into the backyards, into homes and even inside one’s kitchen where food is being prepared. In some areas, I was welcomed by ridiculous swarms of mosquitoes, where no man, woman or child should be living under such conditions.
Those neighbourhoods do not have abandoned pools in their backyards, but they do have raw sewage constantly running in front their gates. The place called home should offer a safe and relaxing atmosphere for all the residents of St. Maarten and not just a chosen few.
Unfortunately we have several residents crying for help. Minister Lee, don’t you think it’s time you roll up your sleeves and start doing something about the illegal leakage of sewage water? We understand you were not the last one, neither will you be the next one, but right now you are the current one and the job is in your hands.
Armand Meda
Dear Editor,
If the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs plans to continue her political career beyond September’s election, it is imperative that she reconsiders her position on this hands-off approach regarding the influx of students, who are burdening the school system. To hear the minister proudly announce that children abroad have every right to reunite with their parents, and that this issue is a problem for the Justice Minister to tackle is such a narrow-minded view towards the success of quality education.
An education minister, who has taken an in-depth study of the factors that are impeding the quality of education, will never make such statements. Even if the minister did not agree with the discussions that surround this matter, she could have been more tactful in her responses.
The minister has opened the door much wider to receive some resentment from teachers – the same people whom she has asked for them to express their grievances, so that an amicable solution can be found to this on-going problem. If this is the stance that the minister has taken, then what purpose do the dialogues with teachers serve?
The minister must be reminded that teachers, who are the backbone of the educational system, do not take their complaints to the Justice Minister. So, if the Minister of Education does not find the matter important enough to initiate an immediate discussion as to how both ministries would collaborate, then the Ministry of Justice should represent the teachers and not the Ministry of Education.
It is such a gross disappointment to see how differently the various Ministers of Education view and handle the same issues that they complained about, while they were in the classroom. In light of this flood of students, how can teachers be as successful as they would like to be when they are sometimes confronted with 6 to 7 different levels of learning within one classroom?
On top of this constant intrusion, there is hardly a class that is equipped with an assigned assistant to ease the burden of the lead teacher. Note well, it’s not enough just to appoint an assistant, but one who understands the various dynamics that affect the quality of the learning environment. If teachers are burnt out, what quality of education does one expect, and is it a fair deal?
The comparison of quality education of private school versus public school was also brought forward. The minister indicated that her ministry will acquire more information on the academic achievements of these private institutions. If quality is the aim of the Ministry of Education, then why ignore the very factors that are impeding this quality? It may seem that these criteria set by private schools be regarded as discriminatory, but is it really? Not at all! The fact is: these standards were prepared with insight, to avoid the unnecessary repercussions that have inundated the public schools.
When questioned about studying in the region and the criteria for scholarships, it is quite clear that it does not take much for a student to get a scholarship. What is troubling though is: if 50 scholarships were granted, and 35 were given to recipients who arrived just 5 years ago, would this be a level playing field for children, who were born and raised here, or even those who came as infants? Isn’t it so that these extra monies could have been budgeted towards the continual upgrading of teachers to deal with the challenges within the classrooms? Or, to assist students abroad who would like to pursue their masters and PhD’s?
The Minister of Education should hold this view in mind: If the intended capacity of a room is to accommodate 10 persons, and five months later an additional 6 occupy the same space, and 4 others are expected shortly, what will be the outcome of such a situation?
Definitely, there needs to be an honest and detailed evaluation on the impact of Compulsory Education, not just on the educational system, but on society on a whole. The minister is well liked by many, including myself, but I cannot agree with her decision to pass the buck to the Justice Minister. Then what is the point of having an inter-ministerial relationship?
As stated before in a preceding article, I admire the manner in which the Minister of Finance Richard Gibson has taken a firm decision to eliminate the factors that will hamper the efficiency of his ministry. If the Minister of Education expects to create an impact, then she needs to further assess the dynamics that are impeding the proper functioning of her ministry. The minister must also come to the realization that decisions without insight are bound to have severe repercussions.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
It will be very shameful and disgraceful of Emil Lee to sit in a public office and don't have a master plan for the east side of St. Maarten at the Dawn Beach and Oyster pond area.
Oh my God! Why can’t these politicians not see the Dawn Beach and Oyster need to be beautified; this area urgently needs some beautification, and if Emil Lee is not pushing to have Dawn Beach and Oyster pond area beautified he should step down from public office.
There are businesses in the area of Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond such as hotels, Captain Oliver’s Mariner, restaurants and nightly activities, a casino and many more at Dawn Beach/ Oyster Pond location east side of the island. Where one of the most beautiful hotels in St. Maarten and the Caribbean is located. We are calling on government to give this area an urgent lift.
Hundreds of people use this area early morning and evening hours; we the citizens are calling on St. Maarten’s Government for proper sidewalks and street lights from the border through the Oyster Bay hotel entrance through Princess Heights, though the Westin hotel. The road is too narrow and urgently needs enlarging.
I, Cuthbert Bannis, will like to accompany these politicians to show parliamentarians and ministers areas on the east that urgently need up lifting and beautifying. Check the bad spots on the road from the hillside; let’s take down some of this hill and open the road
from Oyster Pond through Dawn Beach through Guana Bay to Philipsburg. By doing so the east side can be as busy as the Maho area.
Plan now to fulfil by 2017. Theo Heyliger promised to build a water tank at this area for Middle Region, Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond people that is good development. One of these things l keep begging the parliamentarians and ministers is to uplift the east side of the island and help get the Christian Kingdom Credit (CKC) union clients get back their money since 2010 CKC closed its doors with the remaining of the clients’ money. Up to this day the clients have not received any money not even from the Central Bank who they said was the trustee. Keep a meeting with the clients, l just don't know why St Maarten doesn’t have its own Central Bank?
William Marlin campaigning, approving everything. Why doesn’t Emile Lee have a master plan to beautify the Dawn Beach/ Oyster Pond area and see to that the cost of the project passes in 2017 budget.
I know Emile prays for Sarah Wescot-William. Oh my God, Sarah did her best to get Emile Lee in office; also William Marlin and Marcel Gumbs don't pray for each other may be still election or they might never pray for each other, but l pray for all of them especially our governor, we all must pray of him. He works very hard concerning Article 33.
Now St. Maarten has seven opposition in Parliament, each of them representing a day in the week: Franklian – Sundays, Leona – Mondays, Tamara – Tuesdays, Johan –Wednesdays, Lloyd – Thursdays, Cornelius – Fridays, Theo – Saturdays.
I am also calling on Frans Richardson, parliamentarians and minister for justice it is time St. Maarten has a small claims court; and help civil servants own their own home.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
Most of us walk around as if we were impervious to illness or accidents, while in fact we are not. We also pretend that we can be in many places at once, this too is not possible. This inability to always take care of our affairs leads us, in some cases, to give others powers of attorney to act on our behalf, mostly in economic and fiduciary matters. It is also done allowing family or trustworthy friends to take medical decisions on our behalf. This phenomenon is played out in our regular lives daily through our elected representatives (government).
The power of attorney given to them entails a certain trust that they would act in good faith and deliver on the needs of people and country to ensure a productive and respectable life. The power of attorney given to government is referred to as a social contract and we expect most of all for our government to act in good faith in their handling of our business.
In a well-functioning democracy and a progressive country ”simper pro gradiens” we should expect no less than good education, proper and quality health care, a secure and safe environment, and a means to make a living or simply a job. In all these issues our government has failed us miserably. Not this government of a majority of eight that took on an impossible task in a time prohibitive period, but also previous governments who have squandered taxpayers’ money, made irresponsible agreements with the Dutch, and a created super government company whose directors believe themselves to be untouchable.
We have made little to no headway balancing our last five budgets, and the one before us now - though presumably balanced - won’t enjoy the support of all, because we are told about belt-tightening and cuts. Our schools are still struggling with the production of, as they put it, what our economy needs. In the meantime, young people returning to our shores to make a contribution are in most cases never answered. Those that do hear from government are sent to job placement centres and put on contract.
Our medical centre is in urgent need of rebuilding and adequate staffing. We are spending close to thirty million dollars a year on referrals, but no one seems to care. The issues surrounding the men and women of the disciplinary services remain unattended. As far as jobs are concerned it seems we are quicker fired than hired, and government involves itself only when some business people complain; there is no intervention when it is about the little man.
People are being evicted from what should be affordable or low-income housing; as we speak again only silence from government. Not to upset the potential campaign financiers we refuse to even consider a quota system, and in our need to be seen as doing something, we propose raising casino fees instead of going for a percentage of the drop.
One thing is sure, the poor can take no more. If government refuses to help, where do we knock next? Pope Francis in his address on the value of labour said, and I quote, “It is necessary to reaffirm that employment is necessary for society, for family, and for individuals. Its primary value is the good of the human person as it allows the individual to be fully realized. Therefore it follows that work has not only the economic objective of profit, but above all a purpose that regards man and his dignity. And when there is no work that dignity is wounded. Indeed the unemployment and underemployment risk being relegated to the margins of society becoming victims of social exclusion and injustice” end of quote.
It is high time the fights between the outgoing and incoming governments stop. The continued speculation with casino and other business licenses is beside corrupt, ludicrous. Let’s truly look at projects and programs that affect people’s lives. Only then will we be perceived as serious.
Elton Jones
