Dear Editor,
Growing up I heard parents say on many occasions that “you can make the child, but you can’t make their minds.” As I grew older, while working that negative word “pride” which is the opposite of “humility” has been the cause of many unnecessary confusions and confrontations.
I am of the opinion that the Ombudsman and the Minister of Justice are at loggerheads, so I consulted some of my reliable sources who confirmed my suspicions.. I did not see it, but I was told that the Ombudsman put out a video confirming the lack of traffic policy while showing many situations why drivers should not be ticketed, mostly because of the lack of traffic signs. I must agree that I also noticed this, and I have commented that this could be one of the causes for the frustration with the public who are more and more criticizing the police for not doing anything.
I have said on several occasions that the vast majority of the public are in favor of law and order. I hope here that these mature personalities would let whatever has happened in the past be an example of how it should not be done, and that they would get together and start by getting Philipsburg traffic ready, before it really becomes a labyrinth.
Of late I constantly have to direct the tourist how to navigate Philipsburg. I do not hope that it is that video that is empowering drivers to the wrong, because I realize that increasingly the local drivers are driving in a forbidden direction whether the traffic signs are there or not.
It is past time that people in responsible positions realize and accept that it is not about them. I will repeat, no one man is an island. One should also analyze the real meaning of the saying “The bigger you are, the harder you fall”.
In the forest the firemen fight fire with fire, but the animals run away, because even they realize that it is dangerous. Do people break down the door of a house in order to catch and kill a cockroach? I believe that the Minister of Finance should take some of that money that he is wasting to put stickers on cars in order to satisfy his ego and dedicate that money to repairing the roads. That is what road tax is about.
It is time enough that those of us who know it better, show those young upstarts who believe that they know it all that knowing it all is what has Bobo asking, “Who next?”
By the way, for those of us who have often heard our parents correct us by saying that “you don’t have any pride” it is good to find out what the bible says about “pride”. There are about 45 to 50 places in the Bible where the word “pride is mentioned and it is never in a positive sense. Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”
I believe that we should replace “you don’t have any pride” with “get rid of that pride” and encourage “humility”. So let us get together and get simple things done for St. Maarten, where so many people have come because of what St. Maarten has to offer.
By the way, those people who were involved in that accident at the Cole Bay roundabout, in which there was an altercation between them and the driver of the car that bumped into them, should have the proper authorities look into that situation. What if that local driver was a “black” tourist instead, would that Asian-looking person of the other car also refer to that black person as a “nigger”? From what I understood, that Asian-looking person lives here and works in the hospitality trade. In my opinion, that Asian-looking man should not be left to think it is alright to address anyone in a derogatory manner. Especially if you do not know who they are.
I hope if it results that that person should not be here because of the negative impact his behavior could have on our economy, and the minister concerned does that which is correct, there will not be any backlash.
There was a video concerning the traffic situations and also the minister being made out to be a racist. In both of these cases, by, if I got it right, lawyers. Is this going to become a (downward) trend?. Who then can we count on to sell our St. Maarten as “The Friendly Island”? Have we realised that all of us who work in Philipsburg and surroundings, pass each other at least twice a week?
It is time to get together. I prefer honey to vinegar.
Russell A. Simmons
