We took this opportunity to write this open letter to government.

  We were pleased with the two past garbage companies we had in the past.

  This garbage company you all now gave to Middle Region, the trucks are too noisy for the early morning hours.

  And we want government to please notify the garbage company of this situation and to replace another garbage container at the same time.

  They pick up the filled garbage container to carry to the dump. Leaving the area without a garbage container until the noisy truck comes from the dump is not acceptable.

Cuthbert Bannis

Dear Editor,

  All over, trash, attitude, racism, misogyny to the max, pay below anything I’ve ever earned in my life using the knowledge I have for a job that borders on the illogical, the culture, Latin macho and women with fake butts running around for men with $$$$, it disgusts me to be here, the music, the worst of all.

  Give me back the beauty of my island I belong to, my lovely people from everywhere, my Caribbean Island people, my reggae music, my swims, my buses to go wherever I feel like, my friends, my Chinee around the corner, my views, my beaches and food! Food that is only in SXM nowhere else. I need my home so bad it made me sick today.

  I do not belong here, this is not the Caribbean, not even close to it, it is South America with the attitude that comes with the “culture”. The South Americans don’t even try to speak Papiamento or English, let alone Dutch for that matter.

  Oh, let’s not forget the materialistic side, let me not even go there, well, yeah, let me. Nothing worse than guys in Gucci loafers, Louis Vuitton belts and Cartier bracelets, oh, hold on, the ones with no money wear the fakes of any brand they can.

  I will come back because this is the wrong way to live, it is not right for the brain, my brain.

M.I.A. Roos

Dear Editor,

  Permit me to applaud Mister Henri Brookson for his prompt reaction to the roadside construction on Union Road. I am not a regular social media person, so I cannot comment whether there were observations on this situation or not on social media.

  On Tuesday last I went to Marigot but I went via the bridge and the causeway because I had to make a stop in Simpson Bay. On Wednesday, however, I used Union Road and to my surprise I saw roadside construction in full swing. It had to be in full swing because of the amount of workers and equipment on the sight.

  My first reaction was, “at last a sidewalk.” But then I noticed the layout and when I put two and two together, thoughts like “who is getting how much under the table and why so much construction equipment? Is this a rush job?” This, in my opinion, had to be done in a hurry, because no self-respecting engineer and minister would like to sign off on that project. Why with all of that space, so close to the road?

  When I read the letter to you by Mister Brookson I said to myself, “Mister Brookson must have written that letter with great restraint because I know there are different ways to write, when mister Brookson so rightfully stated that, ‘It would save the government money in the future when they would not have to reimburse people for the structures that were built.’”

  In the past several investigations have been made in the then-Public Works turned VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.]. So, because of dubious modus operandi, would it be farfetched if persons would want to know if VROMI is some kind of a cash cow? We have a set of bus-stop huts along Walter Nisbeth Road which are doing service as “setties” for the food trucks, while the buses cannot get access to the bus stops. These were also approved by VROMI.

  I am aware of who the concerned minister was during that period. So, I again want to say kudos to Mister Brookson for his prompt reaction to what anyone can see is very unprofessional and I would dare state malicious. And even if it is not intended to do harm, road safety would dictate that, as again Mister Brookson so rightfully stated, “It can create a dangerous situation when at night (or even during the day) someone slips off the road and bangs into the wall (or a pedestrian).”

  So, are we making propaganda for being incompetent or that “anything goes” in St. Maarten?

  My father use to tell us that there is always some kind of a doubt when one uses the statement “even a blind man could see that”.

  By the way I saw the reaction on the face of that cooking-gas truck-driver who was rocking with the truck while driving through Front Street yesterday.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  The island is too far to educate the inhabitants about providing adequate shelter for their adopted dogs. Animal rescuers can’t cope with the present overpopulation situation alone, government help is desperately needed! It is totally irresponsible to give female dogs for adoption to uncaring, uneducated people.

  A total lack of education about a clean environment where trash can be seen almost everywhere. Owners who don’t clean their properties don’t have the capability to care for their pets. It’s an overwhelming situation seen every day almost everywhere in Sint Maarten.  People walking through trash going to church with their Bibles in hand, walking on dirty, uneven, sloppy roads, full of trash in Cole Bay. If they praise the Lord, they must know that He would like people to live in a clean environment, and love and respect their pets.

  Government does not show a bit of interest in supporting animal rescuers. The situation seen in Great Bay across where Great Bay Hotel used to be, the Mount William area, there is a pathetic environment. Many owners do not clean their properties and have the pride to rent. They should be fined! There is no law to enforce those irresponsible property owners. Poor unhealthy dogs are seen all over.

  I have been desperately looking for a suitable apartment, to find out that landlords have the pride to rent apartments in terrible dirty condition, inside and outside, broken and dirty windows. It’s unacceptable. Nobody is supervising those landlords. In Madame Estate,  intended to be a commercial Amsterdam Shopping Center, there are tons of trash on the back side. Constructors leaving a terrified trash scene behind.

  Abandoned female dogs are almost everywhere. In Sucker Garden area, Dutch Quarter, Oyster Pond on the road of the night club green yellow building, and on the upper roads there are dozens of abandoned dogs. Some female dogs right now mating and probably there is a morbid joy for some people to see them. People adopt dogs just to guard their house, not interested in building a fence instead, leaving dogs on their own, just drop some food, the properties where some beautiful Flamboyant trees are witnessing the uncaring environment, but no money or time to care for their dogs.

  In the French Quarter area at the end of Webster Road, animal rescuer “I love my Island dog” must be informed of the alarming situation on that road, mainly at the end of the road. Caretakers are overwhelmed with caring for animals and totally unable to help others. The French- and Dutch-side government assistance is urgently needed. Roaming horses, sick cows dangerously crossing busy traffic roads, and goats are part of the environment.

  Cleaning companies are cleaning every week from Oyster Pond to Sucker Garden; they are breaking the rocks, because of cleaning and cutting the grass every week, there is not much to cut and because they can’t reach the properties with trash and carcasses of the thousands of abandoned cars.

  Hope this note will help give some awareness of the alarming situation in Sint Maarten.

Name withheld