Dear Editor,

I see the leader of the UP Party Theodore Heyliger has come out of hiding from where ever he was since his government took office. Now, since his government has been sent home, he has become a frequent media user. The same media his government has avoided for over nine months. He is now using the media to try to fool the people of this country. His last attempt was his statement: "Government stalls new generator purchase as people sit in darkness."

I have to admit, it sounds good, but not convincing. MP Heyliger mentioned in his statement that "GEBE has been struggling with various power-generation and related issues for more than two weeks now." The MP went on to say: "Similar struggles were experienced by the company in early October and intermittently in November." And he blames the recently installed NA-led government for keeping the people in darkness.

I have a few simple questions for the MP. Who was in government for the past year, including October and November? What have they done about the situation at GEBE? Had the last government been proactive, they would have foreseen the problem and would have been able to deal with it beforehand.

But all we have heard in regard to GEBE from the former government under the UP leadership were things like; Managing Director being fired and taking government to court, rumours about deals being made to purchase fuel from the Dominican Republic, fuel clause rising while oil prices were dropping worldwide, no relief for the people of the country, particularly the elderly, and the list goes on and on.

Let's not go on into other sectors where things like the Managing Director of SXM Airport was sent home and....you know what? I need not continue.

The people have suffered under UP-led government much more than they will under a new government. I am trying hard to find the positive that we have experienced during the past year that UP-led government was at the helm, but I can't. Perhaps the MP can remind us of at least one.

Lastly, I want to advise the MP to please stop thinking that the people are stupid. They know better.

Fernando Clark

Dear Editor,

We all want a Democracy, take note of the capital D, yet some are against ‘politics’ even though it is politics which makes Democracy work.

With this fundamental understanding it is clear that we need political (party) reform instead of electoral reform.

Attempts by Prime Minister William Marlin and President of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams to change the February 9 election date is a clear attempt to obstruct Democracy.

Neither one of them have done anything substantial or structural to address electoral reform during their term 2010-2014, because they are both beneficiaries of the system. As leaders they should have ensured political (party) reform, which does not require a 2/3 majority in Parliament. In addition, they both cannot guarantee electoral reform, because they do not have a 2/3 majority in Parliament.

Finally, the leader of the USP MP Frans Richardson, who has jumped ship or crossed the floor more than any other politician, will most likely not even support it given his track record.

Let us focus on political (party) reform now and hold each political party leader accountable for that simple change which they are in control of.

Cornelius de Weever,

Independent Member of Parliament

Dear Editor,

As a former president and board member of the SHTA and still a regular member, I have to agree with Marinka Gumbs’ comments in both daily print papers and on Facebook –

SHTA should stay out of politics; historically that has been the case for the most part.

Our association must be able to work with any and all governments St. Maarten will ever have in the interest of promoting tourism to our island in the broadest sense of the word. Taking sides in a political debate can never be good for the association nor for its members in good standing. Calling for (early/snap) elections to be held on February 9, 2016, is clearly siding with the ousted UPP/Marlin-Romeo/Richardson/the-other-guy coalition and all the new parties that are screaming about “the rights of the people being trampled” and all that other foolishness.

The only good thing that could come out of elections in February of next year, without serious electoral reform (such as maybe instituting that to form a governing coalition, 2/3 of the 15-member Parliament is needed instead of a mere one-seat majority), is that we will probably get rid of the leaping MPs. That is of course if they do not buy their way back into the next Parliament.

Back to the SHTA and Politics: SHTA did a survey. I believe it is safe to say that the method used and, therefore, the results of that survey regarding how many companies actually want snap elections is questionable at best, as according to me one person was able to vote as many times as he/she could get his/her hands on a different computer, smart-phone, etc., etc. And, then last but certainly not least the SHTA has for all intents and purposes thrown the former, well-lauded association president of 13 years under the proverbial election-now bus! What’s “UPP” with that? Here he is, in a position to actually make a difference and the first group of people (outside of the usual suspects that were on the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet’s side of this madness) that want to cut his tenure extremely short, are his friends at the SHTA! In airplane language I am sure Minister Lee must be thinking: Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot!!!!

Michael J. Ferrier

Dear Editor,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to address GEBE and its Supervisory Board. I write this letter to the management and supervisory board of GEBE on behalf of all residential and commercial clients that have made the progressive investment in solar power installations.

The year is 2015 and our nations' leaders have just met for their twenty-first Conference of Parties to discuss the long overdue topic of climate change to recognize the impact it will undeniably have on our present and future lives. The goal of the conference being to commit nearly every country on earth to enact new policies to reduce the world's planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

It is still unclear to too many, the severe consequences we will face if our country’s leaders continue to look in the wrong direction for solutions to our negligent energy output, and if we do not act accordingly, our children and grandchildren will pay the very expensive and imminent price.

In my twenty-six years of doing business and residing on the picturesque landscape of this island, not once do I recall any year (or even this week for that matter) in which GEBE has had the ability and capacity of providing year-long uninterrupted power supply to its customers, without, at some point or another, having to resort to the island-wide inconvenience of load shedding. A process that does not go unnoticed, nor without damage.

With each disappointing grunt that follows the familiar loss of power at the expense of our excessive energy use, appliances and equipment are damaged without compensation, and our frustration grows without sympathy. This acts an almost island-wide projection that GEBE lacks sufficient capacity to provide for our island’s large energy demands.

Most progressive and environmentally-conscious global jurisdictions have developed alternative energy plans in which solar power, one of its main producers of clean energy, plays an integral part in their aim to reduce dependency on heavy oil, based on the exploitation of fossil fuels, in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

In other areas of the world this practice is welcomed with open arms and has contributed to the progressive shift from limited resource dependency to use of clean energy from perpetual resources. One significant example of this being Germany, where sunlight is not nearly as abundant and yet it accounts for 50% of the country’s energy; it makes you wonder the amount energy St. Maarten has the potential to produce.

At our environment's great misfortune, GEBE, while normally slow to respond in many instances in pertinence to solar installations, has gone out of its way to be proactive in the affliction of these same people who have gone out of their way to help them and everyone around them. GEBE has made it a mission to identify all its customers who have paid the extra price for solar installations in exchange for clean, healthy, rewarding energy, and has changed their meters, so they can no longer rotate backwards. The only difference these meters make, is the owners’ responsible for the energy being fed back into the grid are now no longer compensated for it.

On the other hand, GEBE still receives the full benefit of the overproduction from their solar clients’ investments during peak times of demand. Meanwhile, they are removing incentive for other people considering the switch to clean energy by negligently lessening the return on investments, and thus inadvertently hindering the reduction of our collective carbon footprint. In short, GEBE is reaping the benefits of the excess energy solar consumers provide without administering the respective compensation, and our island is paying the price.

The government has always gone on about the need for creating niche markets, new industries and job opportunities, yet continues to ignore this highly-beneficial pre-existing one with its subsequent high demand. Solar energy applications have the potential to develop certified solar installers, entrepreneurs, inspectors, and a number of other related job opportunities for our youth; instead they deny its opportunities without rhyme or reason and poorly disguise their oversight with insufficient bureaucratic excuses. A few of the many reasons GEBE and the government should be more encouraging of solar production, instead of de-incentivizing it include the following:

* First and foremost it is undoubtedly beneficial to our environment in regard to the reduction of our carbon footprint. The impact over the course of thirty years of usage, according to the solar panel brand Solar City, reducing approximately 178 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is equivalent to, "planting ten football fields of trees, eliminating the need to burn 174,907 pounds of coal, Conserving so much water used in electricity production that it would fill 6.7 Olympic-sized swimming pools, and saving the amount of fuel it takes to drive 390,300 miles, which would get you around the equator about 15.7 times." (2014)

* It will assist in diversifying our economy by creating a new industry to generate more employment opportunities.

* It will relieve GEBE of excessive energy output and cut-offs, benefiting them, considering the clients are the ones making the infrastructure investment. And GEBE can determine how much energy they would like to generate from client-based solar energy production.

* It allows clients to significantly reduce their utility bills and their monthly financial burdens while increasing home values.

It should stand without question whether GEBE and the government act on this opportunity before it leaves the damage irreversible and our island no longer one of exquisite beauty, but rather one of pollutant-filled skies and cheated, resentful citizens. When one takes the initiative to convert to clean energy, it is never done with solely themselves in mind; GEBE should take note and act accordingly.

Ricardo Pere,

proud residential solar producer since 2012

Veronica Perez, LU Class of 2016