Dear Editor,

  The official start of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is just two weeks away. The Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane forecast section, the Tropical Meteorology Project (TMP), in its first 2021 prediction of storm activity for the upcoming season, says we could see 17 named storms, of these, eight could become hurricanes and four of those could reach major hurricane status of Category 3+.

  The CSU TMP said in their forecast, that up to now, current weather activity is exhibiting characteristics similar to the hurricane seasons of 1996, 2001, 2008, 2011, and 2017, the latter that saw the birth of Irma and Maria which caused massive devastation across the Caribbean region.

  St. Maarten is still reeling from the devastation left behind by Irma and Maria in 2017. Some of the key areas are a number of hotel infrastructure that is still down and out, and the prize and pride of the nation, the Princess Juliana International Airport rebuilding project. Despite its current challenges and operating at limited capacity, the air travel gateway, the economic lifeline for the nation, continues to serve the country.

  The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) announced last month that there was a 27.8 percent rise in new business registration for the first quarter of 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020.

  COCI registered 216 new business registrations for the months of January to March 2021, compared to 169 for the same period of 2020.

  With the 2021 hurricane season weeks away, the Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (CARICHAM) is organizing a webinar session under the banner “Leveraging Business Continuity Planning to Enhance Business Resilience for the Hurricane Season and the Impact of Multi-Hazards on the Caribbean.”

  CARICHAM was launched in 2019 and is a network of 21 Caribbean Chambers of Commerce with the aim to advocate and create enhanced value for members of the respective Chambers, and to enhance the resilience of members.

  CARICHAM recognizes that businesses need to be prepared to face risks. “As Caribbean Small Island Developing States, our economies are even more at risk, which forces us to increase our awareness about climate change and natural disasters as well as to take action to mitigate these risks.”

  The private sector of the region comprises mainly micro, small and medium-sized businesses. Risk management is a key component for business continuity and survivability.

  The webinar is scheduled for Friday, May 21, from 11:00am to 12:30pm via Zoom. This Webinar is hosted in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the ARISE Network (the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies) and McAllister and Craig Disaster Management Inc.

  To increase the resilience of the private sector through Business Continuity Planning, CARICHAM is inviting members of the regional business community to register for this webinar via the following link:

https://energytt.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ofuirrjwqHt02-Vu1_FLyqNWjm4-6MaI6

  This is an opportunity for the local business community to enhance their skills in disaster risk reduction, especially new businesses/entrepreneurs. The knowledge gained would play a major role and be a plus in mitigating the effects of risks to businesses especially during the upcoming 2021 Atlantic hurricane season which is forecast to be an active one.

Roddy Heyliger

Dear State Secretary Knops,

  We have taken note of your letter sent to Prime Minister Jacobs in regard to the suspension of the fifth tranche of liquidity support (NAf. 39 million) due to very worrying developments regarding the corporate governance of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

  We have been proactively informing the population for weeks and months on so many of the very same concerns we see listed in your letter. We have repeatedly sounded the alarm on all forms of media.

  Although, we anticipated the consequences faced today by the Jacobs government due to a lack of proactive action to live up to agreements, which has been a reoccurring modus operandi for this Jacobs cabinet and the NA-UP coalition, we are extremely disappointed, ashamed, angry and outright fed up.

  We realize that the Kingdom Government wants to assist the government and the people of St. Maarten with liquidity support to survive this COVID-19 pandemic, but the Kingdom Council of Ministers, via your office, cannot continue to enable the Jacobs cabinet, which has clearly demonstrated over and over that:

* They do not live up to agreements they sign.

* They do not honor their word.

* They are not sincere and honest in their dealings with you.

* They are being manipulated and led by outside handlers.

  As a former St. Maarten Member of Parliament during the period July 2018-November 2019, we witnessed, experienced and fought the forces of the very same outside handlers not only within the coalition but within the Leona cabinet.

  These outside handlers are the same ones who ultimately undermined the stability of the coalition and forced the implosion of the then UD party. Those forces took control of the majority of Parliament in September 2019.

  It is with that knowledge that those who fought these corrupt forces in the Leona cabinet invoked article 59 of the St. Maarten constitution to dissolve a parliament which was now being manipulated by outside forces.

  Yet, State Secretary Knops, we trust that by now you realize that those forces remain stronger than ever and resulted in the present coalition between two parties who traditionally have been major opponents to each other for decades.

  Today, they are joined by anti-Dutch sentiments, personal and political vendettas against the Dutch and, of course, the continued fleecing of government-owned companies and government.

  We have come to the conclusion the outside handlers are very much in control of this cabinet and they wield significant power in the present parliament. This is evident when one pays attention to the constant incoherence of the decisions being made by the Jacobs cabinet.

  From the content of your most recent letter and having read all your public letters sent to the St. Maarten government since the beginning of 2020, it is clear to us that you are fully aware of what we described above.

  It is clear that you realize the prime minister lacks credibility at this point and cannot be trusted. We concur.

  Please note that the prime minister is the leader of the NA with 5 seats in a coalition of 9 and NA party holds 5 of the 7 ministries in the Council of Ministers versus UP party with 4 seats and 2 ministries.

  While these stats should have empowered this prime minister and given her a clear mandate, it has long become very evident to us that she is not in control of this government and does not have the strength of character or leadership skills to stand up against the political meddling to lead St. Maarten in this time of major crisis.

  While we would prefer not to have to point out her misleading, lies and lack of transparency during the worst period in our history when the future of this island is most in doubt and our people are falling in despair, we cannot stand aside and allow this level of incompetence to go unchecked.

  Since March 2020, we have seen the Jacobs cabinet led by this coalition repeatedly, unnecessarily and intentionally frustrate the COVID-19 recovery process and the much-needed financial support provided by the Netherlands. These delays have come at a high cost in particular to the people and businesses in the private sector who need it the most.

  While each time they say the words and write the letters to appease the conditions, it should be evident to you that many of those promises to live up to conditions unconditionally have not been done in practice. For example, the 25 per cent salary cut for political authorities which is still not implemented.

  Instead, both the CoM and coalition have been deceptive each time just to get the money.

  It should be very evident to you by now that these games will not stop unless a different approach is taken.

  We believe that this Jacobs cabinet will not stop the games as long as the Dutch keep rewarding what can only be described as a lack of integrity and good governance.

  Having said all this and with a heavy heart, we believe it is time for you to implore the Kingdom Council of Ministers to impose direct higher supervision on this Government until the economy can be restored and the island does not need Dutch liquidity for its basic survival.

  This will ensure that the population in general, the public sector and the private sector, is not made to suffer unduly. As you know, the NGOs [non-governmental organisations – Ed.] have had to assist thousands with food baskets and unemployment remains a growing problem.

  You have indicated that you will send on the decision regarding the fifth tranche to be decided in the May 21 Kingdom Council of Ministers with the advice that the money remain suspended until the Jacobs cabinet has taken sufficient decisive action to structurally repair the problems at the airport and ensure the successful progress of the project to repair the airport terminal.

  While we applaud this move and we have no doubt the prime minister will do whatever she can to convince you she is now serious about handling the issues and deserves the money, please note that once they receive these funds they will go right back to the same sabotage of the airport and other issues which are vital for the recovery of SXM.

  The outside handlers, CoM and the coalition believe the Dutch will play hardball but will always bail them out no matter what they do so that civil servants and subsidized entities do not go unpaid and prevent the island descending into chaos. We must say that history seems to back up that belief.

  If higher supervision is not an option the Kingdom Council of Ministers will consider, we believe it is imperative at this point that the Kingdom Council of Ministers allow the Jacobs cabinet to face the realities of the present financial situation without Dutch liquidity to bail them out.

  Only then will they be held accountable for their actions and inactions.

  After all, as the Council of Ministers, they are ultimately the ones responsible for the wellbeing and quality of life of the citizens of St. Maarten.

  As far as we are concerned, St. Maarten is considered an autonomous country within the Kingdom and this liquidity support should be seen as a benefit and not a liability.

  It is time that the Jacobs cabinet realizes this is serious business and these types of futile games will not be enabled and tolerated by the Kingdom Council of Ministers anymore.

  The longer these games are played, the longer the people and businesses in the private sector will be made to suffer. The longer the recovery process will take.

  We sincerely trust that you will take our advice in consideration. St. Maarten people deserve an end to these constant impasses so they can truly focus on surviving these hard times.

  In closing, we hope you will be paying a visit to the Integrity Chamber which unfortunately is now being viewed as a futile organization.

  As one who supported the establishment of this entity to elevate the level of integrity, not only in our government apparatus but in our community, we would appreciate an update on this entity whose composition is shared with the Netherlands.

Claude Chacho Peterson

A fed up and concerned SXMner

Dear Mr. Knops,

  Welcome, Dutch caretaker State Secretary, to Statia where you are likely to open a roundabout that communicates with about ten lonely vehicles per hour per day. Never have we seen on Statia such magnificent progress from you and your local civil servants and what a great investment for Dutch and local taxpayers’ money?

  Whereas your ceremony this week – in the round – will be populated by a nepotistic circus of agreeable senior civil servants, please do not fall sick.

  Mister Knops, if you do, let me describe what roundabouts sick Statians have to go round for medical treatment from your hopeless health insurance organization (ZVK).

  For many years, ZVK has wasted millions of Antillean guilders, US dollars, Colombian pesos and therefore euros through false economy on travel costs, delayed medical treatment and administrative inertia.

  It seems your ZVK knows a lot more than you do when it comes to telling lies. But not saving lives …

  Forget roundabouts and let me quote an example of administrative ZVK failure only last week from a patient who has waited a painful nine months for a hip replacement.

  ZVK informed the patient that a hip operation was possible in Curaçao even though the hospital concerned was not conducting such operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They therefore refused medical referral to the Netherlands. Let’s quote from a recent article in the Bone & Joint Journal: “It is not benign to delay or deny patients arthroplasty surgery; patients live with pain and disability that is more severe than many other chronic health conditions.”

  ZVK in Bonaire informed the patient that they do not want to talk to them but they should talk to Statia doctor. The only solution was to have the operation in the Netherlands. ZVK then said that the patient should organise it all themselves – which they did. The patient was told to pay all cost up-front and be reimbursed later. But confirmation that the entire medical cost would be reimbursed in full only arrived at the very last moment so that the hospital operation and flights to Schiphol had to be cancelled. Patient never received anything on paper.

  At one point, a Bonaire ZVK official refused to discuss the situation on the phone. Imagine that from a health insurance organisation? The result is that the patient is now taking expensive and addictive pain-relieving pills per day that cost more than a hip operation in the long run. False economy? You bet Mister Knops.

  Dear Mister Knops, it is time to reorganize. Many ZVK complaints have been logged and nothing happens. In 2018, The Dutch Government took over local government in Statia in the belief that corruption and abuse diluted the principles of good and efficient governance. How ZVK operates does not seem the epitome of efficiency or care about patients to say the least. Or: now that you have made your rare hospital bed, it is time to lie in it.

  Please reorganize the ZVK or your reputation or both. We do not need local roundabouts but a central government turn-around. We need a ZVK that cares about individual healthcare, not saving money. Privatize or revalitize!

  Your ZVK is about saving money, not caring for customers that have to go around thousands of useless roundabouts very much like the one you are opening this week.

  Since your role already serves as a source of fortune, I wish you fortitude and clarity to do the right thing.

  Please do not fall sick! You may be a caretaker minister but your ZVK falls very short of care-taking.

E.B.

Initials used at author’s request.

Dear Editor,

  Our nurses and healthcare workers have spent the last year plus due to the COVID-19 pandemic working under extremely trying conditions, but have shown continued commitment and dedication to their jobs.

  Especially now, nurses and healthcare workers are more deserving than ever of community support, respect and appreciation. That's why we want to make Nurses Week 2021 one to remember even though we are faced with the ongoing pandemic, we the nurses give God thanks for his many blessings in sustaining us through these difficult times.

  Our nursing profession requires dedication, commitment, empathy, and compassion to nurse sick patients back on their feet. I salute all of our nurses for their dedication, hard work, and resilience. Nurses must have the ethical and professional responsibility to provide quality healthcare services to all people and strive for excellence.

  My vision for the future healthcare is for nurses and healthcare workers to be united and involved with the various sectors and government with policy-making.

  Thanks to all nurses and healthcare workers in every area in healthcare for their

dedication, commitment, and hard work.

  Happy Nurses Day to all!

  God bless you and be safe.

Nurse Mavis Rombley

President of St. Maarten Nurses Association