Dear Editor,

  Over the years too often I have heard what I consider “those dreadful words”: “It’s a good idea, but I can’t bring that up now.” Coming from whom? Yes, from politicians and people in government.

  Not too long ago I was on my way to Marigot when I saw a relative of mine standing at a bus stop. I stopped for her and had her sit in the back seat, which started a conversation about COVID. She had an appointment with the physiotherapist, whose office was by the swimming pool. When she mentioned the swimming pool it dawned on me that I had heard that there were some young ladies from St. Maarten taking part in international swimming competitions and that they were doing well.

  Coincidentally a few weeks before that I had passed through Belvedere and saw children playing football. There is also a basketball/tennis court there and I thought all they need now is a swimming pool.

  I had not read anything about those young ladies in the papers, but just the words “swimming pool” made me put on my thinking cap. I said to myself, if in almost every town in Holland there is a swimming pool, how is it that no one thought of putting a community swimming pool in Belvedere?

  When I asked, I was told that there is money available for different community projects and developments, but none of our governments have had any interest in doing anything that will directly be of positive influence on the people in the communities. I have no proof of that, but can I impose on you.to encourage your investigative reporters to find out if there is money available for a community swimming pool and continue to possibly find out what is the reason for the delay?

  I also think that an interview with those young ladies who attended the swimming competition is not too late and it could also be an exposure and/or catalyst for many others.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  The Omicron variant, suspected to be less lethal than its cousin Delta, however more contagious/extremely transmissible, will lead to changes in operational guidelines and policies across the world. Public health agencies and others are currently grappling with the surge in active cases, including St. Maarten.

  The World Health Organization (WHO) said this week that there was still not enough data available to say whether the Omicron variant is less severe than other COVID-19 strains.

  The public and private sectors coming out of festive season are now confronted with a surge in COVID-19 cases. One public utility company has announced changes to its office opening days/times due to the increase in COVID-19. It has also stepped up guidelines in dealing with customers once they arrive at the office.

  Public health officials have stressed the need to get boosted in order to protect yourself, other people and the public health service such as St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and the home for senior citizens. The White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation this week announced new guidance pertaining to visitors in order to protect its clients, staff, and visitors as a response to the surge in active COVID-19 cases in the country.

  In 2020, there were 1.8 million recorded COVID-19 deaths; while in 2021, there were 3.5 million and this could be much higher, according to the WHO. The Delta variant took over in 2021. St. Maarten also experienced its largest number of deaths in 2021 due to the Delta variant.

  The WHO epidemiologist Dr. Abdi Mahamud noted that an increasing number of studies seemed to show that the Omicron variant appeared to affect mostly the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms. Other strains impact the lungs, and could cause severe pneumonia, a WHO epidemiologist said, but further research was needed to prove this Omicron assessment.

  The WHO is pushing for countries to vaccinate 70 per cent of their populations, adding that without this level of vaccine protection, the virus “replicates in an environment that’s overcrowded, not ventilated and not vaccinated,” Dr. Mahamud continued, describing these types of settings as ideal places for COVID-19 to mutate.

  “We saw it in Beta, we saw it in Delta, we saw it in Omicron, so it is in the global interest” to vaccinate 70 per cent of national populations to reduce the impact of the variant, he said.

  The WHO says, “So the main message is, if you are vaccinated, you are protected, but if you are vulnerable or if you have not been vaccinated, this Omicron – however light or mild it may be for others – it could hit you very hard,” Dr. Mahamud said. “So, vaccination (is) very critical.”

Roddy Heyliger

Dear Editor,

  On Monday, January 3, 2022, there was a post of the Government of St. Maarten circulating on social media depicting the amount of active cases of the Coronavirus disease. I did not believe what I saw and, just like I expected, within hours the Minister of Health reacted by letting us know that that amount was fake. Good work.

  But in the meantime there is also a post going around on social media stating that MCB has taken a decision that as of January 24, 2022, no one who is not vaccinated against the Coronavirus will be permitted to enter their premises. I believe – no, I know – that this is overstepping their bounds. Human rights, the Constitution, laws on personal decision making, etc., come in play here.

  What I am actually concerned about is that up the time of writing this letter, what I deem conspicuously, there is no reaction from anyone who should be standing up for the people of St. Maarten. The Windward Islands Bank is included in the premises of MCB and I have not seen, read or heard any kind of reaction from neither government nor in the papers or news outlets nor even from the W.I.B.

  I am sure that W.I.B. is a branch of MCB, because all phone calls to the W,I.B. from St. Maarten go via MCB with all the ensuing searching before one could get through to whichever department or person they need. Whether it is to speak to your spouse or not, you are asked about your account number and then you are asked if you have an e-mail address and you name it. In the meantime your data or minutes are being consumed. When you are put on hold, you have to listen to a commercial for the bank in Papiamento, etc.

  The W.I.B. also knows which of their clients have an ATM card or not; weather it was used or not and where it was used. I would at least by now expect them to let those clients know about the decision taken for January 2022, so that they can at least get an ATM card should they choose not to get vaccinated. Because even though one does online banking, at some point in time one will need cash, to pay for transportation, to get a snack, to give a tip, etc. I do not play the numbers, but I do not think people use the ATM card to buy numbers.

  By now we all know that all moneys from government due to the people go to one or the other bank. So is government going to permit MCB to decide what is going to happen with the moneys of those people of St. Maarten who choose not to be vaccinated?

  This is all over social media, but why the conspicuous silence from W.I.B.? Is it silent  consent?

  And is St. Maarten government made to shut up about this? They can at least let the people know that they know about what is on the social media and that they would look into it. Did not they ask the people to elect them so that they can take care of the people?.

  As yet, a safe and blessed 2022 to your readers.

Russell A. Simmons

Said the robin to the sparrow:

“I would really like to know

why these anxious human beings

rush about and worry so?”

Said the sparrow to the robin:

“Oh, I think it must be that they

have no Heavenly Father

such as cares for you and me.”

(Author unknown)

I don’t know if there are many people like me, but on the last night of the year, I always have a fear of what the new year might bring. Every year, many people all over the world lose their life, or the lives of one or more loved ones, or their home and life savings due to calamities; hurricanes, all-consuming fires, destructive floods, car/train/plane accidents, or violence by a fellow human being. Not to mention a variant of COVID-19, which will no doubt continue to take lives this year.

  I lost a brother just five months ago. He was seven years younger than me. Unlike me, he was a cheerful and fun-loving extrovert; always outgoing and friendly. the life of every party and family get-together. There was always more fun when Mario was present. He was more popular and had more friends and acquaintances than I, an introvert, will ever have. He had made funeral arrangements for all already-departed family members and I was looking forward to him doing the same for me. But alas, that was not to be.

  I was shocked by the suddenness and unexpectedness of his departure. I was working at home on my computer one afternoon in July when my phone beeped. My first reaction was to ignore the beep as it beeped multiple times a day and I did not want to be distracted from my work.

  After all, the message would still be there after I got through working later that night, or even the following day.

  However, my gut told me to read it now. After trying in vain to ignore my gut, I decided to read the message. It was from my sister and it read: Mario is down; please pray. Still not too alarmed, I asked her how serious it was, and the reply was: very serious, please pray. I immediately got on my knees and pleaded with God for His mercy. “Please let him live and not die.” A few seconds later my phone beeped again. “Mario is gone; he is in God’s hands.” Needless to say, I was speechless. It will take a long time for it to dawn on me that he is really gone. Family get-togethers will no longer be the same without him.

  The tragic death of a 13-year-old girl on the very first day of the new year has weighed very heavily on my heart over the weekend. It will be on many minds for a very long time to come. Forever entrenched in the minds of the families and loved ones involved. Please pray for both families, the victim’s family but also the family of the offender. Both families are suffering. May God help them to be strong and comfort them the way only He can.

  God tells us in His Word that five sparrows were sold for two pennies, yet not one of them is forgotten in His sight; not one of them falls to the ground without His knowledge. Don’t be afraid, He tells us; He assures us that we are worth more than many sparrows.

  So, in spite of our fears, (mine go away after two or three days) let’s not worry about what the new year might bring. God loves us no matter what happens in 2022. Even if we don’t see the end of the year, it is comforting to know that He is the God of the living and the dead.

  I am appealing to all who read this to make a serious effort to spend more time in God’s Word this year. May God put in every heart an insatiable hunger and thirst for Him and for His Word. The best thing I can wish everybody for the new year is spiritual growth and a closer walk with our Lord. Nothing else in life matters.

Clive Hodge