Dear Editor,
As I drive around St. Maarten, including some places on the French side, I am amazed the amount money and effort that has gone into putting up all these political billboards campaigning for the very-soon-to-be-held elections.
I would like to state if this amount of effort was harnessed to improve the lives of all St. Maarten residents and the country in general I am sure we would be living in a much better place.
Another inescapable fact is the huge number of candidates postulating for a few positions in the political arena, which leads me to only two possible conclusions:
1. We have so many well intentioned persons who genuinely want to put country before self, hmmm?
2. The salary and benefits afforded to those few that get elected is so high that it attracts Tom, Dick and Harry to want to get a piece of the political pie.
In conclusion, if the salary and benefits of the elected officials were reduced drastically to say that of a medium level manager here in SXM, would we see such a feverish political campaign or would we see those devoted to the betterment of St. Maarten and its people?
Last piece of advice: use the votes for the right person and reason, St. Maarten is losing ground and cannot afford to lose more.
A very concerned St. Maarten resident
Name withheld at author’s request.
