Dear Editor,
I commend the Marlin Cabinet for looking into projects that during the last minute before the swearing in of the new Cabinet were signed off by the former Minister VROMI without a plan being in place.
The new Minister of VROMI will also pay attention to these matters. As a representative of the people and a former Minister of VROMI, I was very amazed by the outgoing Minister of VROMI’s list of accomplishments in his thank you letter to the people since being Minister of TEATT and Minister of VROMI. This is not a tit for tat, but the people should know what is what.
It is sad to note that all his accomplishments were for ongoing projects and for most of them he changed the plan since I was Minister about 11-months ago, and all he could have done was to initiate them for 11 months instead of completing any of these projects for the people. My question is, what was he doing in the 11 months in office other than changing former plans and listening to others make decisions for him.
As a Member of Parliament, and I would like the new incoming Minister of VROMI to look into this; if a decree and letter was given to a hotel developer for 4’300 square metres of land at Kim Sha Beach in return for developing the joint sewage plant project for the area of Cole Bay and Marigot?
Government has a responsibility to protect our beaches and not give them away. How can we give away 4’300 square metres of our beach to a hotel developer if this is indeed the case? As the school children are saying, the hotel developer that has received the land has apparently informed La Bamba (a tourist and local hot spot) that they need to vacate the area once they get the people’s beach. This is simply amazing coming from the former Minister of VROMI who should be protecting small businesses instead of closing them down, if this is really so.
As a representative of the people, I am pleased to hear that the Prime Minister is carrying out an inventory of all these outstanding projects that the former Minister praised himself about in a thank you letter to the people and take them back for the people among other matters and decisions that were taken.
Government needs to look at the other alternative plans with other local landowners for the joint sewage plant for the island in which the agreement between the Dutch and French side should be finalized in December 2015.
This Government will be getting back to basics. We have to stop giving away our beaches, historical parks and landfill, and start working in the general interest of the people.
We need to start making firm decisions not for self-interest, but instead in the general interest of the people of St. Maarten.
Maurice Lake
Member of Parliament
Dear Editor,
I am bipolar. I am not abnormal, just different. Persons who are bipolar suffer at times from very severe depression. At other times they are euphoric. Most of the time, their mood is like that of other people (normal?)
Dear Editor,
Development economists have strong consensus that economic and social development is strongly associated with democracy and rule of law.
Dear Editor,
I am looking for an affordable private apartment to rent in Dutch St. Maarten. The prices of these apartments are outrageous, prices of US $1,000 or more for a 2 bedroom or one bedroom apartment.
Dear Editor,
Which is more important, protecting the rights of the consumer or bolstering the profits of these unscrupulous businessmen? It was a shocking moment last week to hear an inspector informed the public that his team found a product among consumer goods that is used to alter the codes to prolong their shelf life. He further confirmed that the matter was brought to the Prosecutor’s Office and was advised that, in order for his department to take stringent measures against these dishonest businessmen, they would have to catch them red-handed. If this is not stupidity at its best then nothing else is.
How could the Prosecutor’s Office give such ill-advice? Where is the logic behind their decision? Are both entities saying that unprincipled businessmen can tamper with the codes on food items without any form of penalty? This is absurd! No wonder the population has no confidence in either government officials or the justice system. Which businessman is going to modify a code in broad daylight? These kinds of immoral actions are done behind closed doors after hours. Here is a solution: if the concerns expressed by the inspector regarding the fear of harm this behaviour could bring to the consumer, then the resolution is to ban the product completely.
Why is it that the consumer has to be always at risked, while the business owners get away scot free? The consumer’s rights have been taken away. When it is not about exorbitant prices that are making us paupers, it’s about these numerous inferior products that have saturated this island. If government cannot protect us or the justice system, then why not give these mendacious grocery owners the authority to run the country? While we are on the topic: is it me or has anyone else experienced that in certain grocery stores it appears that products like Clorox and fabric softeners tend to be diluted, while in other outlets the same items maintain their full strength?
It is high time that government and the justice system decide which is more important, protecting the rights of the consumer or bolstering the profits of these unscrupulous businessmen. We are sick and tired of all these injustices and this tunnel vision of looking at issues that are vital to the well-being of the people. Stop the nonsense! Consumer protection should be your number one priority!
Joslyn Morton
