Dear Editor,
The purpose of this article is to help a dependent country reduce its dependence on income and other financial support from the mother country to help solve economic problems, but instead organized trade for improving the economy of the country. Trade affects diverse communities in the distribution of goods and services around the world. Various topics of concern are discussed to provide better understanding on important issues regarding business inability to trade. Leadership of government is also a crucial factor in managing some of these trading policies for promoting economic growth and stability for the economy. For more information on leadership qualities, please read: 1 Kings 4:29, Proverb 1:5, and Luke 2:52.
International trade is currently affecting many dependent countries in the world today. This is due to wars between the parent country, investment to tackle climate change, providing assistance to the dependent countries during natural disasters, and the distribution coronavirus COVID-19 vaccines to their overseas entities. Exports and imports trade are very important because goods which cannot be produce in the country have to be imported from elsewhere.
Nowadays supply chains are also affected by huge tariffs on imported goods. Trade embargoes, quotas, currencies exchange control are also contributing factors for these entities. Without trade and removing these barriers to trade, will cause many businesses to close. If small countries do not trade, unemployment will rise because there’ll be no money to pay workers. The purchasing power of the work-force will be also affected. Most people wouldn’t be able to feed the family.
Trade barriers are serious problems for the dependents in exports and imports trade. These barriers to trade usually cause the cost of goods and services to rise which could result in high inflation.
Two other important tools dependent economies can use effectively to manage their trading operation are the balance of trade figures and the balance of payments figures. These figures indicate how well the country is trading, and the health of the economy. A plus figure in the balance of trade is an indication the country is doing well. A minus figure indicates a negative result, meaning unsatisfactory trading result. The same methods apply to the balance of payments.
Many of these dependent countries only have balance of payments trading figures and not balance of trade figures. When there’s a negative balance of payments no money can be put into the reserve account. Positive cash reserves will prevent a weak trading currency and strengthen the purchasing power of the country. A strong currency will prevent devaluation during trading with other countries and also maintain economic stability.
Three important economic indicators are necessary to promote economic growth and stability for these dependents: The national income, the cost-of-living index, and the income per capita indicators. Without these measures governments of these countries will not be able to make proper adjustment to the living wage, unemployment situation of the labor force, and the income per capita of the work-force. When no survey or study is carried out on these indicators, economic prediction might be misleading, and the outcome may not be correct to use by governments or other institutions.
Trade is important for economic stability, growth and prosperity. Countries with one-pillar economy must diversify to be creative and productive. Don’t let outside forces control the economy of your country. Always remember, only a productive country could be strong. Stop begging and become productive. Cut back on loans and other debt burden transactions. The idea is to save in the reserve account. Abraham Lincoln once said a penny saved is a penny own. This goes for governments as well as their population.
A country must manage its foreign exchanges and resources well, repay all loans when they are due to be paid. Regional trade between neighboring countries is a must. The Caribbean has a lot of goods and services to offer. Some of these countries have their own black-gold to trade with others in the region. White-gold is also important to the world and the Caribbean is no exception. The Ivory Coast and Malaysia have lots of it. Oil and rubber substance are the riches of the world today. Small dependencies can make good use of this trade. Many African countries are fast becoming the hub in global international trade because of these heavily dependable natural resources. Countries in the region could open up trade with these rich nations to help sustain their economies.
White-gold is the substance from the rubber-tree used to make tires and other rubber products in demand all over the world. Rubber- trees existed over thousands of years are protected to promote trade by the origin countries. Small dependencies must protect their natural resources as well.
In summary, trade is the wonder of economics. Every country is involved in some form of trade to receive revenues to pay for services and goods it can’t produce at home. Most of the topics covered will certainly help dependent countries understand the importance of trade and the reason why countries trade.

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,

  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,

  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