Dear Editor,
Gradually I am noticing the increase in people approaching me to ask me questions in connection with the contents of the letters I write to you, while suggesting to me what I should write about. I would tell them that what I write is not the same as Mr. Kenneth Cook. As usual I would let them know that my thoughts are not the same as their thoughts. My inspiration is not the same as their inspiration, so the basis for my opinion would not be the same as the basis for their opinion, so I would not express myself with the same sentiment as you would express yourself in many situations. The automatic reaction would be “He didn’t write what I mean”.
As we know, everyone has a right to his own opinion. So that means that everybody can do what they want? No, that will cause confusion. For an easier explanation let me refer to the Ten Commandments, which play a huge role in ordering the behavior of man (laws, admonitions and sanctions). As life progressed, the human being did other things that, thankfully the majority did not accept and so the law grew in order to maintain, which phrase is worldwide known as “law and order” in the land. Owing to civility the people of the community also have rights.
Before I continue let me say that I have not verified it lately, but nevertheless again I am appealing to the Minister of Education to add Civics to the curriculum in schools starting at the fifth grade so that the youth of this country at a very young age could be acquainted with their basic rights and go from there. Yes, in the fifth grade already there are potential lawyers.
There are too many people who do not dare act upon their thoughts because of the fear of limited knowledge, not knowing that common sense can carry one a long way in a mature conversation. Experience would make some people think creative, some analyze and some verbalize. If you get these three in a serious conversation, they probably might come up with ideas enough to run a town. Not too long ago I asked a young lady if she was aware that she also can ask Parliament questions and that she was entitled to answers. She was not sure what I was talking about. Hence my continuous plight for Civics.
One of the rights of the people is, as we say in Dutch “recht van interpeallatie”, the right to ask questions. (Google it). I know some of the readers will say that (big)people can Google it also. Noooo. That is never the same as it being instilled in you from small. Yes, I know because I have heard it several times in the past. If you make certain things available to the general public then the criminal-minded ones will make bad use of it. This is Civics that I am referring to. The rights and duties of the people and how the country is governed. Beside that there are a great deal more civic minded people than criminals. So, let the majority rule. and do not let the criminal get away with wrongdoing, neither in or out of government.
Sorry I got carried away for a while there.
As you can see, the heading of this letter was “Assist the public”. I believe if I would say because of the drastic changes at the SZV for obvious reasons, in time and also in communication, which causes the telecommunication to be terrible, I would suggest that the SZV phone number also be changed to a number like the police emergency 911, TelEm helpdesk 611 and 914 etc,. Almost the complete telecommunication system is prepaid. Waiting to be attended to at SZV by phone is eating up the time on the prepaid cell phones as well as landlines. So, please, Ministers of Health and Telecommunication, assist the public.
By the way the same should be done for all government instances which must be reached via telecommunication. I believe that if the lady in Curaçao at Maduro’s bank can help me with a problem at the Windward Islands Bank in St. Maarten, via telephone, that telecommunication problem at SZV should not be a problem. I was asked if I could not contact anybody at SZV concerning that. I had to smile because that is exactly the problem – problem to get in contact. And because I am trying to stay safe, I stay home as much as possible
Russell A. Simmons
