Dear Editor,
In the paper of November 23 I was elated to read that businesses in the country will no longer be allowed to sell or serve alcohol to minors below the age of 18. I further read that one of the rebuttals was that more police officers will be required to be able to control the adherence to that law. I must admit that my first reaction was “who are these clowns?” But as I read further and, being aware of the situation in the Front and Back Street, I do not know if that was farfetched.
The jewelry stores relatively serve more alcohol to their clients than the restaurants and bars in Philipsburg. I will continue to advocate “out with the old and in with the young,” because this is another case which all those older heads have been knowing this for years.
Many years ago, when I was on patrol during the night shift, there was this youngster staggering across the road as he walked in the direction of St. Peters via the L.B. Scott Road. After stopping him and questioning him we found out that he had been drinking Schlitz beer which he punched out of the soda machine place by the Cul de Sac gasoline station. Not too long after that I noticed that there was no more Schlitz beer available in the soda machines.
I was told between the grapevine that my report in the police log reached the then Lt Governor the deceased Max Pandt who forbid the sale of beer via those machines, because there was no way the police would be able to control the serving of alcohol to minors. Yes, and many of those same older heads who are there today were there then.
I further read that “it is so that to date only the second initiative law by a Member of Parliament to be passed in Parliament since its existence” and I asked myself with what intention was that added to the article? Is this something to celebrate? Since 10-10-’10, only two initiative laws but seven toppling of government and with another one on the horizon. I also read the article on line and asked myself, what does the Lions have to do with the amendment of a law? So I am still confused.
When I worked on Curaçao on two occasions I was nominated for a citation for exceptional duty, but I refused to accept it because I was aware that every day there is some policeman who performs exceptional duties. Everyone in their own way. Beside that, that is what I was paid to do .Police people are called upon to do that which the everyday man is not called upon to do. Similarly the fireman.
So, in reading that article I told myself if I was part of this government I would be ashamed to let people know that only two initiative laws have been passed since 10-10-’10. What have the others been doing for their overblown salaries?
Work on the public transportation. Place bus stop signs in the right places. Do not permit any kind of bus association to dictate for government, and get rid of those bus stop huts which are placed strategically and used to sell commercial ads, only to disrupt traffic a little more than it already is. Change the entrances to tire repair centers which are on the main roads so that the flow of the traffic on the main roads is not constantly impeded by vehicles driving in and out of those tire repair places. Why does the already distraught public continuously have to be hampered in their movement by those who have it?
There is enough very useful work for members of Parliament to do. All they have to do is look up the articles in the Algemene Politie Verordening, drive around the country and there are many laws that could be amended to suit St. Maarten. The MPs asked the people for their vote so that they could do good things for the people, not solely for themselves.
To be ambitious is commendable, just do not be too ambitious.
Russell A. Simmons
