Dear Editor,

I made the conscious decision not to run in the January 2024 election, to the disappointment of a number of my supporters. I stepped away because I wanted to reflect on my contribution over the last four years because I knew intrinsically that there was a need for change; I needed to change, the structures needed to change, the country needed to change. In the meantime I returned happily to my non-profit work in the community, on the ground where so much great work happens, because at the end of the day I see myself as a public servant whether in or out of Government.

When the Government fell, after just 17 days, I had to ask myself if I was still willing to stay out of the political arena when it seemed like the country needed all hands on deck. Not for my ego but in the name of service.

After speaking with those closest to me, who reminded me of my passion for St. Maarten, I told myself that now was not the time to watch from the sidelines but to roll back up my sleeves – to get back to work. I joined the Party for Progress, proudly, and committed to doing the very best I could during this campaign season.

I was speaking to a young woman recently who asked me, “What can you tell me that I haven’t already heard before?” I smiled and said, “You’re right! What can I tell you?” What other words can I use to relay the importance of voting for a party built on the principles of transparency and accountability? How do I try to convince you that the most important thing you can do is get up on August 19, pick up your voting card and go to your polling station and vote for the competent, experienced and honest professionals like myself on the PFP, the 8^th party on the ballot?

Because of the current state of our country, the next Parliament and Government will have to work harder than ever before to begin solving the complex issues plaguing our people. As a voter, your choice will determine who those people are! And I’ll say this, you wouldn’t hire an electrician to fix your plumbing right? Vote for someone who has the expertise, knowledge, integrity and heart to lead this country out of this dark time.

There’s a quote by Nobel Peace Prize journalist Maria Ressa that goes; “Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without all three, we have no shared reality, and democracy as we know it – and all meaningful human endeavors – are dead.” The facts are that our country and people are being compounded by multiple crises; energy, health, education and infrastructure. We are suffering because of the decisions that were made years ago but also because of a lack of urgency and action. We must take responsibility for that. We have to own our faults.

And so now we are a nation that is being forced to look at itself in the mirror; to admit to where we went wrong and to create a clear, sustainable plan forward. But how do we rewrite the narrative about who we have become? Well, we can decide that we will start by no longer selling our vote or throwing away our voting card.

We can decide that, at this very moment, even though we are sleep-deprived and upset, we will not give up hope on the country we love so much. I didn’t give up and I’m asking you not to either, for all our sakes.

Solange Ludmila Duncan

Candidate #11

Party for Progress

Dear Editor,

Operating utility companies like GEBE is a relatively difficult management challenge. With most companies (NV’s) the challenge is to make a profit. In the case of a state-owned enterprise like GEBE, the focus is less on making a profit but more on other things. Like all companies it is the shareholder who ultimately determines the direction of the company, and in the case of GEBE the question is what guidance was given to supervisory boards and management. GEBE has a wide range of tasks. They have to produce power and water and also have to manage the distribution.

In the case of water, they have private sector producers who have deep experience in the business of desalination production so their risk is reduced.

In the case of power production they are all on their own and there is only one way of producing it; by running large engines which have a huge capital cost and are not quickly replaceable. The greatest company mission is to keep meeting demand.

My guess is that the focus of the shareholder was mostly on job creation, employee contentment and there was little focus by the shareholder on the risk of not meeting demand in spite of the fact that demand increase was likely to grow rapidly as construction was stimulated in an effort to keep growth in the economy. It’s just a guess though!

The production of power requires long forward planning and financing. There is only one method of producing and to upgrade this method requires a long lead time.

With the lack of transparency that exists in state-owned companies in our system we will never know whether the need for the forward planning was done by the operators of GEBE, nor how it was responded to by the shareholder.

It would give the population confidence in our future if non-political entities with experience in the utility sector and particularly power production could investigate and provide insight into the circumstances that led the country down the path that led to the load shedding and disruption that is being experienced.

Robbie Ferron

Dear Editor,

Allow me to address MP Kevin Maingrette, with the hope that he would give some consideration to the content of this article. MP Maingrette, shortly after you returned from Brazil in May of this year, you stood up in parliament and apologized to your colleagues and the public for breaking the government, which has resulted in new elections.

You declared that you were led astray, and vowed to make “it” right, but nothing has materialised since. Besides this brave move (to apologize), which I commend you for, and your inaugural speech, you always seem so lost and uneasy. The end of your tenure as an MP is fast approaching. When will you let the public in on what really transpired, so you can make peace with yourself?

Election is slated for this coming Monday, August 19, 2024. MP Maingrette, seeing that you have not postulated yourself on any party, what do you envisioned your day to be like, besides casting your vote for the candidate of your choice? Would you allow those who tricked you into breaking the government enjoy the ride, while you are left out in the cold?

No, MP Maingrette! You have to expose them, otherwise this behaviour will continue and it’s not fair to the voters. Have you taken a good look at the tape when you stood up in parliament and apologized to your colleagues and the general public for your mistake? Every single MP who sat behind you was extremely nervous, because they had no idea what you were going to say.

Some bowed their heads in shame and started playing with their phones, while the others whispered to each other, just to cover up their nervousness. They were hoping and praying that you did not say anything to indict them, but their faces told the whole story.

Regardless of what transpired after, why let them get away, to repeat this malicious cycle of greed and entitlement? Perhaps I missed it, but why didn’t you give an exclusive interview at a radio station of your choice and expose them? You denied taking bribes, and so I assumed that you were just naive and allowed yourself to be fooled.

You have broken the trust of many, but all is not lost MP Maingrette. Since you know the full story of the Brazil escapade, why don’t you consider writing a book entitled “Blindsided, Railroaded and Left in the Dust?” How about it, MP?

Sometimes, when people display their bad intentions, with the expectations to score substantially, all you have to do is flip the coin, and beat them at their own game.

Joslyn Morton

Dear Editor,

This election has brought forward candidates driven by self-interest and hatred, unlike any previous elections. I cannot claim to be optimistic when reality reflects pessimism.

It seems that people are being misled into believing that education alone qualifies one for political leadership, which is not entirely true.

In St. Maarten, political parties seem to lack strong ideological foundations and appear to be driven more by personal preferences rather than principled ideologies.

For instance, it is perplexing to see individuals swiftly switching from one party to another within three months without any apparent alignment with a particular set of values or ideologies.

Political ideologies represent a set of interconnected beliefs concerning political theory and social policy.

I am eager to understand the distinctions between the NA, UPP, and SAM political parties, as well as the disparities between DP, PFP, and URSM. Furthermore, I am interested in comprehending the differences between NOW and ECE.

Specifically, I seek an understanding of each party’s ideology, and the basis on which they consider themselves the most suitable political entity to lead, taking into account their policies and principles.

It is crucial to comprehend what the people of St. Maarten value, be it Christianity, homosexuality, or a more liberal or conservative approach. While I acknowledge that abortion and homosexuality are legally and socially sanctioned within our European parliamentary system, I am keen to understand whether they align with the core values of St. Maarten. Moreover, I am interested in knowing the stances of the political parties on these issues.

The moral character of a political party is of paramount importance, regardless of individual opinions.

Therefore, it is imperative to know where each party stands on moral issues. Candidates should not be supported without a clear understanding of their stance.

I firmly believe that a candidate’s qualifications should not solely be based on educational achievements. A person with numerous master’s degrees may not be fit to lead if they exhibit immoral behavior, such as being a criminal or engaging in activities like pedophilia or bestiality.

Clarity is needed on why certain immoral acts are deemed acceptable while others are condemned, and who is responsible for making such determinations.

It is the right of the electorate to be informed of the candidates' positions on key issues. This transparency is fundamental to the democratic process.

Unfortunately, the media in St. Maarten seem reticent in their role to question candidates about their ideologies and moral standings, contributing to the chaos in St.Maarten.

In conclusion, I urge the electorate to demand transparency from political candidates.

We must insist on knowing why they align with a particular party and what values drive them.

We need the brutal truth. Understanding may be uncomfortable, but it is essential to gauge the authenticity of their beliefs.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell