Dear Editor,
The people of Sint Maarten deserve to know the stance of the Sint Maarten Christian Party on the various issues plaguing the country. In particular, since the latest unpopular statements made by the party’s sole representative in Parliament, MP Claude “Chacho” Peterson, in regard to using the World Bank recovery funds allocated to assist the people of this country, to build the new Parliament Building instead.
This statement shocked the entire community and caused quite some consternation in other parts of the Kingdom.
After the remarks made in the Parliament by the MP, I received many calls and was on many occasions stopped on the street by concerned citizens, questioning my stance on the statements made by the MP of the Christian Party.
Most persons while expressing their concerns stated that it is bad enough already that this so-called Recovery fund has done anything but help them recover from anything, as the majority are still just as roofless as they were one and a half years ago after being struck by the storm, and are still awaiting word as to when, if ever, the people of this country will be receiving the much promised assistance to especially put roofs on their houses, among many other pressing matters.
These persons expressed that to make matters worse now, a seemingly out of sync Member of Parliament who, according to them, the people of this country did not even elect, who is just lucky to be sitting there after some reshuffling took place, shows how clueless he is in regard to the actual plight of the people of this country. The MP sits in the house of Parliament, and suggests that out of the money set aside by the World Bank to assist the people get back on their feet; 145 million should instead be used to build a new state-of-the-art Parliament Building.
I admonish the relevant MP and many other colleagues in Parliament, to prepare properly for meetings before coming to deliberate the issues, as not doing so, this would only cause for MPs to speak things that suddenly pop into their heads and cause them to fantasize or philosophize in the middle of serious deliberations concerning the people's business, to eventually say that they were only joking and it was a little bit of sarcasm that they used.
I strongly condemn what took place in Parliament; a Member of Parliament subjecting himself to sarcastically joking while deliberating serious topics of concern to the people of the country is disrespectful and definitely not funny. Especially, when dealing with a nation that is already fragile due to the rough economic times.
The duty of Members of Parliament is to restore a sense of security and trust, while handling the issues in such a manner, that it creates confidence and peace among the people and not restlessness.
Great concerns came from our biggest Kingdom partner, stemming from the now unpopular comments of the SMCP’s Member of Parliament. As much as I appreciate any outsider looking out for the people of this country, I’m amazed and wonder why it is that with so many different persons and entities mentioning the fact that so many people on Sint Maarten are still roofless, that absolutely nothing is being done to remedy this situation.
With all the talk by those in the various positions, on Sint Maarten as well as in The Netherlands, all it boils down to is just talk and nothing else, as the people in the meantime continue to remain roofless among other things. When will something be done to alleviate this serious situation?
Once again I demand that the Council of Ministers give the people clear answers, as they need answers now. Many persons claimed that the mold of one year and a half is now destroying what was left of their houses. It is also feared that by the time whatever help finally arrives, the remainder of their houses will all be destroyed, especially with mold, or be rotted from the amount of time exposed to sun and rain, causing them to need much more than just a roof.
Many persons claim to have attempted to temporarily assist friends or family members after the storm, and are now, one and a half year later, basically “stuck” with these persons due to the fact that no matter how hard they’ve tried, there is just no affordable housing available. Moreover, to top this off, for them to hear a Member of Parliament suggest that the funds allocated to help them should be used to build a Parliament Building, is just plain absurd.
I call on all Members of Parliament and the Council of Ministers not to forget the people of this country, but to live up to the promises made to them, which is to give them top representation and to put them first in everything.
It is an undisputed shame that the people of this country still find themselves in such deplorable situations, especially after all the promises made by this Council of Ministers, who proclaimed after the storm that the immediate change of government was necessary, and that they would immediately alleviate and remedy the crisis situations that existed.
Well, the people are still waiting to this date. All that they have seen so far is the constant reports of Ministers flying or sailing all over the globe, supposedly with the pretext of getting things done for the people. My question is then “Which people?” as, from the feedback I receive from our people; the majority of them are not being helped.
This government needs to get their act together and set their priorities straight.
I will always put the people of this country first, because that is what I was elected to do.
Egbert J. Doran
Member of Parliament St. Maarten
