Dear Editor,
I believe that everyone should clip out this letter if printed and make it a point of discussion in the homes. Even at the barber shop and around the domino table. I could not resist sending it to you after reading it. It goes like this:
“I had spent an hour in the bank with my dad as he had to transfer some money. I couldn't resist myself and asked: ‘Dad, why don’t we activate your Internet banking?’ ‘Why would I do that?’ he asked. ‘Well then you won’t have to spend an hour here for things like transfer. You can even do your shopping online. Everything would be so easy.’ I was so excited about initiating him into the world of netbanking.
“He asked, ‘If I do that I won't have to step out of the house?’ ‘Yes, yes,’ I told him how everything could be delivered at door. His answer left me tongue-tied. He said, ‘Since I entered this bank today I met four of my friends. I have chatted a while with the staff, who know me very well by now. You know that I’m alone. This is the company that I need. I like to get ready and come to the bank when I have enough time. It is the physical touch that I crave. When I got sick the store owner from whom I buy fruits came to see me and sat by my bedside and cried. When your mom fell down a few days back while on her morning walk, our local grocer saw her and immediately got his car to rush her home as he knows where I live. Would I have that human touch if everything became online? Why would I want everything delivered to me and force me to interact with just my computer? I like to know the person that I’m dealing with and not just the seller. It creates bonds of relationship. Does Amazon deliver all this as well? Technology isn't life. Spend time with people, not with devices. Don’t just push me in a corner.’"
By the way, it was conspicuous that nothing of the use of water distributed by GEBE was mentioned in the article pertaining to the groundwater of St. Maarten. Are we going to get more updates on the well-water situation and the negative consequences of the use of mancozeb? I do not know if over the years scientists have changed their conclusion, but I believe that man can survive longer without food than without water.
On my way home from church this morning, a lady asked me for a lift to go by her daughter, because her cooking gas had finished while boiling the water after reading the article in the paper. She could not cook anything for herself. Then the thought arose, if people are going to have to boil their water more often now, then they will use more cooking gas. This will be another strain on their pockets.
By the way, what percentage of the tax budget is still being paid by retired senior citizens? I have been retired since 2006 from the only official job that I have had, and up to today I am still being taxed, while we all know that there are thousands who work here and earn much more than the minimum wage who do not pay taxes.
By the way, similar questions were asked way back in 2005, (We can trace back who was the then commissioner of finance, and also get the answer from then.) Who is holding what above whose head? Are not the seniors the foundation-layers of St. Maarten?
Russell A. Simmons
