Dear Editor,
Let me start by stating that what I’m writing here is totally not against any human gender or sexual preference. For a while now the topic of same-sex marriage is on the table. In the paper of December 27, the first two articles dealt with tragedy and travesty (a false, absurd, distorted explanation of something).
Our past governor just launched his book on Nation Building. I have not read the book, but it has a title which I believe that every literate person understands. When we stick paper together, whether to make the page thicker or the circumference larger, we glue. When we want to put blocks together we use mortar to stick them together. So is it also with nation building. It takes people of all colours and creed.
By now the majority of us know the confusion, the rhetoric, the controversy and all the negative stories surrounding COVID, of which one was “mysterious deaths”.
I am aware that at one time there was talk about compensation for couples if they would extend their families. I worked for government which added “kindertloelage” to the basic salary. On the rim of our guilder is engraved “God zij met ons”. “In God we trust” is printed on the USA bills. Genesis 1:28 tells us what God expected of Adam and Eve. Philipians 3:28 explains the intention of “subdue”. Not too long ago there was a dispute about a priest burying a dead person. So I do not think it would be far-fetched of me to ask why aren’t the churches (worldwide) speaking out against same sex marriage. My question therefore is: “How can we build a nation if we do not replenish with people?”
It is always good to have conversations with serious people. Not too long ago a gentleman told me, “They intend to replace us with robots.” I had to remind him that the cell phone is already far on it’s way to doing this. Of late the term is “Go online”. I constantly ask people if they can envision the consequences of going on line?
I do not think that philanthropy is prime in the minds of money moguls, because 1 Timothy 6:10 tells it all. The more we promote same-sex marriage, the quicker we are going to expedite the extinction of the human race. I am aware that there are a few more questions that people have concerning the negative consequences of same-sex marriage. I hope they would ask them. Which may put a different light on this matter.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
That leads me ultimately to a regrettable point, whether, because of such, the Dutch government, The Hague, will be eventually led into the operations of the management of St. Maarten. I mean, more so than now, becoming a special municipality, like Saba, Statia, and Bonaire.
We or whoever else have to make a concerted choice, and a collective one, to solve our problems or maintain our own particular insular interest with the resulting consequences.
So, as we dilly-dally, people’s lives are being affected drastically. The less we take care of everyone fairly, the better off we will not be. The opposite conversely holds true.
The foundation, the point of departure of taxes, is that it is a collective responsibility, a social contract of sorts, based on equality, where all help to pay for public goods, inclusive, not exclusive. This is done so as to provide public goods, invest in society, those who have a little more will have to help a little more. This is the ethics we should live by. It is a little imbalanced now. When and how it is fixed will take deliberate, concerted, and collective efforts in the right directions.
As part of a community, of a nation, each one has to pay their fair share. “Let me get mine” is contrary to the collective. Each generation is a reflection on the previous, and the current is the foundation for the next and future generations. We have to imagine a St. Maarten beyond what will become of future Tik Tokers and Artificial Intelligencers?
Thus all this leads to the functioning of people, all messed in one, the quality of lives of people, of happiness, freedom, taking care of vulnerable citizens, elderly, unemployed, the living conditions, leisure time, economic security, including the ecological aspects.
So, you have to choose, among many things, and what kind of lives we want to lead and in what kind of society.
In the end, it is not the two-headed monster, but the many-headed monster with tentacles that reach far and wide.
Pedro de Weever
Dear Editor,
Last weekend, a few teachers from some public schools informed me that they were paid 1 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). I was told that some civil servants were remunerated as well. Some teachers from subsidized schools such as Milton Peters, Sundial, Charlotte Brookson, St. Maarten Academy, Seventh Day Adventist, Mac and St. Dominic told me that they did not receive COLA. This feels like discrimination.
Many of the persons I spoke to were incensed and angry. Furthermore, I was also told funds were not sent to school boards to pay the COLA. Many teachers at public schools have also told me that the government still owes them vacation allowance. This mistreatment and different approach to teachers must stop. I thought that all teachers are supposed to be equal? Is there a difference?
By the way, the extra day off is not enough. Teachers should go to school on January 8 2024. All over the Caribbean, this is the case. Even in Dutch islands such as St. Eustatius teachers are slated to return on January 8, 2024.
What message is being sent to teachers at subsidized schools? Are you saying we are nobody or nothing? If you cannot pay all teachers, do not pay none.
Kenneth Cook
Dear Editor,
Within short, before the end of next year and surely not before elections, there will be import taxes to be paid. This is part of the tax reform that the Dutch require, among other proposed changes, ie. drop in income tax. To what degree this is meant to stimulate the local economy is left to be seen. Of course, there are predictions, which include or exclude the effects of the French (northern) side.
The tax system – a public and collective community service, entangled in economic development, investment, employment, informal economy, amongst other factors are all intertwined within the public sector, businesses and the political within and related to the global (capitalistic) system – is quite the complicated structure that faces obstacles, avoidances, evasions, challenges, and ultimately: interest.
Society is regulated by taxes. No one sector or factor should influence the equilibrium of the tax system where the interest of the few supersedes the collective. If so, imbalance and chaos will ensue. The other sectors suffer. So, the more we adhere to a fair, balanced, ethical, moral, equal, mutually dependent, inclusive, compliant, sustainable, effective and efficient tax system, the better for all of us.
While we try to aim towards these idea(l)s of a fair tax system, there must be the realization of being able to pay for the many public services we enjoy or don’t get to enjoy. No doubt, there is a link to the parity and accountability of the tax system. They are intimately related. Taxes need to be paid by everyone fairly and squarely so that the community in general are provided a decent life by the government providing pubic goods: education, health care, pension, social services, infrastructure – roads, cleaning up, the police, fire, and ambulance departments, hurricane damage, etc.
Though costs are associated with these public services, they are only supplementary and not sufficient. Once this happens, public services are cut, and the public feels it in many ways.
The difference in what it takes to run the country vs what the government collects in taxes, there should not be a large discrepancy.
Between the two extremes of the private jets and mega-yachts, there are the sins to pay for. By only with the governments’ not playing matchmaker, the country moves forward.
This is no accident.
Pedro de Weever
Dear Editor,
I simply cannot understand why people keep allowing themselves to be used and fooled by people who continue to enrich themselves but do not help them.
I saw a quote from a post I was reading and I think immediately on the electorate of St. Maarten. It was like it was tailor-made for the people living in St. Maarten.
Here is the quote: “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
Whether it’s a family, military, or country, leadership is responsible for the direction of the organization and the actions of the group.
When you have weak leaders, corrupt leaders, and leaders that have values that God disapproves of, you know a hard time is here and will continue.
Do not be a fool, a person’s lifestyle and character are about 80 percent of leadership. You can be educated, but if you are weak and cannot stand for what is right, you already fail.
It is very hypocritical that many political parties say a prayer before they start their public meeting when in their party you have people of a lifestyle God disapproves of.
We have atheists, homosexuals and LGBTQ in many parties who are talking about equality for all.
We should be concerned about teaching our children good values, respecting people and being good citizens to set the right example for others.
God made a man to be a man, not a woman, and a woman to be a woman, not to be a man. When we are afraid to teach people the truth it proves we are weak people.
Weak people vote for people who will oppress them because they deceive themselves in a false equality, which is in reality evil.
Worse yet, 90 percent of the churches are good for nothing, their concern is how can we make the world love us more instead of showing the world how God made us to live.
Education does not stop crime and murder, but education can make you a better criminal and a murderer and also a better lawyer, it is the choices you use your education for.
The human nature is corrupt and has a problem only God can fix.
That problem is sin. When you elect people who are proud of a lifestyle that God forbid, you are welcoming evil to establish in the highest levels of government.
When they get into power they will promote and enforce that lifestyle in the country they lead. We get the government we deserve.
First, we overlook evil, then we permit evil, then we legalize evil, then we celebrate evil, and then we persecute those who still call it evil.
Conclusion: The reprobate mind is in the highest level of government, that is what we have done and will continue to do. Using our right to vote to our demise.
We are going to feel it.
The patriot Miguel Arrindell
