Dear Editor,
Not too long ago I saw a response from our Prime Minster to the Dutch member of Parliament Baudet. I also did not receive what was said well, but … . Yes there is a but. I would have not expressed myelf in a manner which Baudet did, but there has to be a reason why Baudet believes that he is entitled to that kind of attitude towards us. We afforded him that opening. Since 10-10-2010 we have demonstrated what I consider unacceptable behavior on all levels of government. There was a lull for four years and then we went right back to our ignorant and irresponsible behavior, affording every politician of the kingdom of the Netherlands to ridicule us.
Even if there were tons of adjectives I could add to Baudet, that would not take away our shortcomings. The word is “list”. I would always want to be in the list of positives than on the list of negatives. If your name is on a certain list, no matter how you describe it, your name is on that list.
Unless someone proves me wrong the decline in the behavior of the people on St. Maarten began with the change of the government of St. Maarten. The different Ministers who did not know how to handle and maintain discipline would interfere with the maintainance of public order by the police and became enablers. In so doing they would interfere with the police work with all the ensuing consequences. To add to that in mind the behavior in general became more visible with the arrival of a Dutch chief of police who walked all over in uniform with his cap under his arm. There is a saying in Dutch “De kleren maakt de man” which also helped and is still vital in the decline and disregard of law enforcement. I lived through this so I know.
Beside that I constantly have to tell people who ask me why the police officers don’t wear caps anymore, I tell them to ask Chief John, he wears his cap when he is in uniform.
I will end by stating one of my father’s sayings: “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Russell A. Simmons
