Dear Editor,
When politicians erase God from their lives, they become so off-centered that they openly manipulate the fundamental principles that they once respected. This depraved behaviour is now rooted in their character, as displayed by their unwillingness to listen to the views of the people, which has ultimately led to the erosion of true democracy.
Never in the history of this country have the people witnessed such neglect from this Council of Ministers, who prior to taking office, pledged to be different, and work in the best interest of the people. Nothing substantial has materialised from this four-year nightmare but gross incompetence, scandals, lies, court cases, self-interest, disregard for the High Councils of State, and a total disrespect for the people.
Due to this “don’t care” attitude towards the population, they speak to us how they want, when they want, and in a manner that questions their actual level of education. Their style of dialogue is so shocking that it is difficult to believe that this Council of Minsters has acquired academic degrees. But, in today’s world, everything is up for sale, and so anything is possible.
The Council of Ministers is the unit, but the one minister with whom I’m deeply disappointed is Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs. This discontent occupies my mind constantly, which leads me to this nagging question every single time: Is she the teacher that I thought I knew, or is she a photocopy that got altered during the process?
St. Maarten has been thrust into a very dark period of its history. As I watch and analyse the political situation of the country, I’m forced to recollect my thoughts and revisit my notes of Dr. Myles Munroe, when he visited the island some years ago. He was invited to speak to the leaders at the time. Curious to hear his message, I attended the services every night, in Cole Bay.
I’m not sure who invited him but night after night I took notes (mostly mental, but some written) because his message resonated with me then, and will always be, as it gave me the blueprint as what to look for in leaders of any country. I’m going to paraphrase, but the continuation of this article will represent the core thoughts of Dr. Myles Munroe, based on my recollection and brief notes.
I can recall when he mentioned that true leadership is about self-manifestation. What does this mean? It means that true leadership is about exhibiting one’s true self. The question is: What characteristics of themselves are leaders displaying? He went on to say that leadership is not to maintain followers, but to produce leaders to take their place.
My attention was amplified when he said, “Leadership is not a pursuit of power, position, title or authority. It is a result of self-discovery.” As he continued with his message, he indicated that God loves an honest heart and that leaders do not seek followers. Instead, followers are attracted to true leaders. They are not necessarily attracted to them, but to the gift that is being exhibited.
In essence, “Leadership is an attraction. Attraction is inspiration, produced by leaders’ passion to serve their gift.” So, true leaders do not force their people to follow them. Instead, they take pleasure in serving their gift and the people will follow, because they are not particularly interested in the leaders, but rather in the gift.
When leaders find their passion, they pursue it with perseverance and serve the world with it, and this keeps them humble. “True leaders stay in tune with themselves because their ability to lead depends on their attitude that is derived from their self-image, their self-worth and their self-esteem.”
Real leaders imposed self-discipline; which signifies that they are always improving themselves. Whatever they do in the dark, they can do it in the light. So, when leaders fall in morality, it’s because they have no self-discipline. Once leaders lose that self-discipline, they have no right to discipline anybody else, and they have lost the right to lead.
Therefore, leadership is not a right that leaders demand. It is a privilege that the followers have given them. So, the only device that leaders have to work with is trust. Hence, when politicians violate the trust that the people have bestowed upon them, then their services become null and void.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
The Board of the United People’s (UP) party strongly condemns the malicious rhetoric and disingenuous statements peddled by individuals willing to deceive the people of St. Maarten for their gain. It is crucial to address these actions that serve as a distraction from the real issues facing our nation.
The Board has taken note of the various levels of slander, gossip, and dishonesty perpetuated by individuals, some of whom have thankfully severed ties with the United People’s party. The UP party is a party of inclusion and firmly believes in giving life to truth. We must guide our new and seasoned candidates in their political decision-making. Still, we also respect their ability to make the final decisions, which is a vital aspect of our democratic belief.
As one of the most significant political parties contesting the upcoming election and a party likely to secure the majority of seats in Parliament, we have had to carefully weigh the offers from opportunists and individuals with a genuine desire to work hard to improve the lives of the people of Sint Maarten. Our history shows that we have had former candidates who have served in one of our Cabinets, and we believe in providing opportunities for those who genuinely wish to serve.
During this election cycle, we have witnessed attacks on various individuals, including those holding public office. It is essential to underline that, despite our policy differences, their offices represent the people of St. Maarten and should always be respected. The United People’s party supports any individual or group that engages in issues that impact the people of Sint Maarten and provides a platform for the voices of the people to be heard. This principle is at the core of the UP party's foundation.
We cannot, however, condone the blatant attacks on individuals and their families supported by some of our candidates. Unfortunately, some individuals, given the opportunity to serve, have let the allure of power and the offer of 30 pieces of silver cloud their judgment. They have used their positions for personal gain and need to remember their promises to serve the people of Sint Maarten.
The party takes these matters seriously. Other concerns include allegations that one candidate was caught on camera forging the signature of a Chinese national who had been requesting a vending license. When it was alleged that he was feeding information to a particular individual in the community who was slandering government officials and citizens, we confronted him. When the truth surfaced, and we learnt he had signed a contract with a promise to have the individual as an advisor within a cabinet, we helped him get out of the contract.
Only after an attempt to collect money from this individual who wanted to endorse him, when he learnt there was no money, did the candidate try to reverse his position. We said to change your position, you have to make a public statement via radio, and he was unwilling to come clean with the truth and decided to go elsewhere.
Similarly, another candidate who held a political appointment first within VSA lacked commitment to their responsibilities and was asked to leave. We gave him a second opportunity, yet this individual repeatedly failed to report to work for extended periods, citing various reasons, such as sickness and other engagements.
On multiple occasions, they called the office to say they were sick while attending Court of First Instance sessions to defend clients, engaging in two jobs simultaneously. He took a vacation and did not return to work and had to be contacted by the office, at which point he asked to be excused for a short period. Four months have passed with him being paid in full without the Minister knowing if or when he will return.
It was only after four months of waiting and noticing his unwillingness to be truthful about his plans that the minister reluctantly decided to move on from him.
The people who have chosen to resign from the party have done so because the United Peoples party did not capitulate to their unreasonable demands. As a Board, we have given the individuals in question opportunities to correct themselves, and we have, in one particular candidate’s case, made it clear that as a political party, we are not in support of the slander and attacks against other individuals within our community or government.
We are proud to introduce a new generation of leaders and candidates, full of youth and energy. We are committed to promoting honesty and truth as the most essential principles for our candidates. We will no longer permit individuals to join our party solely because it is easier to secure a parliamentary seat only to abandon the people’s trust in favor of personal interests.
Our Leader and Deputy Leader have dedicated the past four years to rectifying a decade of inactivity. With the support of the people, we intend to continue on this path, taking St. Maarten back to the level it deserves – one where everyone prospers and grows.
To the naysayers, we assert that the United People’s party is here to stay, and those who have had deals for months and have been peddling information to “loud mouths” in hopes of money and power are gone. We will not allow anyone to undermine our mission. Running the party is the responsibility of the people who support it. If individuals decide to leave, it will be because they do not align with our party’s principles.
Our goal is clear – to have electable, hard-working candidates contest the election, capable of delivering on the promise of a better way of life, an improved tourism economy, and enhanced healthcare, education, and social development programs that the people of St. Maarten can be proud of. We are determined to return Mullet Bay to the people, redevelop our airport into the flagship of the Caribbean, and revamp our harbor, thus reducing our dependence on external forces.
St. Maarten deserves better, and the United People’s party is committed to delivering that better future. We stand with the people, united in our mission to bring prosperity and independence to our beloved nation.
It is time for progress, and we cannot be independent if we cannot be independent as one nation under God, so we must move forward together under the uniting banner of the United People’s party.
Board of the United People’s party
Over the past few weeks, we are confronted almost daily with the shameful ENNIA issues, in which the CBCS (Central Bank) is equally to blame as the regulator. A commissioner who raked in a lot of money, actually many commissioners who raked in money and show no responsibility.
One Prime Minister who apparently finds it too difficult to speak in Parliament, a former Prime Minister with an “I didn’t know” attitude, another former Prime Minister who has never done anything about poverty, with the CMC disaster/failure on her record.
As the icing on the cake, we have tax exemptions for C-Post, ABC Bus Company, Landsloterij (Lottery), government-owned companies with well-paid executives, and we keep going from one disaster to another.
Why don’t our leaders take a look in the mirror, doesn’t life consist of just making money at the expense of the population and facilitating Friends and Family by constantly giving each other jobs? Permanent Secretaries who have been in the same positions for decades. How crazy are we here? Everywhere we find the same figures on Boards of Directors.
Apart from Curaçao, quo vadis, now Netherlands, why didn’t you pay better attention too, with all due respect to Ms. Van Huffelen, but she is actually a complete disgrace.
To be continued then.
J. Martina, Curaçao
By Alex Rosaria
A tall and slender lady clothed in all white captivated the attention of many as she elegantly entered the voting center in Curaçao to cast her vote in the Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary elections to choose a unity candidate for the presidential elections next year. As she dropped the ballot in the assigned box, she conspicuously made the sign of the cross, looked up as if waiting for a celestial sign, and walked away, visibly absorbed in thought.
In stark contrast, many who had already voted but decided to hang around outside the voting center were merrily sharing the early results available on social media, due to time difference, in Australia, Spain and France where hordes of voters turned up to vote for Mrs. María Corina Machado, one of the more than 10 opposition candidates.
Others were slamming President Maduro who they said shamefully boycotted the primaries in Venezuela by arbitrarily shutting down voting centers based on technicalities, cutting off electricity and prohibiting public transportation to and from certain voting areas. “This is how you kill democracies,” an older man opined.
At the end of the day Mrs. Machado tallied, according to results that are not yet official, 96 percent of all the votes in Curaçao.
Mrs. Machado is a politician from the most radical wing of the right and one of the most critical voices against Chavismo and the Miraflores Palace. Despite the fact that she received a commanding 90+ percent share of the vote according to the Associated Press, and seems to have united the opposition, it’s not certain that Mrs. Machado will be able to challenge Mr. Maduro, the incumbent, who is widely believed to seek another term at elections expected to be held in the second half of 2024. After all, on June 30 2023, Venezuela’s comptroller general announced Mrs. Machado would be banned from seeking public office due to her support of international sanction against Mr. Maduro’s government.
It is unclear what will happen if Mrs. Machado is barred from running in 2024. Will the U.S. and allies jump into action even though the Biden Administration has so far been wavering at best when dealing with Latin America and the Caribbean?
Will the opposition, including Mrs. Machado, be willing to rally behind an alternate candidate should one be chosen? Will the opposition continue to challenge Mr. Maduro with elections, or will it again turn to protests and violence even though these have shown not to have had an effect in the past?
Will the people be going back to the street and embolden the opposition? Or, will this cause fresh fissures among the many political actors and set this rare opposition unity adrift, which would play nicely into the hand of Mr. Maduro?
Even if Mrs. Machado is able to run, and win the presidential elections, the question remains if Venezuela is better off having an authoritarian at the helm with views defended by the unrestrained expressions of the national right, the so-called “MAGAzuelans”. Many consider her to be the only salvation for their country, but will she be able to fulfill her promises of change whilst Venezuelan institutions are indoctrinated by Chavismo and stuffed with Chavistas?
Let’s not forget how Nicaraguan Mrs. Violeta de Barrios Chamorro was unable to do much during her presidency (1990-1997) because the most important institutions (Police, Army, Justice, and Courts, among others) were still in the hands of the defeated Sandinismo of Mr. Daniel Ortega Saavedra. The Venezuelan opposition is advised to curb its enthusiasm and realize that durable change is possible, but takes time and should be an inclusive process.
Who knows, maybe these questions were also playing in the head of the slim lady in white who left the voting center consumed with doubts. Justifiably so, I would say.
~ Alex Rosaria served as accredited observer to the primary elections in Willemstad, Curaçao, on October, 22, 2023. ~
Dear Fellow Citizens of St. Maarten,
Recent news about an increase in the minimum wage led many to believe that positive changes were on the horizon. However, a closer look reveals that this may not be the straightforward solution it initially seemed. We must address the rising prices in supermarkets that are affecting the cost of living. It is vital that we, as a community, are aware of these developments.
Minimum wage increase
We commend the initiative to raise the minimum wage. It can improve the lives of many hardworking individuals and families in St. Maarten. Yet, we must also acknowledge that this change alone may not be the comprehensive solution we hoped for.
Rising supermarket prices
Unfortunately, the impact of a minimum wage increase can be negated if the cost of living continues to rise unchecked. The recent spike in supermarket prices is a concerning development. This escalation affects all of us, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
The call for price control
We need to emphasize the importance of establishing price controls and monitoring mechanisms. This step is crucial to ensure that the benefits of a higher minimum wage reach the people it’s intended to help. We must advocate for fair and affordable pricing for essential goods and services.
A collective effort
Addressing these issues is not solely the responsibility of one individual or one political party. It’s a collective effort. As citizens, we have a voice, and together, we can demand transparency and accountability from our leaders.
Let’s hold our government accountable for ensuring that economic policies are beneficial for all, especially those who need it most. Let’s demand an open dialogue, and let our voices be heard.
Remember, it’s not only about the minimum wage but also about the overall cost of living. We should all be able to live decently in our beloved St. Maarten.
Quincy Rochester
