Dear Editor,

Whenever a politician feels that he or she is untouchable, that official always plays the victim role and puts on a recital, just to keep the public convinced of that false narrative. Besides, that politician uses his or her enablers to prop up the performance, so that the storyline remains the focal point, because the truth becomes a distraction. How sad and unfortunate, that in 2025, the people are still being mesmerized by a dynasty that has kept them oppressed for decades.

The parliamentary meeting that was held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, was almost completely useless. The only good thing that came out of the assembly was that the exposer has exposed herself further into the mire. I did not watch the live broadcast, but viewed the tape a short while ago, and I must say that it was quite shameful to see that Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten could stoop that low, to include those images into her presentation.

Is it not that this minister vowed to serve the people with integrity? Unless her version of integrity is different, that presentation does not reflect the behaviour of an official who claims to possess these principles. The conduct was childish and malicious in nature, especially when Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes said that the presentation that parliament received in advance was not the same as the one presented to the public.

If this is so, then the presentation was intentional and devoid of any semblance of integrity – the same principle that is being pushed verbally, but not in practice. But Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten was not the only one who is to be blamed for this gross negligence that took place in The People’s House. MP Lacroes, too, should have used wisdom and never begin his presentation with a picture of the minister’s spouse. It was simply unprofessional and not necessary.

You see, she took him down the rabbit hole (just like what she is doing in the Council of Ministers), but he was too blind to see or too naive to understand, until it was too late. If his hands are clean, as he claimed, why would he engage in a battle that he knew he couldn’t win? Because, MP Lacroes knows that a minister could add images to his or her presentation, but an MP cannot. This was forbidden by the Chair of Parliament, due to mal-intent by a previous MP.

Even though a minister has this right, I still feel that when Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten included those images in her presentation, Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams should have interrupted the meeting and let the minister know that those pictures do not reflect the conduct of a professional, nor an executive official. Just like how she was quick to inform MP Lacroes of her experience with those types of subliminal messages in the past, she should have chastised the minister, right away.

Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams, I don’t care how you dice it. If it is wrong for MP Lacroes, then, it must be wrong for Minister Heyliger-Marten. Because, if the minister had images of pornography, you wouldn’t have allowed it, even though she has the right to add pictures to her presentation. Likewise, if MP Lacroes had started his presentation with a positive image, you wouldn’t have intervened.

This is why I wouldn’t even waste time to comment on the other hypocrites. Because, when Golden Boy was doing his wrong, none of you all called him out. So, why protect him now? This incident also shows how the Chair of the committee, Viren Kotai, has very little knowledge of the workings of parliament. A competent Chair would have pointed out to the minister the negative implications that these pictures would have on his colleague.

A capable and fair Chair would have demanded an adjournment, so that the minister could rectify the matter, before proceeding with the meeting. Guaranteed, if this was done, MP Lacroes would have never started his presentation with the picture of her spouse. But, MP Viren Kotai is there to protect the minister, and that is why the public received a biased and unprofessional presentation that did not revealed anything that the public wasn’t aware of.

What I was very disappointed in is that MP Lacroes appeared to be so broken that he couldn’t even defend himself. The worst part is that he let Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten off the hook, by suggesting that she answers the questions in writing. What was he thinking? The minister had to come back in person, because this meeting would have generated more scrutiny than the one that was held on Thursday, November 13, 2025.

Joslyn Morton

Dear editor,

Yesterday at 3:30pm I took to the road from the Maho towards Simpson Bay, leaving early thinking I might avoid the worst of the traffic. By 4:00pm I hadn’t reached the airport terminal, I had travelled a whole 600 metres! I gave up and turned around. I also pity those who didn’t have a choice.

A flood of bad reviews is coming and will bite us all very hard.

The success of this island is becoming its demise.

Somebody better think of something and soon.

Jean de la Salle

Dear Editor,

When I say that sport has the power to change and be a tool to develop so much, this is exactly what I mean.

After the incredible achievement of Team Curaçao, who secured their place in the World Cup, making history as the smallest nation ever to do so, we have all witnessed the true essence of what sport can inspire in a people.

That achievement was vision.

It was hard work, collaboration, and sacrifice.

It was leadership, discipline, determination, and above all, national pride.

As many of us across the former Netherlands Antilles, the Caribbean, and the entire world watched this historic moment unfold, we felt that pride. That joy. That excitement. That deep emotional connection that rushed through our bodies as our brothers from Curaçao advanced and secured this monumental achievement. That feeling is proof that, in that moment, we identified with them.

We witnessed the rise of the “Blue Wave” – the heartbeat, the spirit, the energy, the courage, and the strength of the Yu Korsou people. A wave powered by belief, unity, and the unshakable will of a nation determined to make history on the world stage.

I want us all to remember that feeling.

Hold on to it.

Reflect on it.

Let it anchor us.

But most importantly, let it guide and inspire us here on St. Maarten.

Because that feeling is the perfect example of the power sport has, not just to entertain, compete, or win awards, but to transform lives, communities, and nations.

So today, I call on and challenge everyone in the sports sector, and the entire community of St. Maarten, to truly see and believe in this power:

The power of sport to uplift physical and mental health.

The power to strengthen communities and tackle social issues.

The power to unite people.

The power to build a nation.

We can only build and feel that kind of pride when we value ourselves, when we understand who we are, and when we share a purpose and a vision, a vision to grow, to develop, and to excel together.

A future made magical, not by chance, but by choices, by will, and by the identity of its people.

May this moment remind us of what is possible for St. Maarten, we Soualigans. If we believe in ourselves, invest in our people, take ownership of our future, hold ourselves accountable, work together toward one shared vision, and challenge ourselves to be critical thinkers with a growth mindset, ready to build, innovate, and lead.

Let us reflect.

Let us find introspection.

Let us reconnect to why we are here, what this beautiful island means to us, and how we can collectively build a better future for it.

As Nelson Mandela so powerfully reminded the world, in one of my favorite reflections on sport: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

As I reflect on that powerful feeling that rushed through my body during that last football game, and on the opportunities sport has given me throughout my life, I truly hope this moment inspires St. Maarten as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope you too, feel inspired.

Let’s keep working together.

Yours truly,

A sports and community lover and passionate St. Martiner

Naomi Korstanje

President – St. Maarten Sports Federation (SMSF)

Dear Editor,

When I worked on Aruba and Curaçao many years ago the mentality of the people was that police “ran things”. Honestly speaking, that was understandable, because the police were in charge of making sure that law and order is maintained. Notwithstanding this, the police are also held accountable. Even though politicians make the laws they too had/have to obey the law. In short nobody is above the law. History has borne this out, because over the years many ĺeaders of government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have been indicted and also incarcerated.

I started this letter this way because some people are telling me that I can write about all the junk that our people in government are doing, but that I cannot deny that police are worse than ever. Let me put it this way. I hear a lot of negative things about the police, but I cannot write hearsay. But I would write here what I always say. I will not put anything black on white that I cannot swear to.

Even though I would be a hypocrite to say that I do not see all those illegal lights that all kinds of motor vehicles are driving around with. Heavy equipment as well as regular motorvehicles and with blue, green, yellow and even red lights in the front of cars as well as motorbikes coming in opposite direction. So if I can see it, I believe that the police can also see it, because this has been going on for a long time. And there is no way that those in charge of the police can claim that they are not aware of this.

These lights are lit on those vehicles night and day. So ĺet me put it this way. I am sure that all the leaders in government have a driver's license and I am also sure that all of them have seen these cars with illegal lighting. So would I be out of place to state that they too are irresponsible? I do not believe that anyone of them would have the effrontery to claim that they do not know what I'm writing about.

Russell A. Simmons