Dear Editor,
Nothing happens on Sint Maarten that is kept a complete secret. I do not know what SMCU did not know, but I can put my head on the block and declare that SMCU knew something not so pleasant was going on in TelEm.
On the day that it was published in the paper, I was on my way to pay my bill at TelEm. I picked up the paper and when I read the headline, I said to myself I hope they don't walk out before I can get a chance to pay. To my surprise everybody was working diligently. One of the employees told me they are hearing something like that, but they are not sure yet. "But it is written in the paper, how is it possible that you don't know anything about it?" "You know how it is.” “No, I do not know how it is. You are working in here, you should know how it is."
I have to admit I was wishing that everybody en bloc, in a quiet manner, would have walked out and stood in front of the building until they got some kind of an explanation of what would be the consequence of what is going on. The Justice workers striked (unjustly) even after the then Minister of Justice embarked on a mission which was left unattended for more than ten years, and we all know what she got for it. Even though I maintain that police do not strike, at least they let the government know that they were not content with how they were treated.
Since March the people in SMCU knew what was going on and only now after the damage is done they are writing letters to you. Are you the mediator? When it is time to gossip and use foul language via social media, everybody is first and foremost. But now that it is something which I believe directly concerns them, I'm reading a letter to you. What would they have done if you made use of your prerogative to print or not to print and did not print?
Again that for me so dreaded habit of 'to lay and wait' raises its ugly head. Also I do not believe that the average age of the people that were sent home is more than 55. So who is going to do what about those families? I am so waiting for the screening process to successfully come to an end, because since the Silveria Jacobs government was the worst and government continues, whichever new government comes in now should be better for this situation. I just hope that we will find some dedicated people and not incompetent friends.
Pudding is well known to Sint Maarteners, so I believe I would not be far off if I should say, "The proof is in the pudding."
Russell A. Simmons
