Dear Editor,
It is with satisfaction I express my deepest sentiments of gratitude to the Minister of Education, Rodolphe Samuel; the interim head of the Department of Public Education; Mr. Daison Marks.
In his introductory address to educators at the commencement of the 202I-2022 academic year, Mr. Daison Marks articulated the overarching theme for the school year as “We Do Different” and delineated a series of objectives, with technology assuming precedence as the foremost priority. He pledged to provide educators with the necessary support and resources to implement innovative teaching and learning methodologies supporting technology within the classroom.
Regrettably, not all the outlined objectives were fully achieved within the stipulated timeframe. Nonetheless, to the benefit of recollection, it is evident that Mr. Marks’ commitments were not mere rhetoric, but rather, a pledge faithfully upheld.
At the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year, a significant modernization initiative was executed within the public education system. This comprehensive transformation entailed the complete removal of traditional chalkboards from every classroom, which were subsequently replaced with state-of-the-art Promethean interactive boards. Furthermore, as part of this endeavor, all school managers, assistant managers, teachers, and support staff members were furnished with brand-new laptop computers. These cutting-edge devices have become instrumental tools in the execution of our professional duties, facilitating enhanced productivity and efficiency across various facets of our roles.
I thank Marks and the entire technology team for their remarkable efforts in equipping us with the essential technological tools required to function effectively and efficiently in the 21st-century classroom.
In recent years, we have witnessed an unprecedented transformation in the field of education, driven primarily by advancements in technology. The demands placed on educators have evolved significantly, and it is imperative that we are adequately equipped to deal with the challenges head-on. The provision of Promethean boards and laptop computers to our public education teachers is a monumental step towards achieving this goal, and I believe it is deserving of the highest praise and recognition.
First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Honorable Rodolphe Samuel for his vision and leadership in prioritizing the technological advancement of our education system. His commitment to ensuring that our students receive a modern and dynamic education is truly commendable. Under his guidance, the Department of Public Education has made remarkable strides in embracing technology as an integral part of the learning process.
I would also like to express my appreciation to Mr. Daison Marks, whose dedication and tireless efforts have been instrumental in implementing this technology initiative. His ability to navigate the complexities of modernizing our educational infrastructure has been nothing short of impressive. It is leaders like Mr. Marks who ensure that our educational system remains adaptable and responsive to the needs of our students and teachers.
The contributions of the technology team cannot be understated either. Their expertise and hard work behind the scenes have made it possible for teachers to seamlessly integrate technology into our classrooms. Prior to the implementation of the Promethean boards and laptop computers, they have provided invaluable training and support through the ISTEP program to ensure that educators are not only equipped with these tools but also proficient in their use.
The benefits of providing Promethean boards and laptop computers to educators are already evident. We no longer must “chalk and talk” in the classrooms. The tools have enhanced the quality of instruction, making learning more interactive and engaging for our students. They have also improved teachers’ ability to access resources, plan lessons, and stay connected in an increasingly digital world.
As an experienced teacher for more than two decades, I firmly believe that investing in our educators and empowering them with the tools they need is an investment in our future. The knowledge and skills imparted to students will shape them to become leaders, innovators, and problem solvers of tomorrow. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to ensure they have every resource at their disposal.
In conclusion, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude once again to the Honorable Rodolphe Samuel, Mr. Daison Marks, and the technology team for their unwavering commitment to the advancement of education on our island. Their dedication to keeping our schools up to date with the demands of the 21st century is truly praiseworthy. I hope that their efforts continue to inspire positive change in our educational system and benefit generations of students to come.
Sincerely,
Satisfied teacher
Dear Editor,
It has been almost a year since I got the new connection and ’til now there has been no readings/bill sent out to me, but I have been making estimated payment every month to lessen my burden. Every time I send them the message about my bill, if I am lucky I get the reply as, “After the hack some meters have issues with being billed.” I think this is just a lame excuse, as it is a brand-new building and all the four of the apartment owners applied/got connected on the same day. Three of them are getting the regular bills but not me.
If all the connections were made at the same time, how would they be installing the meters that had problem. Just does not make sense why someone would be doing what would be more laborious and complicated in coming days.
Anyways, my concern is that once the reading is done, will I be charged one reading instead of 12 readings? Remember that GEBE charges higher rates when your consumption per billing cycle is high. For clarifications I have sent emails to all the officials/departments that I have been footballed from one person/department to another but all in vain as I don’t think they have any basic knowledge of customer service or acknowledging the customer/problem. As long as they get their deep pockets filled the public does not exist for them.
Is this GEBE’s new way of scamming us to pay off the loss from hack? Is there any authority from Government or Ombudsman to investigate it, as one day GEBE is going to wake up and print the obnoxious-amounted bill and put the notification in media for disconnection.
H.R,
Initials used at author’s request.
Dear Editor,
The people of the British Virgin Islands have traditionally celebrated Emancipation and the basic freedoms we enjoy today at the annual Emancipation Festival/August Festival that takes place between late July and early August.
But because we are so far removed from slavery, members of the public may not truly appreciate Emancipation's historical importance.
During slavery, our foreparents had no rights as human beings under British law. They were forced to work their entire lives in inhumane conditions by British slave masters with no compensation.
They were not allowed to go to school or to learn to read and write. They were not allowed to marry, have a family, keep their own children, and girls and women were the sexual pleasure of the slave master. They were not allowed to own property and were themselves legally owned by British slave owners in the UK and British colonies.
These violations of our foreparents’ basic human rights were crimes against humanity. They revolted many times against their British oppressors in an effort to gain their freedom.
Emancipation was the first milestone in the process of the formerly enslaved men, women and children becoming British Virgin Islanders since their enslaved African ancestors began arriving on the islands.
These ancestors were systematically separated from any family members and sent to plantations where over time they and their offspring were stripped of their languages, cultures and traditions, and subjected to the traditions, institutions, religion and language of their British oppressors that became part of their identity.
Raising awareness about our foreparents' struggle for freedom and eventual release from bondage should not be limited to the Emancipation Festival period. Emancipation must be properly taught in the schools based on a curriculum that adequately covers the slavery and post-slavery periods of British Virgin Islands history.
No student in the education system should complete secondary school without having gained a comprehensive knowledge of slavery in the territory which legally ended with the Emancipation Proclamation on August 1, 1834, but lingered on for several years under an apprenticeship system.
Students should also learn about the life of hardship endured by the newly freed men, women and children who received nothing from Britain to build new lives after their enslavement, versus the payouts made to their former slave owners by the UK Treasury as compensation for no longer having slaves to provide them with free labour.
Individuals should also try to educate themselves and their communities about these historical facts.
A greater awareness of the slavery and post-slavery periods would help us to better appreciate Emancipation and the need for greater public involvement in shaping the Emancipation Festival.
As a people, let us never take for granted the fundamental freedoms we enjoy today that our foreparents struggled to receive for nearly two centuries.
Benito Wheatley
Dear Editor,
Or, “Haven’t you heard?” This is a question our Lord often asked the scribes and Pharisees who were not very knowledgeable about the Word of God, though they claimed to know it all. Especially the scribes who made copies of the holy writings and were professional religious scholars.
If Jesus were still physically on the earth today, He would be asking us the selfsame question. Even after having His Word available to us for thousands of years, we still don’t know our God as we ought to. Very sad!
Even Satan, our and God’s enemy, who came to kill, to steal, and to destroy, read and knows the Word. He quoted Scriptures to Jesus in the desert.
All the answers to the questions of the ancient scribes and Pharisees and the questions we often reflect on today are found in His Word, yet most of us don’t take time out to read it. There are Scriptures in the Bible that admonish us about what we have to do, and maybe more importantly not to do in order to inherit eternal life. However, those of us who don’t read them, don’t know them. What we don’t know can lead to us spending eternity in the wrong place.
Unfortunately, those who follow false teachers – and there are many – will also end up in the same place. Jesus said, “If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
We can easily find time to do everything else. We can watch TV or read books written by mere men for hours and engage in other useless activities every day of the week. All for our entertainment. One day – whether we believe it or not – we are all going to have to face Him and be judged for how we lived our brief lives here on this earth. This judgment will include what we did … and did not do. “He who knows how to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17).
Those who know me well will say: Clive, you are not even a churchgoer. True! But I attend “church” every morning of the week on my front porch. I read His Word, pray for myself and others, make my petitions, but I mainly give Him thanks and praise. I not only read Scriptures; I highlight those that speak to my heart and write many of them down as well. That way they stay in my mind much longer.
So, why do I no longer attend church? Well, I have been reading my Bible practically every morning from the time I was 30 years old. I am 78 now. The Bible tells us: “The lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should desire instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Armies.” (Malachi 2:7)
After attending church regularly for many years, both Catholic and Protestant, I eventually got tired of hearing both RC priests and Protestant pastors preach some things that are contrary to what I read in my Bible. Regardless of which denomination a preacher belongs to, if what they preach does not line up with the Bible, I confidently reject it. If you don’t read the Word, you will believe everything they and others say.
In addition to that, they never preach on such important topics as the reality of Hell, the truth that there are children of Satan living among us. Someone once asked Jesus: “Are only a few people going to be saved? Jesus replied: “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door.”
I have also heard many a Protestant preacher say at the end of the service: “Repeat this prayer after me and you will be saved.” Not much of an effort there.
I have also heard a Protestant preacher announce in a Christian TV programme that he teaches his aspirant preachers to stay away from certain topics. He tells them: “Don’t go there! You will only confuse the congregation.” Those are some of the reasons I attend my own home church.
You can be the most read, most educated person on the face of the earth, but if you don’t know the One who created you, the One who sacrificed His life for you in order to save us from God’s coming wrath, you know nothing at all!
So, I encourage all my readers to inform yourself of what your Maker expects, rather demands from you. On Judgment Day, you can’t say to Him: Sorry, Lord, I didn’t have time to read Your Word and to get to know You. I was too busy doing other things and time suddenly and unexpectedly ran out on me.”
I imagine that His answer to you might be: Even the man-made law states that “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” And, had you read My Word, you would have known that your Master would come suddenly and unexpectedly.
Clive Hodge
Dear Editor,
As St. Maarten stands at a critical juncture, the need for a transformative and visionary outlook becomes ever more apparent. Claude Wathey’s vision, though once relevant and beneficial to the island, has now reached its limits. The time has come to make a very important decision. We can either follow the same old path, fading into obscurity and slowly losing our regional uniqueness, or we can boldly embrace a new direction – one that champions progress, sustainability, and long-term development to shape the next 50 years of our nation’s history.
In this article, we embark on an exploration of a grand and ambitious vision that can serve as the driving force behind our nation’s growth. By uniting our goals, decisions, and values under this aspirational framework, we will ensure our resilience and unlock our true potential for success.
So, what does this grand new vision entail? As the title may have hinted, it aims to position St. Maarten as a prominent innovation hub in the Caribbean. This bold and expansive vision embraces various approaches to innovation, allowing each individual to reach their highest potential and surpass it, without limitations on our thinking. To achieve this, my advocacy revolves around sustainability, pioneering revolutionary energy solutions, harnessing the power of blockchain technology, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. These transformative endeavors will pave the way for a prosperous and dynamic future, re-establishing our position as trailblazers in the region.
Becoming the most sustainable island in the Caribbean
Innovation opens doors to a multitude of possibilities, and for St. Maarten, a visionary leap into the green energy race sets the stage for a sustainable future. With the goal of becoming the most sustainable island in the Caribbean, embracing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and ocean energy, alongside innovative waste management and water conservation practices, will significantly diminish our environmental footprint.
Picture GEBE pioneering as the world's first electricity company that operates solely as a grid facilitator and marketplace, not producing any electricity itself, but instead revolutionizing how energy is bought and sold. Leveraging cutting-edge blockchain technologies such as Energy Web Token enables this transformative energy ecosystem, where we, the people, can empower ourselves by generating and trading renewable energy.
As an advocate of clean energy and the proud owner of a small solar installation, I can attest to the empowering feeling of generating my own power. However, the absence of net metering (being able to offset my electricity bill by providing excess energy back into the grid) leaves me disheartened, seeing surplus energy go to waste.
Energy independence is of paramount importance, as it not only lowers our electricity costs but also opens up new avenues for competition and progress. We must act swiftly to secure our place in this transformative era.
Curaçao has recently entered a partnership with the Netherlands to build an offshore wind farm and continue to invest in solar panels, with the goal of converting surplus energy into hydrogen. This serves as an important reminder that because we’re standing still, we’re actually falling behind. Hydrogen is increasingly sought after as nations and industries strive for cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels. The demand for hydrogen is set to soar in the coming years, and if we seize this opportunity now, we can position St. Maarten at the forefront of the energy revolution.
By embracing clean energy initiatives and investing in our technological prowess, we can embark on a journey towards a sustainable and thriving economy, not solely reliant on tourism. This transition will diversify our economic landscape, creating a solid foundation for long-term growth and prosperity.
Nurturing Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Continuous Learning
To propel St. Maarten into an esteemed innovation hub, we must cultivate a supportive ecosystem that fosters creativity, entrepreneurship, and a thirst for knowledge. It needs to become a part of our culture! By establishing startup incubators, innovation centers, and funding mechanisms, we can attract and retain our skilled and highly educated locals. No longer will they need to live abroad enriching other nations with their knowledge and experience; instead, we would be offering them dynamic fields to develop and grow personally and professionally.
With a focused vision, we can align our educational system to focus on developing the skills needed for the future, such as smart grid maintainers, hydroponics farmers, medical specialists, project managers, and more. This long-term planning and preparation are prerequisites for achieving successful results and putting our own in positions of power, guiding these transformative initiatives to their fruitful conclusions.
Emphasizing continuous learning, we encourage curiosity and provide ample opportunities for personal development in areas of individual interest, nurturing a culture of continuous improvement. Collaborative partnerships between local entrepreneurs, international investors and research institutions will further stimulate the growth of innovative industries, culminating in a vibrant innovation ecosystem teeming with potential.
Collaborative partnerships for regional impact
Achieving our grand vision hinges on collaboration, recognizing that St. Maarten’s success is intertwined with the prosperity of our French counterparts, neighboring islands, and kingdom partners. Engaging proactively with our kingdom partner, the Netherlands, unlocks a treasure trove of expertise and potential access to EU funding for a multitude of sustainable development projects.
Our small island nation can benefit immensely from forging strong alliances that leverage the collective knowledge, resources, and networks of our regional and global stakeholders. Key here is that we take ownership of those partnerships and therein dictate how we effectively want to leverage those resources offered to us, creating win-win situations as opposed to it being dictated to us and leading to less effective results.
By embarking on collaborative regional projects and pooling resources, we can harness the collective potential of the Caribbean, ushering in mutual benefits and shared prosperity for all. With a clear and defined goal, we set all noses pointed in the same direction, fostering collaboration instead of the individualistic pursuits that we see today and yield little to no results.
Embracing the role of digital pioneer in the Caribbean
St. Maarten’s distinct advantage lies in its smaller population, setting the stage for groundbreaking strides in data management and blockchain technology. Taking cues from Estonia's model, where each citizen possesses a secure digital ID, we can adopt a similar system, utilizing blockchain technology to safeguard personal data and empower our residents with comprehensive control over their information.
A visionary approach to data management not only fosters data-driven decision-making but also ushers in a range of benefits that cater to the needs of our society. By harnessing blockchain's potential, we revolutionize administrative processes, enabling faster access to essential services. Imagine a streamlined process for bank account openings, facilitated address changes, effortless tax filings, and swift employer permit submissions.
As we advance toward digital frontiers, we establish a foundation that champions inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency, eradicating illegality and ensuring the collective contribution of all. This transformation heralds an era where St. Maarten's digital journey propels us toward a future where processes are optimized, society is more united, and prosperity is shared by all.
Conclusion
The above examples merely scratch the surface of the many ideas and opportunities that await us with this grand vision. From waste management and recycling to leveraging AI technologies for educational advancements, from specialized hurricane-resistant structures, or reincorporating more greenery into our communities, to exploring innovative land-expansion techniques, the possibilities are only limited by one’s imagination.
St. Maarten finds itself on the verge of a profound transformation, driven by the aspiration to become the Caribbean’s foremost innovation hub. Embracing the insights shared in this article, we have the power to unite and collaborate harmoniously, propelling us towards a brighter and promising future. In part three we’ll delve into how this can be achieved, as lofty dreams are just that if you don’t plan to achieve them.
David Salomon
