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,
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
Dear Editor,
In order to achieve the quality of education that requires our students to be successful, it behoves the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs, to take a bird’s eye view of the current educational system. This means that the minister needs to put her vision on pause, and deal with the issues that are affecting the progress of students, teachers and administrators.
Right now, the minister is fighting a humongous battle, but until she really takes the time to dissect the problem, the quality of education will remain unchanged. In essence, when Minister Jacobs eliminates these obstacles that are causing this constant upheaval, then, the process to implement her vision will become much easier.
The Minister of Education has been out of the classroom for roughly 7 years. This time-span may seem very short, but there is a vast difference between now and then, with regard to the various degrees of behavioural challenges. Perhaps the minister should undertake the challenge of spending a week in the classroom as a teacher, to fully understand the reality of the situation. There are too many factors that are contributing to this negative change.
That is why there must be immediate action to identify these elements and purge the system. Teachers, who are the educators of the nation, cannot be overwhelmed with frustration every single day. The learning environment must be conducive to both students and teachers, in order for learning to take place.
Minister Jacobs is fully aware that the first step to learning is listening. If children can’t listen, how can they learn? Likewise, if children cannot behave, how can teachers teach as effective as they are required to? Therefore, I strongly believe that a lot more emphasis should have been placed on curbing behavioural problems at a much earlier stage. Sporadic workshops for teachers are totally inadequate; this should be an ongoing initiative. It is for this reason, why it demands an immediate input of the minister, to devise a plan to reduce this influx of students.
The budget that is being debated is such a perfect example of revealing to us, the consequences of failing to tackle the issues that have escalated to uncontrollable proportions. Just to further illustrate my point, look at the challenges that the country is faced with for being negligent in paying its debts. The saga of the government building, lack of early intervention to remedy the situation at the landfill and failure to treat all crimes as a priority, etc. These are just some of the problems that have come back to haunt us in a significant way.
What are the lessons of this failure? The messages are quite clear: They indicate that, “A stitch in time saves nine; if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” Just like how government is paying heavily for taking a backseat on issues that could have been nipped in the bud from early, so shall it be with education. The minister is not envisioning the total effect of this negligence, but believe me, it will come back to haunt her real bad.
In the end, which does the minister prefer: that our teachers spend most of their time disciplining students, or imparting the knowledge that would enable them to compete in this evolving economy?
In closing, there is no doubt that the minister‘s portfolio, which includes Education, Youth Affairs, Culture and Sports, are extremely challenging. And, there is no denying that all four are intertwined. But, in order to counterbalance the remaining three segments of her portfolio, education must be on track, as it is the fountain that keeps the entire ministry in tack.
So, Minister Silveria Jacobs needs to be mindful that the success of her achieving the quality of education that she envisions, lies within this failure – the failure that gives her the opportunity to redesign and deliver an educational system that is superior in content, partnership and a stimulating environment.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
Once again I have to react to what I consider incompetence in our government. I do not know when permission was requested, but I know it is the government who gives permission, so it is incompetence of government and I believe it is the Prime Minister who should take the blame for the following.
I have always said it and maintain these principles that no nation should parade the streets of my country independently, demonstrating the colours and flags of their country. A consulate or designated private venue should be the place. Even though our Carnival for me has deteriorated in quality and calibre (excess drunkenness and vulgarity), and we have disregarded all the rules and laws governing dress code in public, we still take the Lenten season into consideration and have the minimum number of activities during Lent.
On Sunday last, however, the annual Dominican Republic Independence Day celebration took to the streets of Sint Maarten again in the form of a Carnival celebration, both with load music and dress in the middle of Lent.
Our Carnival was looked down upon in the past for that, so what do we stand for? Who have we become? Are we going to permit every country to organize a Carnival of their own here? Are we obliged to the Dominican Republic or any other country that we have to permit them to do things in our country, which we do not permit our own people to do?
Ironically, our governor just completed a working visit to MPC in which he underscored the importance of education and civics to the students, and here is our government contributing to diminish our value as a people.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
I do not usually comment on anything without doing research, but I rely on this source and decide to write to you about it. I was told that a prominent figure in the community reacted in a conversation by saying “Russell is going to have a field day with the news of those debating students.” I had mixed feelings when I heard that because there was a sense of satisfaction to know that I was right but still sad to know that certain people think that way.
The satisfaction came because it proved what was my opinion of certain people in the community, but sad because you expect those same people to be above that. Should I be surprised of the integrity problem?
Now this: I do not think in no way anyone should think that I am waiting for something to happen to give me an opportunity to write about it. For that matter I would be able to write a book about the things that happen, which are not so kosher. And I can openly state that I am respected for being the way I am. Maybe not well-liked by those who know who they are, but respected.
When the health control team made its findings at Maho, before the Minister of Health could be informed two other Ministers found themselves obliged to intervene because the inspection team had gotten out of hand. No, not because the place was pest infested, but because of the action of the inspection team, which was reported to be on camera (we have not seen it yet) and would be embarrassing to St. Maarten.
Ironically a large quantity of students got sick by that same Maho and only after that we are hearing that there were similar cases at other venues on the island. So which is more embarrassing now, the irresponsible action of the health inspection team or to find out in this way what is really happening, with all the ensuing consequences? Nothing is hidden nowadays anymore. Everybody has a camera and everybody has Internet, Facebook, and Twitter along with WhatsApp. There is breaking news all hours of the day.
The tourists prefer frankness than secrecy, especially when it has to do with their health. And contrary to what some of us want to portray, the majority of the tourists welcome controls. They feel more secure. I have seen the transition from not wanting controls to looking forward and expecting controls. So who are we harming most by claiming that it is not the unsanitary conditions at Maho? Say it like it is, take responsibility, clean it up and let’s move on. Have not we learned yet that damage control causes more damage to the original damage. If we had taken the bull by the horns from the onset the situation could have been limited to Maho. Now we find ourselves obliged to blame it on Noro-virus.
Where are those two Ministers on this now? Are they ready to say anything to Dr. Best and his team? This should happen, because it was the team’s behaviour that could cause embarrassment to the country, not the conditions at Maho. Again we have permitted self-interests to supply the Dutch with ammunition to attack our integrity. When I read “It’s unfortunate that these hard-working students fell ill during their stay in St. Maarten (he did not say at my hotel). We wish them a speedy recovery. “I got sick. Not ill, sick.
Russell A. Simmons
