Dear Editor,

I would like to get some answers to this question. Under the Brooks Tower Accord, there are people who have received a number, in addition to paying the fee of NAf. 900. However, they have not heard back from the Immigration Department. What will become of these persons if they are approached during a raid?

After sending in the required documentation and submitting the NAf. 900, it was made known that these persons will be contacted to pick up their Temporary Residency Permits. But to date, there are numerous people in the community without the said permits.

Can someone please inform these people if their request has been approved? And if not, please refund their NAf. 900 so that they can use this money to return to their respective countries.

Waiting patiently and beginning to think this is just a big rip-off!

BTA applicant

The publicised report of physical abuse of a pupil by the Principal of PWA hopefully will open up the true story of what has been going on behind the scenes at that school for many, many years, because if there was one alleged incident, it finally confirms there have been many more.

I hope that when the Department of Education looks into this matter, it also takes the time to speak to the teachers and listen carefully and realise the facts. A teacher should have the right of privacy to report incidents and not be penalised. It is not the first time the Principal has abused her power, and not just concerning a pupil.

Now is the time. More parents and teachers need to continue to speak out to protect their children and pupils. A school is supposed to be a safe place, and it is ridiculous that a child still has no protection from a cruel world in exactly the environment where he/she is supposed to be encouraged to blossom, and not be physically intimidated by a figure of authority who is supposed to be educationally qualified and emotionally stable, and be able to display the proper reaction to a pupil's behaviour at any time.

And, despite considerable donations to the school over the years, it continues to be physically run down, with many hazardous areas where children can be physically hurt.

This is definitely another indication of some very bad management going on.

Overall, the situation is appalling, and hopefully, this time, the correct procedures are being taken to protect the pupils and staff from the further abuse of "power."

I am in total support of protecting pupils and teachers.

Name withheld at author's request.

Dear Editor,

I start with a question. Why did it take so long for the implementation of a Self-Access Centre (SAC) on St. Maarten? A self-access centre is vital for the social, cultural and educational development of teachers, students, parents, and for others with new skills in mind. Many of the problems facing our youth, with regard to acquiring new skills, result from the absence of such a centre - they are unable to do so. With SAC, students will be able to access information and materials they need.

As it pertains to lesson development, homework assignments, audio-visual technologies, careers and language skills, an SAC can help students to build a good relationship with teachers, counsellors, governors, and other professionals. In the area where a student lacks the discipline with studies, SAC will be able to provide assistance. The centre can assist with homework assignments, career development, research projects, self-discipline, and productive skills. The centre could also help to keep students off the street.

The centre must be user-friendly. With the introduction of new teaching strategies in the classroom, SAC will be able to guide students through the process of Suggestopedia, an approach to the development of learning.

Planning and organising study time:

1. Referral on an individual basis by their teachers.

2. Group access on a regular timetabled basis during course hours.

3. An individual sign up basis during course hours at the discretion of class teachers.

4. Outside course hours by individual student.

5. Other students on a paid-ticket basis.

Organisation of materials:

(l) Identification (b) exploration (c) behavioural objectives (d) contextual realisation (e) pedagogical realisation (f) physical production (g) usage and (h) evaluation.

In concluding, a SAC is needed to provide assistance to students, teachers, parents, and dropouts with the skills and help needed to become more efficient in the community.

Joseph Harvey

Last week I enlisted to get my Scuba Diving Certificate. I thought, "about time, shame on me living on the island so long, loving the ocean so much and not being certified."

Mind you I had dived previously but this was way back in 1981 as a fearless teenager. Wow, what difference 30 years makes! Talk about contrast - a funny tale nonetheless.

Arriving in Sint Maarten a few months shy of being 18, I decided to walk the beach at Great Bay, since dad lived there. Also, it was basically the area where most things were happening. Beautiful and pristine in those days, as you can well imagine.

One of the few hotels was Great Bay Hotel where they had a water sports facility which included diving.

A guy at the water sports spotted me and asked if I wanted to dive. "Fine," I said, "why not?" His name was Craig (who obviously had a hidden agenda).

So this is how it went then:

Craig strapped a tank on me with a regulator and pressure/depth gauge, a weight belt and of course mask, snorkel and fins. (Mind you, the tank was held by two straps over my shoulder and one around my waist). In the pool we went for ten minutes, out to the tender afterwards (while he handed me a shirt, no wetsuits in those days), dropped in backwards off the boat at the diving site and voila! I was diving! Easy as pie.

And this is how it went now:

Believe me, I'm not naïve and fully understood that scuba diving has evolved into a very sophisticated sport that covers all safety procedures as it well should. (Not anywhere near like in the movie "The Deep").

So off I went on Monday to Dive Safaris, with my heavy tome of literature to plow through. Lessons in the morning, the afternoon in the pool for three hours plus. We were taught all sorts of necessary diving skills, some of which were quite claustrophobic for me. Our instructor Mike was highly professional, extremely calm and patient. I was exhausted at the end of the day, all that info to process.

Day two we went diving in open water and I had a hard time to deal with all the gear and such remembering what to do. The second dive that day went thankfully much better.

On Wednesday we did our final two dives and it was spectacular. Being finally familiarized with my gadgets; you got it, easy as pie!

Also not forgetting I made new friends, the guys were great. And I bonded quickly with my dive buddy and another girl.

Shame, though, is that I remember how vividly beautiful and colourful diving was 30 years ago, lobsters, conch, untouched corals and a multitude of lovely fish.

For all of you who love the ocean, I highly recommend scuba diving. I had a wonderful three days. Intense, but absolutely fantastic. Thank you, guys, for giving me a new passion, you'll definitely see me again!

M.I.A. Roos