Dear Editor,

I continue smiling when I hear the people who I am close to, say to me, "I blow you yesterday but you didn't notice it was me", or "I say you need glasses because I blow you, you look and you didn't react". One day I asked one of them, "How is it that you noticed me, and I did not notice that it was you?" Her answer to me was, "When you going to stop being a police?" I wanted to answer her when the retired architects stop looking at buildings or the masons stop looking at how a building is plastered, but I told her, "When you go back into the book that you learned from, to get your driver's licence. She answered "But everybody does it".

I cannot tell you what she meant because it was not clearly established what was the reason for my first reaction, nor can I say what she meant, because it was not clearly stated" She said something to me. She got an answer and responded implying that I had accused her of wrongdoing. The old people used to say, "That is your guilty conscience”. Which brings me to the question? Why would someone who is doing something which is not allowed, expect for others to respect and accept what they are doing?

There is an idea/concept in the law "gedoogd beleid", which is, even though it is not permitted by law, we will let it ride. My reaction to that is, it is not fair for the person who makes an extra effort to abide by the law to see others getting away with "as it were murder" A lady asked me what to do about a seatbelt ticket that she got from an officer who she knows got black tint on his car. I told her if she does not want to fight it in court she should fight in the court of public opinion. My opinion with the law is, it is either black or white. There should not be any grey area. The grey area belongs to the discretion of the judge.

By now we have an idea what is the duty of the "Ombudsman", but I do not think we know what the duties of the Public Prosecutor are. Which brings me back to the lack of civics education in schools. Is not the term "Lawless community" looming somewhere in our future? Even though there is talk about separation of church and state, the government is constantly involved in matters of the church. So then why not adhere to Proverbs 22:6?

Do we really expect better from those young people on motorcycles? Where is the example? So, I ask myself "Wah really goin on?"

Russell A. Simmons

Finally, after a five-week delay, two Venezuelan vessels set sail for the island of Curaçao loaded with watermelon, lemon, avocado, and bananas. The status quo is celebrated with joy, drums, laughter, and ambition. Among them, the crazies paid tribute to the governor, who, for three years, said very little about the border closure and, for political reasons, remained silent and distant from those affected.

I remember the countless protests and complaints of the maritime workers. They demanded help time and time again, with no one extending a helping hand. Amid the persistent self-promotion of some Fedecámaras (Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce) spokespersons to claim someone else’s victory and the political indifference of those in power, the people of Vela and its mariners migrated. Some changed their route at sea, while others died in their attempt to reach the islands. Three years of tragedies, civil weariness, and despair. How does one recover lost time?

The paralysis of the economy in Falcón with the island of Curaçao increased extreme poverty in La Vela. According to estimates from the defunct board of commerce in the Colina municipality, around 15,000 mariners and their families were exposed to extreme poverty, and 300 formal and entrepreneurial businesses ceased to exist. At least 64 commercial vessels became inoperative, resulting in additional losses.

At the end of 2021, six customs and shipping companies closed their doors. The unemployment rate increased, and 30 direct and 50 indirect positions were left vacant, to name some of the consequences.

Throughout this time, the Chavismo blamed the sanctions and “political interference” by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

A few days before the reopening in April 2023, disbelief reigned in the coastal areas of Falcón. Seeing is believing! They were right. The bureaucratic burden did not allow the Venezuelan state to exploit fireworks on the D-day.

The mariners did not have money to pay for a passport, and there was a lack of foreign currency to cover expenses. More than 100 mariners from La Vela did not have the necessary documents to return to international work. The vessels were not prepared. Poverty is a reality. Inflation makes it impossible for exporters.

The long-awaited moment finally arrived for some. On May 7, two vessels and a group of mariners full of hope bid farewell with great joy at the artisanal dock, which also needs state investment. They will face the challenge of elevating Venezuelan dignity on the island and presenting Curaçaoans with the incomparable taste of Venezuelan fruits and vegetables. They will have to compete with Colombian and Dominican producers. They will have to find the best supplier and overcome bureaucratic obstacles.

Did La Vela and its maritime workers deserve three years of punishment? Trade exchange with the ABC islands represented 18% of Falcón's GDP in 2018.

Jhonattam Petit,

Venezuelan journalist

The Dutch country part island of Sint Maarten and the French Collectivite part Island of Saint Martin are a two-part island separated by a border.

The Country of Dutch Sint Maarten forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while the Collectivite of French Saint Martin is actually a municipality of France.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is situated in Paris under the responsibility of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs in France while the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is situated in The Hague under the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, with a Foreign Affairs Department operating in Philipsburg under the responsibility of the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten handling specific foreign affairs matters relating to the Dutch Caribbean country of Sint Maarten.

The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten still has to answer and give account to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs. And, of course, from time to time the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten can be empowered by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs as it relates specifically to foreign affairs matters in country Sint Maarten, being a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The above being a simplified introduction as to this border matter taking place on Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, for which a decision has been rendered ultimately between Paris and The Hague; Marigot being represented by Paris, while Philipsburg functioned as party intermediary to The Hague, by way of the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, being responsible as a Dutch dependent for foreign affairs locally.

There exist Four Access Borders between Sint Maarten/Saint Martin.

1. The Dutch-side Lowlands/Cupecoy area, with bordering access through the French Lowlands Area.

2. The Dutch-side Cole Bay Fleming property/Diamond Hill and Dutch Simpson Bay Lagoon, with bordering access through the Bellevue Fleming property to the French capital of Marigot.

3. The Dutch-side Belvedere/Nazareth Area and Dutch Quarter, with bordering access through Orleans, French Quarter.

4. The Dutch-side Oyster Pond and Dutch Oyster Pond Lagoon and Oyster Bay Hotel area, bordering with French Oyster Pond, specifically in the well-known Captain Oliver Hotel and lagoon area.

And this specific area mentioned under Point 4 is where the Dutch/French border dispute and contention have been lingering for decades.

There can be so many reasons for border disputes, but the one that would make the most logical sense would be the border access mentioned under Point 4, for the very simple reasons that,

a) The famous Captain Oliver Hotel could be in actuality only French accessed by way of road, while although being situated on this lagoon, its water access permission by way of a marina would have always had to be sought by way of the Dutch Sint Maarten government in Philipsburg.

b) This also meaning as well that boating lagoon access from the Atlantic Ocean has always had to be by way of Dutch territory waters.

c) With its additional handicap being that all water rights were granted by the Dutch Sint Maarten government, which in turn collected all water rights revenues over the many decades.

And all of the above-mentioned are facts.

This decision taken between both country authorities has been very long in the making. And the reality is that on the French-side borders of this lagoon, the French were always at an economic disadvantage, while the Dutch enjoyed full authority of the water rights of this lagoon, as well as access from the Atlantic Ocean.

My personal assumptions can be of an economic revenues-making future development planning perspective.

This Atlantic Ocean/lagoon access can possibly make access for motor vessels berthing from the now-agreed-upon French waters of this Oyster Pond Lagoon, giving the French government development authority and power having these water rights.

Is this great vision or not?

Can this attract yachts and/or mega-yachts and a small tourist cruise liner?

What would this mean in terms of investment expansions for the famous Captain Oliver Hotel and Marina area?

I am not really getting into the possible investment economic revenues agreements that can be and already may have been made regarding the other borders 1, 2, and 3.

Just my simple personal food for thought!

Achken Roberto Richardson-IAM

Dear Editor,

I was told that the way I write about members of Parliament is as if I expect all of them to be lawyers. I started to answer him, but I changed my approach and asked him, “What papers do you have?” “But I went away to study.” "Why?" “Because I wanted to be an architect.” “So you are comfortable with someone with no kind of an education deciding whether the drawings, layout and measurements for a building are correct?” “But they have advisers.” “But who has the last say?”

When he shook his shoulders I said to him, “If you are an architect I believe you have a certain level of education, and you had to spend some sleepless nights studying. Do you still think that my way of writing is putting too much pressure on our members of Parliament?” His answer was, “Everybody have their way of looking at things?”

Then I asked him if he had read that a whole lot of police officers left the force and more are leaving to go work as police officer in other parts of the kingdom. He told me that they are not from here. I do not know who is who, but I am more and more convinced of what I was thinking. These do not take being a police officer to heart. And somewhere I Timothy 6:10 crossed my mind. So my question now to all members of government: how serious are they taking this step by the police and what are they going to do about it? Are they going to pack their bundle and leave and go or are they ready to deal with the brunt of it in a mature and responsible way?

This concerns the safety of the whole country, so let us see if there are solutions for all of those faults that they were finding.

I Googled the word “deserter” and it says “a member of the armed forces who deserts.” Over the years many police officers have left the police force of the Netherland Antilles in their prime, but like I mentioned over the years, not en bloc at one time. The history behind the recruitment of several of those police officers awakens the thought that “when you do not do much to get something you do not value it.” And I know that the present Minister of Justice definitely did not have a hand in recruiting those who left. And please, we do not need a quick fix.

While we are at it, let me state this. Unless the justice workers continue not to be satisfied, I believe that it would be expedient if in case the justice money problem is resolved and they are being paid, for the Minister of Justice to publicise this. Even though I am convinced that St. Maarteners born and raised in St. Maarten should spend at least four to five years away from St. Maarten at the beginning of their career, I will state what my father always reminded me: “Home is the place where even though you grumble the most, you are treated the best.”

Russell A. Simmons