Dear Editor,

Whenever we see the dehumanizing images of young children from Syria and Somalia washing up on the shores of the European Union, we cannot shake off the feeling that the effect of this in the Netherlands is contributing to the birth of a new “Black Peter” figure (Zwarte Piet). This is admittedly a bizarre and some would even say obscene connection, but one that began to make sense to us when we took the time to reflect. Permit us to share our reflection with you.

Dear Editor,

St. Maarten continues to work on what has been generally referred to as timeshare owner consumer protection legislation. Any such legislation that the island considers should be drafted by people who are familiar with timesharing from a consumer protection perspective. The St. Maarten Timeshare Association, though it is a venerable organization and one of integrity, is nonetheless an association of timeshare developers and resort owners — not individual timeshare owners, who are consumers of the product offered on the island.

Dear Editor,

It’s a crying shame it should have to come to that! However, it is time that the golfers take a stand. Giving your money to play and support a sub-standard golf course with incredibly poor fairways and greens, (due to no irrigation system) and dilapidated carts and equipment is disgraceful.

Dear Editor,

Recently I was in a meeting where it was argued by an influential Sint Maartener, very forcefully that the limitation by the CFT to allow Sint Maarten to create a deficit and to prevent greater public borrowing was an unfair and repressive act by the Kingdom government.