Dear Editor,
A few months ago I wrote you a letter which I realized you opted not to print and as usual that prerogative remains yours. Even though I think the people were short-changed.
Because of what we do, people in government and the police have become fair game, while those businesspeople who are known to buy themselves into and out of almost everything are, as it were, spared the public scrutiny. The results of all this is that 50 to 60 thousand people on merely 16 square miles of land are administered as if the country was so big that so many things have to go unnoticed.
I have always remarked that our road infrastructure has not changed and very few roads have been added,. Along with all that, nothing has been done with those bottlenecks which are the only connection between above and below the hill. Today I got one text and two calls concerning the traffic congestion over A.J.C. Brouwer Road and Alexis Arnell Road and traffic was also moving at a walking pace over the Link One Phase Two.
I was getting into my car after checking out the Christmas trees at Kooyman when I received another text concerning the traffic congestion. That person texted me stating that she was getting frustrated and decided to text me because she can remember me having written about the traffic situation several times. I reminded her that she was in traffic and should not be texting. “Which traffic? The traffic is not even moving.” So again I will repeat, we urgently need to revise the public transportation ordinance and we also urgently need to limit the random import of motor vehicles.
I mention random because I am sure that no consideration is taken with the road infrastructure, when permitting whomever to import those oversized heavy equipment. And so, the drivers do not care about the regular traffic because all of them conduct themselves in traffic as if saying, “Hit into me if you dare.” They literally ignore the traffic rules because of lack of control. You know what I am referring to because several articles concerning reckless behavior in traffic appear in this newspaper.
The car dealers and the car parts business owners are the ones who are profiting from this. And it has become so bad that more and more the motor vehicle owners are not even repairing the damage anymore because there is no control, which in my days the Control Unit used to have under control.
Car-pooling is something I also referred to over the years. I have made it my business to monitor the traffic Belvedere-Simpson Bay and St. Peters-Simpson Bay. Eight out of every 10 cars are occupied by only the driver. Eighty percent of the cars are used only by the driver. Because of the difference in working hours, a great deal of homes have more than one car.
It is more than high time that rich, middle class and poor be administered in a way that everyone is able to have a relaxed and not anxious life. After all, we are only 50 to 60 thousand people on 16 square miles of land with a billion dollar economy. Wow, that is totally mismanagement!
I once had a similar conversation with my father. “Disobedience and total lack of love” was his answer to that question. During the conversation he said to me, “What is the use of so many churches in St. Maarten and 70 per cent of the people are existing with less than a liveable salary? Yes, below the poverty line. You yourself have been going to church since you were a child, you should know that there are several places in the Bible where sharing is mentioned. He gave certain people plenty because He expected them to share, but their greed exceeded the love and they refused to share. This greed was converted into the lust for power and the rest is history.”
I know that we cannot talk about the lack of legislation because the laws are all there.
Now this. Over the years I know for a fact that when things are going in favor of some people, whether it is good or bad, as long as it is smooth sailing, no problem. As soon as the boat starts to rock, they look for someone to blame. As long as you are making a living off the sea, you are expected to endure what the sea offers.
I read, “Government’s involvement in pageants”. Actually, I read it twice to make sure I understood where the writer was coming from. I was surprised that it was not in defense of government. I have on many occasions said, written, insinuated, hinted about the lack of government protection of the people, so it would be hypocritical of me not to show appreciation when, no matter whether insignificant or not, government steps up to the plate for us.
I know that too often especially businesspeople do things behind the back of government and get away with it (I will refrain from giving examples) so that it has practically become a way of life. The result of that is that too often the people of St. Maarten have to hear that their country is corrupt. And that is the responsibility of the government. So let me repeat what I have stated on many occasions: “Everything anybody does on St. Maarten, whether bad or good, is the responsibility of the government of St. Maarten.” From accident to zigzag and potholes in between.
I do not know what the requisites are to be able to participate or represent St. Maarten abroad in pageants, but my sense of patriotism obliged me to wonder also. Kudos, MP [Member of Parliament – Ed.]Emmanuel. Did not Mr. Ferron, who definitely has an idea about flags, see that young lady flaunting the St. Maarten flag? That is definitely the responsibility of the government of St. Maarten,
Russell A. Simmons
