Dear Editor,
What do we expect when we have people walking around with security dogs, people in different uniforms representing security companies with names like First Response, Sherrif etc.
Literally names that will encourage anyone of which the first responders of their country are the police, the sheriffs, firemen and emergency personnel to accept that these persons indeed are the first responders. If one would compare the police uniforms to their uniforms one would quicker approach the security guards than the police for the police dress as if they are ready for a riot.
As long as I can remember police in uniform have always worn a cap. I do not know what the motivation was, but it is something I noticed since Peter de Witte was in charge. From then already I commented on it.
Another thing of which I am not sure of, is if the police uniforms are protected. Because of late any Tom, Dick and Harry wear clothes resembling the police uniform, anyone can impersonate a police officer.
In this time and day., the police have to be proactive. A few weeks ago I saw an article in the paper where Chief John is accepting something to do with crime prevention. My first impression was to react to that article because I didn't agree with the police making propaganda with what they have.
The word integrity came to mind My impression is that those in authority are not really police minded. Hence my reaction to the article concerning police impersonator. I hope this will serve as an incentive for the police to realize that not everybody who grin their teeth at you is your friend.
Anyone who impersonate you with a negative intention does not respect you, neither your position nor your job.
A gentleman said to me “No motorbikes on the Front and Backstreet, why not the Boardwalk also?”
My answer was. “Ask them.”
I wrote it before and I mention it again: Why must a car have a muffler and nothing is done to the motorbike? Since the motorbike is not a general emergency vehicle why not not limit its capacity to 50 kilometers per hour.
With the amount of motor vehicles and intense traffic on Sint Maarten the speed limit is not going to increase and most likely will decrease, so let us start something positive. I was told that if I write this my insurance company is going to look for a reason not to insure my car. Walking is healthy and hopefully by then whichever government would have fixed the public transportation.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
The more I give thought to these pressing matters of concern, the more they are compounded with unanswered questions – inquiries that need clarity – complete transparency that demands reliability and security, for every single worker within the government apparatus.
For this reason, I started responding to the articles from Members of Parliament Omar Ottley and Lyndon Lewis, with regard to their views on government’s performance at the 1-year mark; but took a pause because of these nagging questions that kept resurfacing in my mind, again and again. The MPs expressed their dissatisfaction across the board, but I will focus on the ministries of General Affairs and Justice.
Throughout this year, these two ministries were plagued with unresolved issues, which led to Prime Minister Luc Mercelina and Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling being bombarded with unlimited criticism. The MPs' grievances include: GEBE, ambulance and fire departments, seniors, the prison, crime and the national decrees. When I look at the common denominator among all of these issues, it boils down to one component, which is personnel.
In light of this observation, and my quest for clarity, I’ve decided to focus my attention on why the responsibility of personnel is broken up over certain ministries. Here are my inquiries: If the Ministry of General Affairs is responsible for personnel within the structure of government, then why would the Justice workers fall directly under the Ministry of Justice and not General Affairs?
As I recalled, before the constitutional change in 2010, the leader of government was in charge of personnel, completely. Currently, the Ministry of General Affairs (the same construct as the previous status) is responsible for personnel, supposedly. The only difference is that the word ministry, replaced department. So again, why would the workers within the Ministry of Justice fall directly under Minister Nathalie Tackling, and not Prime Minister Luc Mercelina?
Did any Minister of Justice change the structure? If so, when was it done and what was the reason behind that change? When I look at the chain of developments that involve the personnel from the Fire and Ambulance Departments and those within Justice, they are all fighting for the same cause – the correct salary scale and retroactive payments. So, why should any justice minister be burdened with this separation of personnel, when the ministry is so huge, and demands so much hands-on attention?
Is it not, that this separation of personnel is the cause for the perceived stagnation of the Justice Ministry, when this should be the sole responsibility of the Prime Minister? When Minister Tackling was in parliament on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, she publicized that there were 4 different payrolls within her ministry. The question is: What would constitute such a system? Who did it benefit the most and at what cost to government?
Here again, the minister had to bring all 4 payrolls into alignment, which took away valuable time from accomplishing other goals that needed to be completed. If Prime Minster Luc Mercelina is responsible for personnel, then all should fall under the Ministry of General Affairs, without exceptions. Here is where the prime minister has failed to bring the entire personnel into one system, so that he could focus on their grievances and collaborate with individual ministers, where necessary.
To conclude, even though the Members of Parliament in question have the right to criticize the ministers on their performance, they too, must take some responsibility for asking repetitive and redundant questions that do not benefit the community, all because they have failed to look beyond what they see.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
During my visits to Sint Maarten, I learned quickly that people are careful with the word “hurricane.” If you mention it, someone may stop you: “Don’t bring that into existence.” It’s more than an instinct – it reflects how deeply the memory of Irma lives on, and how vigilant life on a small island must be. Having been based in Jamaica during Hurricanes Beryl and, more recently, Melissa, I can now say, “I get it.”
As this year’s hurricane season draws to an end, there is reason for Sint Maarten to breathe a sigh of relief; having been spared major storms. Yet the devastation brought by Hurricane Melissa to Jamaica is a powerful reminder that in the Caribbean, no one is ever truly out of reach. For Sint Maarten, where geography defines both beauty and vulnerability, every hurricane season brings the risk of seeing years of progress swept away. Hurricane Irma alone caused damage estimated at more than twice the island’s GDP, leaving deep scars but also lasting lessons.
In the years since, Sint Maarten has taken those lessons to heart. The country is shifting from rebuilding after disasters to reducing risks before they strike – strengthening preparedness, investing in safer infrastructure, and planning with future storms in mind.
At the World Bank, we’ve worked closely with the government to support this shift – through the Sint Maarten Reconstruction, Recovery, and Resilience Trust Fund, a partnership with the Government of Sint Maarten and the Government of the Netherlands.
Established after Hurricane Irma, the Trust Fund was designed not only to rebuild what was lost but to build systems that make recovery faster and stronger when the next storm comes. Across the island, that resilience is now taking shape in tangible ways. Homes are being repaired to higher building standards so families can return to safer roofs. The Princess Juliana International Airport – the backbone of the island’s tourism economy – has been rebuilt with stronger structural standards to protect lives and keep the country connected when the next storm hits. A new hospital is being constructed, engineered to withstand earthquakes and strong winds, ensuring continuity of care even during the most severe storms.
Preparedness also extends beyond physical structures. Through the Trust Fund, Sint Maarten is strengthening its digital systems – ensuring that government services and critical data remain functional even in times of crisis. The education sector, too, is adapting: teachers are better equipped to respond, and a disaster-preparedness game "HURRYcane Run" is helping children learn how to stay safe when storms approach.
The Trust Fund also introduced the Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments, giving Sint Maarten its first consistent way to track students’ progress and address learning gaps that widened during the pandemic. All of these efforts point in the same direction: Sint Maarten is not simply rebuilding, it is redefining what resilience means for a small island nation. This commitment is reflected as well in the government’s plan to establish a Disaster Reserve Fund – a dedicated reserve for emergencies – developed with guidance from a World Bank study. Steps like these help ensure that when storms strike, resources are ready.
Yet resilience is never finished. As climate risks intensify, Sint Maarten – like all small island economies – will need to keep expanding its protections: strengthening financial buffers, investing in faster early-warning systems, and ensuring that every recovery plan is backed by dedicated, ready-to-use financing. Continued regional collaboration – sharing expertise, pooling risk, and strengthening institutions – will be essential to sustain these gains.
While Sint Maarteners avoid saying the word “hurricane”, their actions speak louder than words. They are preparing, adapting, and rebuilding stronger each time – and experience shows that this commitment always pays off.
Lilia Burunciuc
World Bank Director for the Caribbean
The scientific formulation and continuous implementation of five-year plans is a vital experience in the Chinese Communist Party's governance. This is a new planning and governance model that integrates planned and market economies, and reflects the significant political and institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Dear Editor,
I read an article in the paper a few days ago in which government is making plans to guarantee the safety of the visitors to our island during the upcoming season. Up to Tuesday last I had to assist a person driving a rental to reverse out of the Hotelsteeg onto the Backstreet because there is no signboard (10) at the end of the Hotelsteeg.indicating no entry from that end. Neither is there a sign 27 at the intersection Backstreet/Hotelsteeg on the Backstreet indicating no left turn into the Hotelsteeg.
If measures are to be taken with the traffic I would strongly suggest that the police enhance the control on the buses, stopping anywhere and at anytime to pick up and/or let out passengers, whether there are bus-stops along the road or not.
There were hardly any taxis which worked at night at the hotels which was and still is the main cause of the beginning of “gypsies”. It has reached the extent that gypsy drivers would blow and indicate you to move from what they consider their spot.
Russell A. Simmons
