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
Dear VROMI,
Why in God’s good Name would you allow road work to be done during the day-light rush hours instead of during the night? Visitors have missed their ships, their flights and are leaving the island with the worst impression.
How irresponsible and disrespectful to all of us who have to run errands and pick up our kids at school. In any other civilized country, road works are conducted during the evening hours.
We, who pay your salaries, demand an explanation as to why this is not the case here in St. Maarten.
Susy Piscione
Dear Editor,
On February 2nd of this year, I wrote an article in this newspaper entitled: "The value of a life", in which I condemned the proposed sentence of 15 to 18 months imprisonment against two youngsters, who fled from police in St. Peters, after threatening someone with a firearm. They were chased by Police and ended up fleeing on foot across the ball field behind Cost-U-Less, at which time they fired at least ten shots at the two Police Officers.
I also condemned the lawyer who, in representing the two suspects, said that their attempt to escape "was not deliberate, but a spontaneous action." Your editorial of December 2 reads: "After all, a well-known man trying to earn his daily bread in an honest manner was killed by unscrupulous robbers, who clearly don't place much value on human life." It took your newspaper exactly 9 months to confirm in its editorial exactly what I wrote on February 2nd.
To top it off, the person suspected of murdering the innocent gas station attendant turns out to be one of the youngsters who, together with his fellow accomplice, fired at least 10 shots at Police. According to the article on the front page of your newspaper of December 2, the suspect "was sentenced earlier this year and was released in March" and, according to the headline caption, "was out of prison for good behaviour".
We started the year 2015 with the authorities on both sides of the island offering persons in possession of illegal fire arms to turn them in during a specified period, at which time no questions would be asked. They warned that anyone caught with illegal fire arms in their possession after the deadline would face stiffer penalties. Well, it looks to me as if the stiffer penalty includes a reward of being released from prison prematurely.
There are countless reports of people who were caught with illegal fire arms and got off with very soft sentences. Now here comes my question about the value of a human life: Why is a sentenced criminal, who fired at least ten shots at two Police officers released from prison prematurely for "good behaviour? The law clearly shows that it placed no value for the lives of the two police officers whose lives were in danger.
The youngster too made it abundantly clear that he shows absolutely no regards for human life. If we doubted him after firing ten shots at two police officers, he convinced us now. Instead of leaving him sit out his full sentence, we allowed him back on the streets to prove his point: He has no regard to human life.
I applaud the witnesses, who provided the police force with the necessary information to apprehend the culprits, and I cannot hold back my praise for the brave men and women of the police force for their swift action.
But, I cannot end this article without asking the following question, which is in no way intended to be construed as racial or bias. If the youngsters had fired at least 10 shots at a judge or a prosecutor, do you think they would be on the streets today? Think about that when trying to establish the value of a human life.
Fernando R. Clark
Dear Editor,
Wednesday during the Council of Ministers’ Press Briefing Minister Richardson Gibson noted, which has been confirmed in The Daily Herald Thursday morning that there will be an increase in the annual road tax for 2016. The Minister noted that his predecessors are responsible for the legislation to enact such, basically saying to the people of St. Maarten it is not our fault; don't blame me for the extra cost that you will now incur on your already tight budget.
Ironically during the same briefing it was made clear to the people that there will be no new elections, because we as a current government see no need for such without electoral reform. Am I to conclude then that the current government, because of all of the financial woes supports this increase in the road tax? The answer without getting an answer from our elected officials is most likely yes as the revenue is needed.
After all it is all about the money, to hell with the overall social and or financial wellbeing of the people in the immediate, folks will just have to find a way to get the extra money to pay up. Let me firmly state that I applaud any effort to balance our budget and find additional revenues, however, where are the well thought out plans to change our tax system? Where is the well thought out plans to increase compliance above 30per cent? Where is the vision needed to bring this country into the 21st Century?
More new political parties than we actually truly need will be vying for a seat in Parliament whenever the elections are actually held, yet I am not impressed with any of them. As someone recently said to me the people who should be running for government are not and the people who are should not be. Vision and will are needed now more so than ever before as both are directly linked to balancing well thought out development.
Why should someone who drives an i10 pay the same amount or similar road tax as someone who drives a Hummer? Why should someone who buys a second hand car that is 10 years old pay the same amount of road tax as someone who drives a new car from the lot? The roads are increasingly congested with cars that are not fit to be on the road so why am I to pay the same amount of road tax as these people?
Yet as a country we do not invest in environmentally favourable road tax, safety policies and enforcement, for a healthier and viable tomorrow. Not one cent of the extra revenues collected will go to projects that improve our environment and our overall health conditions. However, we the people are now being asked to pay more annually into a system that lacks vision and will. I often ask myself if our political leaders have a conscience. Well I guess if you can’t beat them join them.
Natasha Richardson
Dear Editor,
The month of December has begun, the year is quickly coming to a close and as I get ready to celebrate the festive season and a new year, I believe and pray will be a better year for St. Maarten. I pray for an election that will bring a stable and hard-working government, less violence on our island and throughout the world, and a better financial year for all.
Over the past month I have made my position clear concerning snap elections on February 9, 2016. I believe once the wheels of democracy (elections) begin to turn, it should not be removed by any government or individual. Any attempt at tampering with our right to vote is a violation of our democratic rights.
Now, unfortunately, that is exactly what our Honourable Prime Minister is doing when he sends a decree, backed by the Coalition of Eight to the Governor's desk. There is no excuse in the book to call for an indefinite postponement of an election authorized by the Governor and posted in the National Gazette. If there is any article in our constitution allowing such actions to be taken, to do away with the most important part of our island's democracy, then we have a much bigger problem in our flawed Constitution than I thought since 2010. We have a democracy flaw in our Constitution.
I have been called a ship jumper, a traitor, even a thief. I don't know if the individual who accuse me for stealing the core symbol of the Democratic Party knows the difference between a lighthouse and a flaming torch. One thing is clear; you can lift and move forward with one and the other remains stagnant.
There is a difference between the torch I selected to represent my vision for St. Maarten's future and a lighthouse abandoned by the 66-year-old party two years ago. The symbol signifies the passing of the torch to a younger, brighter, more intelligent generation on St. Maarten. However, political leaders hell bent on clinging to power no matter what will not even teach the future generation how to hold and lift that torch properly, less yet run with it.
We should always invest in our future and I can say the United People's (UP) party has shown these actions and not just when elections are just the corner, like that plastic Christmas tree that is taken out, set up and decorated; give it all the attention needed and once the season is over is dismantled placed back into boxes and into the closet until Christmas rolls around again.
UP has shown a different side of politics when it comes to getting their youth involve, they have been active year round and for that I applaud the party. Let's hope other political parties, old and new alike, will take note and follow in being active, getting youth involved and not wait until elections are around the corner.
Late last week an NA supporter questioned how just one year I proudly waved the "red" flag and today I publicly support the United People's party while tossing some jabs at the Democratic Party. That NA supporter simply does not understand the logic of this young, vibrant, enthusiastic and aspiring politician who waved red flags last year and green flags this year and will continue doing so for a very long time.
Allow me to switch to the third person. The known Armand Meda has always been enthusiastic of the party that he supported for more than 20 years; that was the Democratic Party of St. Maarten, and yes, in 2010 he waved those flags in support of the party almost as hard as the candidates of that year. He also believes that he was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the same party throughout the 2014 elections. He waved those flags hard and proud and was not ashamed of it.
With no regret he pointed out the clear flaws from that same party. If you had taken the time and listened to him in 2010 and 2014, you would have known that the same criticism that he has for the Democratic Party today, was addressed on several occasions then. Maybe you were too busy following the white line.
How can I ridicule a party I support? It's simple. We live in a democratic society and I believe that if anyone supports a certain political party, then he has every right to point out not just the strong points, but also the weaknesses. For that reason I do not have a sense of guilt, and I can sleep well at night, even after constructively criticizing the party that had my support for so many years.
In closing, I highly commend the new political parties that came together to stand united for St. Maarten's Constitutional right. The wheels have started to roll and it should not be removed because a handful of Members of Parliament and Ministers think there is enough reason to annul the decree that calls for the dissolution of government and new elections.
The Honourable Prime Minister accepted the Governor's instruction upon taking office to work towards new elections and electoral reform. However, he abandoned those instructions clearly indicating that he accepted them with false intent. His actions display a lack of respect for authority. It is not your right Mr. PM to take (or postpone) our opportunity to go to the polls away from us simply because you want to execute your own agenda.
I do not care about your being scared of elections or not being scared. Believe it or not Mr. Prime Minister that is not important. What is important, is the people of St. Maarten having the opportunity to exercise their constitutional and democratic right to go out and vote on February 9, 2016. If you don't agree with that, or if you simply don't like it, then refrain from postulating yourself in order to contest the elections. By all means boycott it, but don't mess it up for all of us like you messed up your opportunity to fix St. Maarten's political crisis in 2012/2013.
Armand Meda
