Dear Editor,
I read about the traffic accident at the back of the police station between a bus and a motorcycle in which it was stated that the bus was responsible for the cause of the accident. Let me start by stating this.
The way the exit of that parking lot is laid out and the fact that there is a roundabout within fifty meters of the exit of the parking lot, no one exiting that parking lot should attempt to make a left turn leaving that parking lot. So in my opinion either the exit should be altered or an arrow should be painted on the ground by the exit indicating obligated to turn right and a traffic sign indicating no left turn.
Now this. In no form or fashion can I feel good knowing that someone was hurt in any accident, but I continue to state that in any accident in which a motorcycle is involved it is always the occupant of motorcycle who is hurt, the rest is material damage, which again is in this case.
When I ask what has happened to those sayings from our parents and grandparents, I am told that parents have to be careful, because children are told that they have rights. Some people try to get away with “You can make the child, but you can't make its mind.” But I am standing firm with Proverbs 13:24. If I am responsible for you I am responsible for your upbringing.
I can remember my mother asking a lady many years ago, who commented on the way my mother was punishing me, “Are you ready to give me your good child for my bad child?” It took me years to understand what my mother meant.
Now this. What I know is that it is for years now that we are aware of what the liveable wage on St. Maarten is and that no matter who is in power in the government nothing has changed. On the contrary, things have gotten worse. Proof is the Governor's New Year’s remarks. The consequences of this is that parents have to do more than one job to make ends meet. Yes I wrote “ends” because it is not “to make it” but literally to make ends meet.
The Customs should be able to tell us who are the main importers of food and also let government know why is it (or not) justified that every day, I repeat every day at least the price of one (food) product is increased by US $0.25 in the supermarkets managed by foreign nationals. I mentioned managed, because a whole lot of permits for supermarkets were issued to locals, who in turn contract foreign nationals to manage their business in a skillful manner.
In closing I would appreciate if we all would read the Governor’s New Year’s message.
Russell A. Simmons
