Dear Editor,
My first reaction was “really”. My intention was to say hello to my fellow officers from Class I of 1965, whom I met with for the first time on January 4, 1965. That was one of the best if not the best decision I made in my life.
But when I read that the Ministers have to look for a solution for the protesters against the design of the number plates for 2019 it completely changed my demeanor.
I am not taking away anyone’s freedom of opinion, all I am doing is making use of mine in a hopefully what will be considered a civil way.
I will go out on a limb and dare to declare that I am sure that more than 90 percent of the indigenous St. Maarteners are for promoting whatever is beneficial for the economy of St. Maarten. No, not a dictator, a firm believer, so whoever are against that design, which is to promote St. Maarten, the same St. Maarten which for umpteen years has had Carnival and has attracted and eventually welcomed many of those same protesters, follow my suggestion and put down or put up their motor vehicles. And to add to that – motor vehicles which they could not afford to have before coming here.
That is not sarcasm, that is fact.
For years I have been saying, “Come, but come and behave and do not try to change things here, because what we have is what attracted you.”
No, I am not being hypocritical. I know that I am known for being outspoken towards government, but that same Carnival is a source of the income of some of those who are against the design of the plates. Thousands of would-be visitors were in dismay last year because as a consequence of Irma they could not get to St. Maarten during the Carnival period.
There are lot more things against which those same people who do not want the design on the number plate can protest, but we do not hear not even a whisper.
Who speaks out or identifies the pedophiles, the parents who have sex with their own children, etc. Is not it so that several of those protesters become conveniently blind to these activities?
What about those who want their same-sex marriage to be blessed in the church? Can we compare that to a design promoting the country?
I was always taught when I am ready to protest, I must have a solution or better suggestion for what I am protesting against. So if they want to impede the promotion of a historical event they should come up with a solution which will also be lucrative for St. Maarten. So, who is without fault throw the first stone.
Talking about number plates, while I am here writing this letter someone called me and asked me if I read the piece on the Carnival number plates and then told me that there are a lot cars on the road with old French number plates. The government on the French side not too long ago also spoke out against the illegal use of the French number plates.
Two things: I would suggest to the Judicial department to take that law against the use of cell phone while operating a vehicle on the road off the books. By now they should know why. Secondly, I would suggest to the Ministers involved, do not even be diplomatic about it.
Who do not want the plates with that design for 2019, put down or put up their motor vehicle. Under normal circumstances when they don’t have a car, the will use another kind of transportation, taxi, bus, neighbor, truck, etc., all of which will have the Carnival design on them. Reason is because I really do not believe that government is going to succumb to this. No deal, and no extra expenditures nor extra burden on the police.
Already the whole alphabet is covered by the different categories motor vehicles. Do we need another one to accommodate some what I consider unreasonable people?
We have “In God we trust” and “God zij met ons” on our moneys, but we permit them to forbid us from educating our children about God in school. So, which is it?
One should not cut off the nose to spite the face.
Russell A. Simmons
