Dear Editor,
The island of St. Martin is rich in unique nature. It is home to species that live nowhere else in the world, including lizards, insects and plants. If these plants and animals disappear from St. Martin, they are lost to the world.
Over 70 per cent of the biodiversity of Europe is actually in overseas territories like St. Martin. Europe and France have committed to protecting unique habitats and the species that live there. These include the preservation of habitat, the restoration and sustainable management of habitat, preventing the extinction of threatened species, integrating biodiversity values into national and local planning and poverty reduction strategies, and significantly increasing financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems. These commitments are all outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Over the last 50 years, St. Martin has experienced very rapid development and population growth. Many wild spaces have been lost. There is much less land remaining where St. Martin’s unique nature can be preserved. During this same period, dispute over the land owned by the Beauperthuy family has kept significant parts of this land undeveloped. Although this dispute has been a heavy burden on these local families, it may provide an opportunity to preserve and protect local nature.
We recommend an immediate pause in the sale and development of these properties in order to assess the ecological value of this land. The secondary forests on these hillsides may harbor unique species found only on St. Martin or new species unknown to science. This habitat could also be important to threatened species. Biodiversity surveys should be funded to better understand the value of these habitats. It is possible that such a pause might also create an opportunity to come to a more just solution to the underlying land dispute.
In the long term, much more land should be preserved on St. Martin. This should be done to preserve biodiversity. It should be done fairly, so the interests of landowners are respected. All levels of government, the Collectivity and the Prefecture, will need to work together to make this a reality for the benefit of the planet and the local population. It is an obligation that has already been accepted by the EU and France. It should be honored.
The preservation of wild spaces has many benefits to the people of this island. It preserves natural beauty and provides natural protection against hurricanes. It can create jobs in science, conservation and eco-tourism. Wild spaces often include sites of historical and cultural value that should be preserved. Funding is available from Europe that can support preservation on St. Martin while also boosting the local economy. Time spent in nature improves individual health and mental health. The natural heritage of St. Martin is a priceless legacy that belongs to all St. Martiners.
Along with hundreds of other people, we have been working as volunteers to develop a free museum, Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. We have no financial stake in this project, but we have a deep love for this irreplaceable heritage site and the lands that surround it. We have hosted scores of school visits for thousands of local students there. We have seen their reaction to spending time in nature there. We have hosted biologists there as they work to better understand the unique nature of St. Martin. We don’t own this site, but we know it, and we know St. Martin can’t afford to lose it.
Mark Yokoyama
Jenn Yerkes
Dear Editor,
Wow! Inspections by the authorities are needed sometimes. But there should be inspections and fines for some of these bars and those owners that are selling food.
The way they’re keeping the restroom is not right, even though it is locals hanging around these areas.
If you’re selling beers you need a restroom that’s neat and always has water.
Cuthbert Bannis
Artistes, musicians don’t like radio stations’ managers, deejays
Dear Editor,
These radio stations on both sides of the island, their managers and deejays are wicked.
They must keep playing the local artistes’ songs and music every day and uplift the bands.
And those local artistes, musicians these deejays are sometimes playing, their names should be always called every time their songs play over the air.
We cannot understand the culture ministers, radio managers and wicked deejays on the island, keeping the local artistes, bands and musicians down, down, down.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Sir/Madam,
We would like to bring to your attention a problem that has a huge impact on the future of our children. Our children, who were students at Saba Comprehensive School academic year 2020-2021 completed Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams in June-July 2021, and Cambridge B1 level Dutch in 2020 and 2021. To our best knowledge, this CSEC and the B1 were the requirements to receive a diploma. In the last half year our children were patiently waiting to receive their diploma, which would give them an entrance to their next step in their education.
On Thursday, January 27, at 9:38am, via email these students and their parents were informed that the students would receive a high school certificate and not a diploma because they do not have a B2 level of Dutch. This email was sent by Anton Hermans, the principal. This was the first time that this information was shared with students and parents that the students were not eligible for a high school diploma. We feel it is negligent to have not imparted this information to the students and parents in an appropriate timeline.
We would like to address and have answers for the following:
1. Why were neither the students nor the parents ever informed that B2 level Dutch was a requirement for a diploma, as this information has an undeniable impact on the students’ future? We would like to see where this is stated in the law and exactly when this change took place.
2. What was the purpose of withholding the knowledge for more than a year that the class of 2021 would be receiving certificates and not diplomas? Graduation plans were made by Saba Comprehensive School and still transparency was not forthcoming.
3. Why did Saba Comprehensive School register the class of 2021 for Cambridge B1 level and not B2 level Dutch even though Anton Hermans had this information?
4. How does this affect the opportunities for our children who are taking the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE)?
5. Three students are currently in universities with the potential for expulsion if diplomas are not provided, and other students cannot complete their applications without their diplomas. How are you going to solve this problem for these children?
6. Why was no alternative plan designed and executed to ensure that class of 2021 met the B2 level Dutch? Certainly, a discussion with the parents and students would have been welcomed.
7. Via telephone conversation, on Thursday, January 27, at 2:55pm Anton Hermans informed Shenella Livestone and Lisette Riley that he knew from 2020 that B2 level Dutch was a requirement for a diploma. He stated that the law went into effect in August 2021 and was retroactive. Why did the school or the board not act nor communicate this knowledge in any way?
8. How will the school repair this gross error and the negative impact this has on our children?
It is unconscionable, disrespectful, negligent, unprofessional, unethical and unacceptable for the principal to have not acted upon this information for two years. Anton Hermans stated via telephone that he forgot that he had not told the students and parents about the B2 level Dutch requirement for a diploma. This is a vote of No Confidence for the principal and the supervisory board. For such gross negligence, they must be held accountable.
We kindly request a meeting with you to discuss this issue that immediately impacts the class of 2021. We must come to a quick and satisfactory solution. We expect a response before Friday, February 4.
Shenella Livestone
On behalf of the parents and Class of 2021
Dear Editor,
Let me start by stating that no effort made to have any situation improved is a waste of time. I am responding to an observation from someone who commented on what Rene Lammerse wrote concerning the behaviour of the drivers on Sint Maarten. That person asked: “Why is that man (Rene Lammerse) wasting his time writing about these drivers on Sint Maarten?” My response to that person was: “At last someone in the community is starting to accept that it is our behaviour in traffic that is causing traffic congestion and traffic accidents.”
More of you should follow his example, but we have to press on government (VROMI) to maintain the markings and signage on the roads. Leading by example helps to alleviate a lot of negativities. If the drivers notice that government is nonchalant, and being irresponsible with that which is necessary to promote safe traffic, especially those irresponsible drivers (and they are increasing daily) will show their real colours. Laws are there to be implemented, but also when because of structural changes it is no longer feasible to maintain those laws, they have to be amended to accommodate the present situation.
For example, if because of congestion, it will no longer be able to park on Front and Back streets of Philipsburg, then we will have to see about parking on the pond. Or like I maintain, we will have to limit the import of motor vehicles and regulate our public transportation, otherwise we will have to fill the whole Salt Pond and suffer the consequences of flooding after every heavy rain.
A lot of these traffic perils could be alleviated by having the Control Unit out there doing what they were originally appointed to do. Deal with the traffic. I know, I was the supervisor at that department. There are a lot of little things that I avoid commenting on, but I am not comfortable when I hear comments from the public that when the Control Unit used to be on the road things were better. I was told who participates in making those changes, but government seems to like it so. Unless we have people directing the traffic by the bottle-necks, and during rush hours by the Kruythoff roundabout, it will not change.
The other big problem is the irresponsible drivers at the roundabouts. Every day without exception, someone looks at me as if I am crazy or something of the sort, because of how I drive by or around the roundabout. To begin with it will never be remedied as long as nothing is done to drivers with dark-tinted glass. That is more dangerous than driving without fastening a seatbelt around you. Because more and more drivers do not adhere to the traffic rules and are constantly swerving and squeezing in and out of the row of cars, trying to get ahead of the slow-moving traffic; other drivers cannot see the driver with dark glasses and are not aware of those drivers’ intentions. Again, because they cannot see them in the car with the ensuing consequences.
You are aware of this because of the increasing articles of admonishment from the police to drivers and their behaviour in traffic. The parking and driving off of the motor vehicles at those businesses on A.T. Illidge road between The Cottage roundabout and the entrance to Arch Road is one of the main causes for the holdup of the traffic by the traffic lights by the Bernhard Bridge.(Longwall Road, Nisbeth Road, A.T. Illidge Road).
Rightfully so Mr. Lammerse commented in what he calls an interesting way of making use of the roundabouts. I say “the irresponsible way.”
By the Cottage roundabout, drivers coming from Zagersgut Road get on the roundabout and stop next to waiting to be able to continue over A.T.Illdge Road, blocking all the other traffic on the roundabout and coming from the other roads wishing to make use of the roundabout. I do not believe it is that urgent that the congestion to obtain a driver’s licence on Sint Maarten is such that the exams be done with computers. And even if the theoretical part is done with computers,
I believe that the practical part of the exams should exact no mistakes to be able to pass the exams. Even though it is said that people learn to drive after they pass their exams, I would never put a car in someone’s hands who is mediocre. Accidents cause material damage, as well as personal damage. I will never feel comfortable questioning myself “I wonder if”. By now I hope that those motorbike riders are gradually realizing that there is a correct way and then that other way to overtake a row of other motor vehicles. I also hope that they will realize the pain they cause their families. Ladies, “You’d see me coming” is not a right-of-way rule. Right of way is accepted, not taken.
“Yield” and “you have to give right of way” is what is written in your traffic instruction books. And it is the traffic on the roundabout that has the right of way, not traffic from the right.
There is also the correct way, as well as the not correct way of entering and driving around the roundabout.
Russell A. Simmons
