Dear Editor,
These are my personal steps to follow in increasing awareness of the value of reading.
Step 1. At the introductory stage in a reading program, the instructor should read aloud narratives from text, handbook, or other vital sources such as magazines, newspapers, or study guides. Readers can practice specific skills as reading to extract important information from the text, or for general understanding of the narratives.
Step 2. The purpose for reading: (A) skills predicting reading for gist. (B) reading for detailed comprehension. The participants will read the text and other publications for gist, and again for detailed comprehension. This is mostly suitable for advance (ESL) learners. Any activities involving completing simple diagrams and labelling tasks should be awarded points for involvement in the reading process.
Step 3. Specific objective: Readers will be able to recognize and decode words used in the text, handbook or other publications. They’ll also learn to interpret phrases, improve their reading habits, and learn to construct simple sentences.
Step 4. Understanding extensive and intensive reading: During extensive reading – readers read for general or detailed understanding of the text or topics. The reader can also read for pleasure. Extensive reading will help readers in grammar and vocabulary usage. Participants will become much better readers.
Step 5. The importance of extensive reading materials: We should encourage readers to read stories or narratives from fiction and non-fiction books. Get them to transcribe important words used in the materials or text with the use of a dictionary for clear understanding. Involve the readers with the use of authentic language materials such as reading from newspapers, magazines, study-guides, and weather reports. During intensive reading, the reader extracts specific information from the text or other materials without knowing the meaning of every word in the text. Intensive reading is actually reading for gist, to extract only the information the instructor wants readers to know from the materials, text or handbook.
Step 6. The importance of intensive reading materials: The instructor must use a lot of authentic materials to promote intensive reading. Apart from newspapers, magazines, and study-guides, the Gazette with new legislations passed by the Government is also important for readers. Many company brochures and discovery journals are other important tools for intensive reading. Readers can extract words and phrases, and learn to develop simple sentences from materials. First, readers should learn to decode important vocabulary used in their community. A couple of words are listed below such as, doctor, dentist, nurse, police, bank, post office, court house, animal, plant, pier, bridge, judge, insurance, library, parliament, prime minister, church, lawyer, airport, harbor, independence, republic, and so on. We should also encourage readers to read about topics affecting the community and the outside world such as the environment, refuge crisis, global warfare, COVID-19 pandemic, nuclear power, OPEC, world-war, hypersonic system, and cyber security, etc.
Step 7. In summary, in order to promote good reading habits, we should organize a lot of community reading programs. Encourage people to attend literacy training centers. Invest in a good library and organized radio and TV reading programs. I would like future readers to get involved in extensive and intensive reading habits.
Joseph Harvey
Dear Editor,
“The only thing worse than a lie is a lie that compounds it.” Regrettably, the population is being forced to tolerate this political propaganda that is paraded by UP and NA. Case in point: Ever since the 2020 elections and the formation of this coalition, the balance of power has always been odd. Even though NA was awarded 5 ministries, almost every decision and discussion are directed and controlled by the UP party.
Conveniently enough, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs continues to brag about the rock-solid working relationship that exists between both parties. But is this statement factual, or is it wishful thinking that is stemmed from suppressed embarrassment – the coping mechanism that NA uses to hold on to power, just to avoid public defeat?
Right now, the leading sentiment is that this is the worst government since 10-10-10. So, is NA the victim of their own actions, or have they been outfoxed again by UP – the same coalition partner that has opposed their principles and is now ripping them to the core? Likewise, how much longer will these spineless MPs remain trapped and allow The People’s House to go down the drain?
Unfortunately, with this glaring reality of a disabled party, NA is still trying to convince themselves and the population that they are in charge of the government and to some extent, the parliament. But over the course of time, as with everything good or bad, the truth always reveals itself.
Late last year, when MP Roland Brison’s voice note “leaked out” and the prime minister could not conceal the lie anymore, she finally admitted that this MP is the bridge that keeps the UP and NA together. Why a bridge, when the coalition is branded as “rock-solid?” And, how is this arrangement possible and acceptable, when by law, parliament is the supervising body of government?
This continuous cunning attempt by MP Rolando Brison (the bridge) to muzzle the opposition or any other MP who dares to point out the ills of government, is a clear indication that the coalition is unstable. Not only that, this situation has further revealed the gross incompetence of the government and parliament, and that they are operating on a level of serious dishonesty.
So, have parliamentarians abandoned their role that they swore to uphold, and has the government entangled itself in the same web, just to remain in a union that has defaced the integrity and democracy of this country? This scenario is like staying in an abusive relationship for the sake of the children, who themselves are living in constant turmoil.
Stability without integrity is not stability. It is corruption wrapped in deception and confusion. So, contrary to what Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs is poking down the people’s throat, this “cohesive” relationship does not hold water, and this fiction is bound to backfire, sooner than later.
Was it not in the early months of 2019, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten declared on air that parliament is a circus and an embarrassment? Now that she is in charge of “the circus,” which has gotten 100 times worse under the leadership of the UP – the party that is devoid of any ethical principles – does she have the same impression of the current situation?
Furthermore, now that MP Rolando Brison has blatantly challenged the authority of government and parliament by persistently demonstrating the concepts of leverage, manipulation and intimidation, will Chairlady Grisha Heyliger-Martes continue to oversee “the circus,” or will she give back the presidency to MP Rolando Brison as he is demanding?
As this charade continues to unfold, has the Integrity Chamber closed its doors, or perhaps I have misunderstood the definition of integrity, and the real purpose of this institution? Similarly, is the Council of Ministers truly comfortable with the perception that this awkward situation is creating, both locally and internationally?
While everything may appear to be running on course, this peculiar arrangement, where the success of this government and parliament lies in the hands of one MP, surely exposes the awful incompetence of government and parliament. The only officials exempted from this total failure are MP Christopher Emmanuel, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, Minister Roger Lawrence and Minister Anna Richardson.
There is no doubt that the integrity of government and parliament has been seriously compromised. Now that the entire governmental apparatus has been camouflaged, which one of the MPs or ministers will have the guts to confront this unprincipled precedent, to bring back transparency and integrity to the leadership of this country?
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
I felt the need to write down this article after experiencing a serious problem with Flow’s hybrid-phone plan. Flow’s hybrid data plan is advertised as a post-paid plan of sorts with prepaid advantages. Well, I found out the hard way that their post-paid feature is nothing but a hollow phrase. The monthly invoices that Flow sends to their Hybrid plan customers are due before the end of the month of use. So, for example your April bill would be due on the 30th of April. So, what’s easier than making an automatically monthly reoccurring bank transfer online from your bank account to Flow’s bank account so you don’t have to worry about remembering to make the monthly (fixed amount) payments?
That’s exactly what I did with an automatic transfer on the 25th of each month. From my RBC NAf. account to Flow’s RBC NAf. account which according to RBC’s customer service is transferred instantly, without delay, on the day that you have scheduled the online transfer.
By law the money has been transferred, you have paid your bill, but now Flow is claiming that they did not receive their money in time before the end of the month and has disconnected me twice now due to this obviously internal problem that they have.
Each time they claimed I owed them a NAf. 45 fine for late payment. When I went to the office and submitted copies of all RBC transfers and detailed overview of all invoices/payments over the last year, they let you wait and come back several times (…) and then finally reconnect you without explaining why this is happening.
A month later the same thing happened again even when I now transfer the payment on the 20th of the month. After going come back, going come back, no supervisor willing to come out and talk to you, many of you can probably relate to this “don’t want to deal with a problem” attitude, it is then when I decided to post this letter. I believe the public should know how Flow is treating their Hybrid customers before they choose to buy this plan. A treatment which I believe is illegal, simply because my instantaneous bank transfers are made well before due dates.
I forgot to mention that Flow disconnected my phone number while they are still in the possession of my initial security deposit of NAf. 54 which is even NAf. 9 more than the fine they illegally charge!
Thanks for taking the time to read my letter about my wonderful Flow hybrid experience.
Paul Ideler
Dear Editor,
Numerous studies have pointed to our national challenge whereby our costs of public sector are too high and our cost of living is too high as well. If our population grows further then without a higher level of tax income our ability to avoid deficits decreases.
It is also pointed out that over the years St. Maarten has become addicted to this growth rather than enjoying an economy which can sustain itself without living standards having to decrease. It is clearly evident that there is strong political resistance to any temporary reduction in incomes, particularly in the influential public sector.
In order to break out of this addiction that was created by our original growth model we need less people who are more productive and earn higher wages which will product tax income at a higher level.
It is therefore a little surprising to hear the government being enthusiastic about a project whereby St. Maarten residents might work on low paying cruise ships whilst residing on St. Maarten. If there are persons who would appreciate this employment I would not begrudge them the opportunity, but as a contribution or solution to solve St. Maarten’s longer term economic problem it makes me wonder if our government has a plan for the future that has any chance of success.
Robbie Ferron
Dear Editor,
Would that we would all be as impactful in the time allotted to us.
Family members, friends, colleagues, well-wishers, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Bonjour.
With protocol being established, let me say that it is an honor for me to be asked to say a few words on behalf of the Government and people of St. Martin Southside to honor the life, a dash well-lived, the legacy of Lin Raymond “Lino” Hughes.
For me Lino was, and will always be, a man of music, a proud St. Martin man, a creative in every sense of the word, a fearless pioneer willing to innovate with rhythms and beats impacting the sounds we all know, love and take for granted today, such as zouk, cadance, soca and many other mélanges of mainstream music that have been Caribbeanized/Africanized.
In rereading the interview with Lino published in our St. Martin Day (11-11-11) booklet of 2011 with fresh eyes, I was once again amazed – amazed at the fortitude of one man, who found kindred creative spirits throughout the Caribbean to create and innovate music.
With his bands – the Creole Stars, Lino and the Hardway, Bottle Neck Band – Lino collaborated with musicians on both North and South, learning from stalwarts like the late Mr. John Larmonie and Mr. Bobby Vlaun. He also followed up by teaching, mentoring and passing on to the next generation. Lino’s life, his dash, made an impact.
Music is a unifier and Lino created, out of his pride and love for St. Martin, a wonderful piece of history in song which will live on forever – “St. Martin is my home”.
Lino lived his life out loud, unapologetically, a bright star whose light can never be dimmed.
He was honored in life and knew his value and contribution. His legacy will indeed live on forever.
His life is an inspiration to me and anyone who knew him, heard his music, heard him speak, or read his interviews or heard about his life.
His life is a clear example that one man can make a difference, one man can cause a ripple that keeps growing.
One man, with a dream, with determination, and faith in himself and God, can realize whatever he sets his mind to, regardless of age, race or station in life, regardless of size of your country.
In his words filled with pride, love and joy to be an island boy, he wrote and he sang:
St. Martin is my home and I’ll do ’bout anything to make it bloom – we must all work to make it shine and prosper. …
I’ll think of it, dream of it in the morning, night and noon – what we think of, focus on, and work at, we can realize.
St. Martin is sweet home and to it I’ll give my life to keep on shining, like the sunshine that comes up in the morning – as the sun comes up each day, we can without fail commit to always serve her every day.
One island – One people – One Destiny!
Let’s make his words a reality in everything we do.
Let’s come together – work together as one!
Long live the legacy of Lino Hughes – He was a bright one! May we all strive to shine as bright.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs
