Dear Editor,

  I am a bit confused about the airport situation. Maybe you can help me clear things up:

  Isn’t the outgoing CEO [chief executive officer – Ed.]:

  1. A local?

  2. The guy who made sure much more insurance money was paid out to the airport?

  3. The person who sealed the deal with the WB/NL/EIB that our government says it is committed to?

  4. So therefore the one who secured 100 million to rebuild the airport?

  5. And the person who just led the bidding process which is currently underway?

  And isn’t the Holding:

  1.The same Holding that has been there for years even before Irma?

  2. The same Holding that delayed the financing and presented so-called alternative financing?

  3. The same Holding supporting the COO [chief operating officer] who actually was there also even before Irma?

  4. The same Holding supporting the COO who wasn’t able to actually get financing before?

  5. The same Holding supporting the COO who wasn’t able to get a good deal and pay-out from the insurance company?

  So I’m confused, but is this really what I’m seeing?

  Also a few other questions:

  In the last election was there a political party called The Airport Holding that won the election?

  Does the elected government even have a say anymore? If this is the case then can the Holding sell and privatize the airport if it wants, seeing that it seems no one can tell them otherwise?

  To be honest this situation is something that I just really can’t figure out.

Name withheld upon author’s request.

Dear Editor,

  It’s always good to know where you stand.

  St.Maarten right now should know where we stand regarding its relationship with the Dutch.

  It’s becoming clear that because we are in a position of beggars that we don’t have much to say.

  I’m referring to the situation with the letter send to the UN.

  Apparently sending the letter to the UN has touched a nerve.

  And because we need financial and structural assistance and the only place to get it is by the Dutch government; we can no longer state our opinions about how we feel.

  Mr. Knops and by extension the Dutch Government has laid down their demand to pull back a letter that was written by a group of Dutch citizens who feel that they are not being treated as equal by other Dutch citizens in the Kingdom

  What’s the problem with the letter?

  The fact that these concerned Dutch citizens don’t feel Dutch or that it was sent to the UN?

  Let me start over. You are withholding money you promised to send to help a partner in need because those that were elected to look out for the wellbeing of their people are concerned that the conditions that you are demanding to them seem colonial.

  That’s what they were elected to do!

  Again, what’s the problem?

  If you are doing nothing wrong, if your actions are pure and you only want to help, what’s the problem?

  I thought MPs were supposed to vote and legislate according to their conscience and not according to party lines.

  Yet here you are demanding in writing that not only the whole of St.Maarten parliament but also the executive branch express the same sentiment and/or opinion.

  What happened to the trias politica, whereby the justice, the legislative and the executive branches of government are separate and don’t interfere with the other?

  Here you are telling the executive branch to tell the legislative branch what to do.

  Our parliament is functioning just fine, you had those that were pro and those that were against, not a rubber stamp.

  I’m surprised that one of the most liberal countries in the world, or portrays itself as such, is taking this attitude.

  You can’t be wrong and strong. Even your own Council of State pointed out that you were infringing on the autonomy of the country.

  Might is not right!

A disappointed Dutch citizen

Name withheld at author’s request.

Dear Editor,

  It seems that a permit may have been granted or is about to be granted for another supermarket on Well Road. For those who are not aware, Well Road located in Cole Bay is less than 1 km long, and currently has 3 supermarkets.

Dear Editor,

  Still people think that adopting a puppy is a nice toy gift for their little girl or boy. A family has adopted a little puppy, for days it’s been barking day and night. Unfortunately they are my neighbors and I can’t demand them to help it.

  Either a little female or male, probably it was taken from its mom and it was happily playing with its brothers and sisters when the unfortunate day to be separated came. Very unfortunate if it was given to a “caring family” that has isolated it!

  Many people are not accustomed to have their dogs indoor, it’s been very unfortunate for this little precious dog that seems to be probably a “german kind”. It’s a tremendous torture for this little dog now living in loneliness like a little child left without his family that could be in panic if it would happen. Now isolated in the back porch for days, perhaps months, perhaps years of torture, perhaps will be chained for life.

  Those who are breeding brand dogs for business must be sure to give puppies to responsible serious families. It’s not even taken outside for exercising! It is out of question, not even that! People seem to be so lazy This puppy suffering may last who knows up to when!

  Another family adopted a little white Yorkshire terrier, very cute little puppy. Their little girl was happily playing. Months later or a year later as an adult, in very bad shape it was criss-crossing the road. Means as an adult it was left outside on its own. Ended up walking on the road up to a food stand where it was probably for a couple of days and finally taken by someone.

  People should not be allowed to adopt dogs if they think it’s just a temporary toy for their kids.

Name withheld at author’s request.