Dear Editor,

  This subject is about why certain situations in life change for the better and why certain situations in life change for the worse.

  Life, in general, is always challenging, to establish a good quality of life. But for a good quality of life to be established the people that have to choose those values must garner knowledge, determination, honesty, and courage. Whenever evil and injustice are looming it takes the four characteristics to defeat evil. I can have knowledge of how to defeat evil but if I am not determined and have the courage to perform the action, I cannot defeat evil. I can be honest that evil exists and have the knowledge about its existence and how to defeat it, but if I am not determined and have the courage, I cannot defeat evil. I can be determined to defeat evil but if I do not have the knowledge and courage, I cannot defeat it. I can have the courage to confront evil but if I do not have the knowledge and determination, I cannot defeat evil. These qualities will decide what quality of life we will establish in this world. Leaders, legislators, or people with good intentions if they do not have these 4 qualities cannot defeat evil.

  With God all things are possible. Most people do not have all 4 of these qualities, that is why we have to depend on God. Determination has to do with time, time effects strength, and courage. Evil continues to triumph when good men look and do nothing. People who are given authority if they do not have these 4 qualities cannot do good for the world.

  These 4 qualities define your true character. That's why political ideology is so important, if you do not know who you are how can you correct a challenge when you do not know who you are. When challenges are established some people cower and cave, because of fear they do not have the courage to confront it. Confronting a challenge takes time so you need determination along with courage. Be honest that it will take time to deal with the challenge and therefore you must garner knowledge.

  Men and women with these 4 characteristics are people that take the narrow path, the world does not like these kinds of people. People with these 4 characteristics know true justice is blind. We follow the truth and evidence where it leads us. We do not care about what people may think or if they will like us. What matters is truth and justice which will establish an outstanding quality of life. The color of your skin, your stature in life does not matter. It is about doing the right thing. We judge you on truth and justice, that is what God expects from his sheep.

  Choices have consequences, choose wisely.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Dear Editor,

  On several occasions while I was working as a police officer I was approached by, members of political parties wanting to know if I was interested in becoming a member of the party. My initial response was always, “Being a police officer is part of my calling, I enjoy serving and protecting the people.” I would also let them know that even though I may not say everything, whatever I say is the truth. Once I speak the truth I can forget what I said but when I am reminded of it I will repeat the same thing because it is the truth.

  My father used to tell us that people get an upset stomach, even ulcers because of not being able to speak their mind by telling the truth. He would say a whole lot of people turn to liquor because it loosens their tongue. When we asked him what he meant he would explain. Over the years people have found out that when they were drunk they would say things and the next day are surprised when others tell them what they said the night before. So as time went by people would use liquor as an excuse to say what they did not dare say while they were sober.

  He told me one time that his mother and his aunt would say things to my grandfather and great uncle which he didn’t understand until years later when he came across “A drunken man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts” in the book The philosophy of life. He would tell us that there are always two sides to a story, because both parties would tell you things which favor them and oftentimes both parties would also lie. That is why you should always try to find out what is the truth.

  I remember at one time my father told a politician calling him by his name, “Wah lies you was telling the people out there last night.” And spontaneously that politician answered my father, “Exactly what they want to hear.” That remained with me ever since. It might not have been a lie or reality, but it is what the people wanted to hear. Whether it is attainable or not does not matter. But I would think, “He does not even care whether he can produce or not?” That was my awakening to what politics is about and I did not think that that was fair.

  I wrote all of this to ask, “Why is it taking so long?” This is my take on this. These kinds of politicians never liked anyone looking over their shoulders. Because formerly a police report had to go along with almost every kind of permit issued. A negative advice was not well accepted by politicians because they would not be able to fool the people that it is they, the politicians who give them what they petitioned, as opposed to what they were entitled to once it complied with the requirements stipulated by law.

  And even though the police are no longer directly involved in the controls or issuing of permits, the police are still involved in the general control of almost everything. This sometimes sheds light on some things which actually should not come out in the light.

  My question has always been, “Why are you mad at me for doing the right thing?” Would it be fair for me to think that because making deals by people in government (alleged) along with the above, and because there are no deals to be made in getting things done for the police, there is no interest in fixing things for the police?

  What I do not understand is why we have not heard from the side of the Prosecutor’s Office, which is supposed to be the defender of the people, urging the government on, to regulate things for the police in order to be able to secure public order? On the contrary, those who are always preaching about responsibility showed their real colors by repatriating all their police people to Holland, irrespective of the consequences of the police in St. Maarten being understaffed. The pattern continues. There is no interest in the well-being of the people.

  Every dictator would tell you that he pays his soldiers well.

  So, I am still asking myself if government continues, no matter the toppling of governments, is it arbitrariness or incompetence of the personnel of the justice department who were there over those years, not to regulate things for the police?

  Because of this I asked who is actually advising the Minister of Justice? They told me all of this is because of a falling out. I could not put two and two together and I am not into speculating … .

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  Being “captured” in a mandatory quarantine period for the last 12 days on Statia, I was relieved by my negative PCR swab-test.

  As socialite, this whole time of forced isolation was challenging but also an unexpected opportunity for reflection.

  I have to admit that being in COVID-riddled Holland was no fun at all especially if you frequently sip a coffee or have a bite outdoors on one of my numerous bicycle trips through autumn leaves landscapes. Every eatery or food joint was closed, except for some lousy lukewarm coffee outside in the wind and rain. Not funny, chilled to the bones.

  This all could not be in more contrast with the sustained “zero” COVID status here on warm Statia. Being a health care professional myself I have – over time – watched the progress in implementation of truly effective COVID containment measurements by all professionals involved.

  Maintaining a COVID-free Island is the biggest gift Government officials, doctors, nurses, lab-technicians, administrators, drivers and watchful guards can give to their community. While providing near-normal living conditions, they make life safer for all of us. After all, non-COVID societies are NOT the norm these days. Their work is precious and at the end priceless.

  But to reach this high level of COVID containment, BES [the BES Islands Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius – Ed.] may not forget the abundant hands-on and ongoing support from Holland. However, in contrast to the financial gesture The Hague Government made to her Holland front line COVID prevention professionals, that same financial appreciation is not granted to her BES counterparts. One of the arguments heard to support this position was: there is hardly any COVID on the BES Islands. Would it not be wise to overcome this erroneous mindset by weighing in the fact that BES professionals – despite limited resources – are able to keep their islands virtually COVID-free whilst a raging COVID epidemic in their hemisphere.

  One more issue is worth mentioning. The root-cause of the recent 4-6 false positive PCR-tests on Statia has to be understood and dealt with 100 per cent . Not for blaming purposes but to secure flawless testing operations. When a positive COVID case pops-up, the shiver of fear is hurting our vulnerable fellow Statians too much. I am confident that this process will be addressed effectively and prevent procedural mistakes. (Statistically seen, a 4-false-positive batch is not a one-time failure but almost surely a systemic failure.)

  So, Statia COVID professionals, thank you all for your fine work.

Dr. Cornelis Bouwman

St. Eustatius

Why has the Curaçao government cleared only residents from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut (Tri-State area), and Florida for entry from the US? The Tri-State region has seen a rise in COVID cases of late, as has Florida. Furthermore, Florida residents already live in a balmy climate and don’t need to escape winter with a visit to the Caribbean.

  While it’s true airline service to Curaçao from the US operates out of New York, New Jersey, and Florida, allowing only residents from these areas is no safer or riskier than permitting people from other regions to transit through these airports en-route to Curaçao. If the government is worried about a massive influx of viral tourists arriving, don’t be. People are not traveling in large numbers this year and likely won’t into the new year as well. Those that do want to visit Curacao, however, should be allowed to do so under the same entry requirements now in place – but for everyone, not just a few.

  Ideally the criteria for entry should be based on healthy people that can prove a negative COVID test irrespective of the region they live in. The current restrictions to certain US residents only is the wrong approach.

Gunsor Buther

Curaçao