Local agriculture. Photo compliments of Sxm Fisheries NV.
Dear editor,
After reading the article “St. Maarten looking to lease land abroad for sustainable agriculture”in The Daily Herald dated September 7, I was struck with disbelief.
From December 2021 through June 2022 my company, Infinite Observations, based in Delft, The Netherlands, executed the project “Pilot Study On Price Ceiling On Staple Items – Foodstuffs” for the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunications (TEATT) of the Government of Sint Maarten, see https://infinite-observations.com/pilot-study-on-price-ceiling-on-staple-items-foodstuffs-2021-2022/ . The project consisted of (1) collecting data on more than 650 commodity food items, (2) developing a “Market Place Mapping Dashboard” for the duration of the project to monitor market prices and (3) a written report.
In Chapter 6 paragraph 9 of our report named: “Subsidies To Increase Farmers incomes and Lower Consumer Prices To World Price Levels”, we advocated specifically for “Domestic Agriculture” for the following reasons:
Domestic agricultural (, livestock, fishery, etc.) production is the only long-term sustainable response program to price increases stemming from food shortages as a result of human induced and man-made catastrophes, see chapter 2 | Conceptual Framework, on page 16, of the entire report. During the pandemic years and the ongoing war in Ukraine the agricultural sector has been performing very well as the shift to small scale subsistence (or at-home food preparation [essentially all farmers on Sint Maarten]) was fuelled by a strong demand from consumers. Any government agricultural policy framework will have to be an approach that will better enable (small scale subsistence) [essentially all farmers on Sint Maarten] and the food sector to simultaneously improve productivity, increase competitiveness and profitability, improve resilience, access markets at home and abroad, manage natural resources more sustainably, contribute to national food security, and deal with extreme market volatility, while avoiding trade distortions. The (or any current or future) agricultural policy framework must consist of the following: (1) macro-economic governance, (2) agricultural research and development, (3) markets, (4) land management, (5) climate change, (6) public expenditure, (7) policy priorities, (8) farmer knowledge, organization, awareness and education, (9) financial services, (10) technology and (11) taxation.
Macro-economic Governance: A government agricultural policy framework should have a holistic approach and cover the whole food supply chain, well-functioning markets, a sound regulatory and policy environment that are key to foster innovation and improve productivity, sustainability and resilience. Such a framework needs continuous improvements. Digital technologies and ICT can play important roles in the design of an innovation and policy framework. Policy coherence deserve special attention when applying such a frame framework. An encouraging macro-economic surroundings promotes the stability that is required for a well-functioning of market and investment decisions.
Agricultural Research & Development: How much has government invested in agricultural research and development over the past decade? How many full-time equivalent (fte) agricultural researchers does government employ? Has government thought about establishing an agricultural research fund, and reallocating revenue from commodity food taxes back to agricultural research and development?
Before the minister engaged in talks about leasing parcels of land in other countries did he seek advice on what that would mean in terms transportation costs of that produce and products from those countries back to Sint Maarten? We have seen how (fossil) fuel costs have skyrocketed in the past months and what effect that have had on commodity food prices. Can the minister substantiate his decision with data?
Markets: This surge created by the shift to small scale subsistence, however, coupled with logistical bottlenecks, created supply disruptions resulting from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine led to higher commodity food prices, drawing special attention to the vulnerabilities of existing global supply chains, see chapter 5 | Examining Factors That Influence Price Fluctuations, on page 64, of our report. To safeguard against future catastrophes, to meet increasing food security demand and resiliency in agricultural supply chain, Caribbean agricultural industry needs to adapt and evolve.
Will the supply chain disruptions resulting from catastrophes be mitigated by leasing parcels of land in other countries to develop sustainable agriculture? By cultivating and expanding the agricultural sector on Sint Maarten supply chain disruptions to our local market resulting from catastrophes will be zero. Because all produce and products will be locally grown and the time and distance from farm to market on Sint Maarten is negligible. When production is done in other countries, it can take weeks or more under normal circumstances and in the event of a natural or man-made catastrophe the challenges will be insurmountable. Sint Maarten needs to become more resilient in economic, employment, educational, etc. -terms. Outsourcing agricultural production to other countries will make us more vulnerable and dependant on others than we are right now.
Climate Change: Changes in the variability of rainfall (or drought) are expected to have a more significant impact on agricultural production and hurricane winds are so strong enough to break and uproot crops, wave and water action can be catastrophic to land environments causing erosion. However, there are several land management practices, adaptation and mitigation strategies to reduce climate risk in the agricultural sector and improve growth and productivity while boosting yields and increasing revenue.
Did the minister research what land management practices can be used on Sint Maarten to reduce climate risk in the agricultural sector and improve crop growth and productivity?
Farmer Knowledge, Organization, Awareness & Education: Network of actors and institutions participating in research, education, capacity building, training, extension, long-term productivity and sustainable farming, input supplying, regulatory policy, marketing, processing and consuming. Some of these actors come from outside of the agricultural sector, and they can influence innovation from any point in the value chains.
Did the minister consult with our local farmers on this matter? By leasing parcels of land in other countries to develop sustainable agriculture will Sint Maarten organizing, encouraging, educating our local farmers and young people in the agricultural sector? No!
Financial Services: Agricultural financing, credit to finance inputs and capital investments, effective market information systems, reliable infrastructure, such as electricity for cold storage facilities and water for irrigation are necessary to cultivate the sector and help it to grow. However, farmers at or below subsistence levels have low assets, are often outside formal credit markets, and have high degrees of risk aversion that make it difficult for them to make even the initial investments that would increase production. Through innovations in agricultural infrastructure and technology, investment opportunities exist to optimize and boost value creation from every part of the supply chain in a sustainable manner. This type of transformation requires capital. In the European Union funding is available in the form of grants, subsidies and incentives for sustainable resilient agricultural projects among member states.
Is the minister aware that be outsourcing our much need domestic agricultural sector it will make it much more difficult to access the necessary funding from the European Union and other international bodies for local agricultural projects now and in the future?
Land Management & Population: Population growth and urbanization in recent decades has led to the steady decline of farmland and other natural resources. Land distribution (or lack of) and land disputes, plot inclination (or slope) poses many challenges to open-field agricultural farming, which is limited to specific growing seasons and is sensitive to climate change and the prevailing weather patterns. On the other hand, (single and multilevel) Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) offers numerous advantages to open-field farming. CEA creates an environment, by using innovative technology to control lighting, humidity, and temperature levels, conducive to almost year-round growth for certain fruits and vegetables with limited exposure to weather conditions. The advantages of CEA farming include: (1) improved and more consistent crop yields, (2) if greenhouses can be located closer to end markets [greenhouses on Sint Maarten] it reduces supply chains and carbon emissions associated with transportation to get produce from farmer to the consumer, (3) more efficient (meaning less) use of fertilizers and no use of pesticides, (4) efficient irrigation methods and recycling of water and nutrients leads to water conservation.
Did the minister explore the development of this option of sustainable farming on Sint Maarten before engaging in discussions to lease parcels of land in other countries to develop sustainable agriculture? The investment in (multi-level) greenhouses on Sint Maarten will be much lower than leasing, producing and transporting produce from other countries to Sint Maarten.
Technology & Innovation: Technology and innovation allow farms to do more and better with less. By transitioning to renewable energy sources, of which solar is one of the fastest-growing alternatives, presents the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions. Solar panels allow farms to power farm equipment such as water pumps, lights, electric fences, and storage. Farms can become more energy self-sufficient and improve operating profit margins. Excess solar energy generated on a farm can be sold to local utility providers. This in turn can help local communities reduce their carbon footprint, but it can also provide farms with a secondary source of income. Farms can streamline operations, creating greater operational cost control and building production resiliency by transitioning toward energy self-sufficiency.
Does the minister realize that cultivating and expanding the agricultural sector on Sint Maarten will expose the entire population and especially our youth to technology and innovation in the farming industry? Domestic farming will create opportunity to work universities and institutions in the food production industry. Sint Maarten will not have these opportunities if land is leased in other countries to develop sustainable agriculture. The much needed knowledge, technology, innovation and experience will by going elsewhere.
For the time being it is highly likely that market prices will go down, as in 2008, since farmers are archetypal price followers. However, natural resource scarcity, supply chain vulnerabilities and more frequent extreme natural and man-made events as well as population growth in the coming decades will put more and more pressure on food production capabilities. To be able to meet future demand both public sector (government) and institutional investments should be concentrated at the small scale or level, small scale irrigation and extension services for example. Much of the world’s farming activity, including the Caribbean, occurs on smallholder farms, with production at or below subsistence levels, see Figure 36 on page 104, of our report. Technology exists to boost productivity on these farms. However, further research is required to identify best practices in innovative farming systems as well as agricultural and economic policy to meet growing food demand with fresh, locally sourced, sustainably produced products at affordable prices, (IMF 2008 & 2012, Krivonos & Dawe 2014, Kruythoff 2020, OECD 2020, DG ECHO).
Conclusion: Leasing parcels of land in other countries to develop sustainable agriculture and importing the products to Sint Maarten is a bad idea from all the abovementioned perspectives. It is no different than the current situation, where we import products from abroad. It does not contribute to the economic, employment, technological and educational development of Sint Maarten and it’s people. Furthermore, it comes from a minister who ran his political campaign on the slogan “Only We Can Save We”, who have approached PJIA, Bellast Nedam and the cruise ships that frequent the island the hire locals. Now he himself is has the opportunity to cultivated and develop a much needed agricultural sector on Sint Maarten but he is advocated an idea to outsource much needed local agricultural employment opportunities to other countries.
Wladimir T. Kruythoff,
CEO & Founder, Infinite Observations, Delft, The Netherlands.
Dear Editor,
Paul Kroll said oil makes the world go round. Long time ago coal and oil producing countries were not involved in selling energy for huge profits. Nowadays oil has become a political instrument. A country either plays by the rule, or faces the risk of losing its business. Such unpleasant behaviour pressures government and businesses to pay more for electricity and fuel power. Coal, oil and natural gas provide energy power for most electricity plants in operation today. Petroleum and natural gas provide energy for automobiles, households and businesses.
Natural is a combustible gas that forms naturally in the earth and consists of methane and hydrogen and other gases. Methane is colourless and flammable and is used as fuel. It is formed from the decomposition of plants and other organic products. Propane is a flammable colourless and heavier gas. It is also used for fuel. Fossil fuel is coal and oil. It is one of the best sources of energy power dating back to the 1930s to produce clan energy. It was formed from the decomposition of animals, plants and other organic products over millions of years ago.
Renewable energy sources include solar power, wind farming, hydro-electricity power, nuclear energy, gas and electrical energy power. Solar power is excellent for countries with plenty of sunshine. Solar batteries should be fully charged for continuous functional operation. This source of energy is for every household and business. Installation fees can be costly but operational cost is usually low. Dead batteries no longer used must be carefully disposed of and destroyed to protect the environment. Recondition batteries should be protected and stored in a safe place at all times.
Wind power is vital for every sector of the community. This energy source can be used commercially to reduce the cost of producing electricity to the public. The problems with wind power technology are the rotating blades on the units causing destruction to birds in their path. During hurricanes, the units can be destroyed by hurricane-force winds. This energy source is commercially important to the population for daily power supply. Hydro-electric power using dams, river and lakes is also an important cheap source of clean energy. This source does not need a huge maintenance cost. During natural disasters, dams may be broken by rivers bursting their banks and cause lakes to overflow and damage the energy producing equipment.
Electrical energy and natural gas are still the cleanest and best sources of energy for the environment, households and establishments until now. The flow of these types of energy usually depends on demand and supply. Nowadays both economics and politics are driving forces for high energy cost and for creating high rate of inflation around the world.
The sun is getting hotter these days. This is because of the Green House Effect. Many countries around the world are experiencing severe weather conditions due to global warming. When fossil fuel such as coal or oil is burnt, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere along with other poisonous gases. These gases trap the heat of the sun and cause the earth’s surface to become warmer. This process is causing devastated hurricanes, wildfires, floods, drought, and the ice in the Artic to melt. In addition, smoke from motor vehicles, factories, and air-condition units are also contributors of air pollution which increase global warming. In summary, the choice of supplying affordable energy power sources to the population will depend on stability, reducing electricity cost, increase in demand and maintenance of equipment.
Coal, oil and natural gas provide about 80% of energy power produced by electricity plant. Renewable or alternative energy power provides about 15% source for general consumption use. Nuclear and hydro-electric power provide the other 5% use. Factors affecting the environment using fossil fuel: We have seen how off-shore drillings of crude oil caused death and destruction to fishes, birds and other sea creatures. A broken pipeline for example, or blowing up pipelines under the sea could be detrimental to humans, sea-creatures, birds and animals.
Repairs and clean-up costs are usually in millions of dollars to governments and plat form entrepreneurs. Coal mining is also a dangerous operation. Extracting coal from beneath the earth surface usually involve the cost of human lives and high-tech drilling equipment, also the release of dangerous carbon gases into the air which pollute the environment. We should help protect the environment by using more renewable and clean energy power to prevent global warming. Trees are important in the carbon cycle. They help to decrease carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere which is responsible for Climate Change.
Deforestation is also a major cause of global warming. Renewable energy is the ideal source for cleaner power to promote a healthy working environment.
Joseph Harvey
Dear Editor,
It is quite an acknowledgement of the times when a figure like Theo Heyliger, the founder of his party the UP, would have to sink to the levels of actually having to put his thoughts in writing about the rumored firing of his wife as the President of Parliament.
Unless we forgot, the person they want to allegedly put back in the chair is the same con-man who has embarrassed the country multiple times, insulted Theo’s wife and has built a reputation as the king of schemers in the government of St. Maarten. That Theo would have to say what he said indirectly to someone he gave a chance to is astounding. And then Brison responds as if Theo is just a passing somebody.
It shows that Theo feels that his wife is not getting the due respect she deserves and clearly shows that he does not believe in the direction Rolando Brison has taken his party. The UP is now subservient to the National Alliance. It is incredible that Theo has let it come to this. He needs to fix it and rid his wife and his party of that no-integrity, no-shame con-man.
Because of Brison’s scheming, the Parliament of St. Maarten will have nine factions! Count ’em, NINE! He managed to convince MP Arrindell and Brownbill that they are great for the island after using them as the reasons he refused to run with the USP and eventually left the USP. “Crooks” he called them at the time. “Angels” he is calling them now.
MP Brison has completely ruined the UP from the inside and, the schoolchildren say, turned some of UP’s board members against Theo and Grisha with gifts and promises. He will do the same with the Alliance if they let him because he cares about one thing only: protecting any kind of power base for himself. He is dangerous for the country and criminally narcissistic.
But who will the UP listen to now? The man who founded the party and gave them all opportunities? Or the con-man who might as well declare himself a card-carrying member of the National Alliance?
And speaking about what will UP do, what will Cookie do? Is the Indian Community proud of Cookie’s representation? Are they proud that Brison is in his ear corrupting him? Will they be proud if he votes against the Heyligers? MP Bijlani looks to be losing more of his soul every day the longer he sits next to MP Brison. Bijlani has been exposed as a fraud in this term and I honestly believe the Indian Community needs to start looking at a different flag-bearer for representation in Parliament. This one has shown that he can be just as corruptible and he can walk all over integrity and accountability.
Name withheld at author’s request.
Dear Editor,
To begin with, the basket of goods concept should be in line with inelastic demand before government begins to set policy on tariffs and taxation for businesses, consumers and public enterprises. The price of goods in the basket are based on supply and demand, distribution chains and government control. Any change in prices in the basket will have an effect on suppliers and the receivers of goods. Items such as bread, milk, flour, cornmeal and rice have no close substitutes, and people will have to buy them even if the price is high or low.
Regular monitoring and control of the basket of goods is necessary to protect the purchasing power of the low wage earners. The price of goods for hygiene purposes such washing soaps, Clorox, toilet-paper, dish liquid, toothpaste and other cleaning materials must be affordable to the public as low-price control items. The basket should also be in line with the Consumer Price Index. The CPI is a statistical collection consumer spending on certain goods over a certain period of time. It usually shows an increase or decrease in the cost-of-living figures for the period. The cost-of-living Index is an important measure in setting policy for taxes and tariffs for businesses and customers. The total invoice of goods in the basket plays a significant role in calculating taxes on goods in reference to the amount paid by the customers to government regarding who pays or who doesn’t.
In regard to the consumer price index, reference should be made to the amount of the invoice including trade and cash discounts if any, and the channels of distribution for the goods in basket. The basket of goods helps keep items at control price and protect consumer spending. Who pays for the goods in the basket? Please see the demonstrated example of the purchasing power of two families. Here is a typical example of consumer spending for one month on selected items in the basket of goods. Family A monthly spending amount total is $200. Goods in the basket were subject to 10% trade discount on reaching the retailer from the manufacturer or the wholesaler, i.e., 0.10 X 200 = $20. The real cost now $180. Let’s say the retailer adds 3.5% Turnover tax to the $180, i.e., 0.035 X 180 = $63. The price for the basket of goods for A will now be $245. So, $63 will go for tax.
Family B invoice total is $150. Trade discount from the manufacturer/wholesaler is 10%, retailer adds 3.5% tax on the items. Based on policy for example government might add 10% to the goods as tariff. B’s budget can also be calculated. See A’s information above. Final consideration: Who pays the burden of taxes in the basket of goods? From the wholesaler to the retailer and to the customers, and even if we
bypass the middleman, the business usually passes on the burden to the innocent consumers.
Government must take a firm stand with its policies to protect the poor people.
Joseph Harvey
Dear Editor,
“Those who don’t know the value of loyalty can never appreciate the cost of betrayal.” Equivalently, when trust is broken, this level of infidelity cancels all concepts of integrity. Presently, the country is in a descending mode and based on this current trajectory, the behaviour of this government will persist until they accomplish their selfish motives.
When Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs proudly announced that she will bring a different style of leadership to the NA party, who could have imagined this blatant deception that the country is witnessing today? Who would have thought that the party that prided itself as being committed to the people could allow an egoistic lobbyist in parliament to control them completely?
So, what is the trade-off between MP Rolando Brison and this government? Apart from getting his ego massage every time he grandstands on the floor of parliament, what exactly is he receiving from government in exchange for his performance? Is it a monetary compensation or has he already been recruited by NA, in the hope that the party become a replicate of the DP, as a one-party government?
What is this missing link that the 14 other MPs are not envisioning, to have the majority of them portrayed as incapable? Why is MP Rolando Brison this desperate to return as the chair of parliament and why is government working overtime to reinstate him? Yes, Prime Minister Jacobs, the population is aware of what length you went through to resolve that technicality to get rid of Chairlady Grisha Heyliger-Marten.
Prime Minister Jacobs, your actions are so contrary to the moral values that you preach about every day. Is it not the chairlady’s role to honour the requests from Members of Parliament, whether the invites are from the opposition or those who support the government? If calling meetings that the opposition have requested is a bother to the government, is this not corruption to the core, Prime Minister Jacobs – the promotion of unethical values and favouritism?
This why MP Ludmila De Weever thanked Chairlady Grisha Heyliger-Marten for being impartial regarding the handling of the meetings, unlike MP Rolando Brison, who keeps the government away. So, now that the technicality has been resolved and the threat to oust the chair is imminent, what is Theo going to do? Is he going to choose MP Roland Brison over Chairlady Grisha Heyliger-Marten? We’ll see.
To illustrate further how this government has repeatedly discounted the role of parliament, the meetings surrounding the ongoing crisis at GEBE said it all. When it wasn’t an excuse by the PM to attend another meeting that she scheduled intentionally, she refused to send answers to parliament on time, or she found it fit to saddle the MPs with a barrage of information regarding the role of the various boards of GEBE and what government could do or couldn’t do.
All these unethical tactics were used to delay the vote of no confidence against the VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.] Minister Egbert Doran. So, if it is important for parliament to understand and respect the role of the management and supervisory boards of GEBE, then why isn’t the same value being placed on The People’s House? Oh, how I missed the intense and educational deliberations by former MP Claudius Buncamper. Surely, the atmosphere in parliament would have been completely different.
In my observation, Chairlady Grisha Heyliger-Marten gives the prime minister too much leeway. Instead of asking her how much time she needs to answer the questions posed, the response should be: Prime Minister, you have the floor. Let her bear the responsibility solely and hold her to her obligations. This lack of assertion is her biggest obstacle in parliament. And, being too lenient with the PM has come back to haunt her.
Look at how last week Wednesday’s meeting went down, when Prime Minister Jacobs refused to answer the questions on GEBE and also totally disregarded the authority of the Chair, when she explained to her that she is moving away from the norm. This is the blatant disrespect to parliament by this government, under the reign of Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs.
Prime Minister, I ask again: Would this ruthless efficiency become the norm of this country? Is this the behaviour that you want to communicate? Is this the style of leadership that you wished for the young people to imitate?
Joslyn Morton
