Dear Editor,             

  Civic societies around the world commemorate November 25 as International Day for the Awareness of the Eradication of Violence against Women and Children. Not only is it a time for joint reflection, but it is also time to assess where we are in our joint efforts to combat and eradicate violence against women and girls. Given the increase of violence in general, as well as the noticeable increase of relational violence in particular, we must make a pact and a pledge to declare domestic violence Public Enemy Number One.

  The international theme set by the United Nations Secretary General for November 25, 2022, “Unite! Activism to end violence against women and girls!” emphasises the urgency for civic societies to unite all efforts to inform, educate, prevent, prosecute perpetrators and ultimately heal our communities. A holistic and multidisciplinary approach by all involved must be a joint undertaking.

  Domestic violence is an ugly truth we must boldly defeat through our collective determination. All entities such as those in the medical field, educators, justice department, including law enforcement agencies, mental health organisations, women shelters and the clergy are called once again to unite our efforts if we are to succeed in our mission. Individual outreach and outspoken activism ought to continue relentlessly in order to halt the assault on women and girls. Additionally, placing the emphasis on the state of our mental health in relation to the effects domestic violence has on the costs to our society is timely and appropriate.

  In this respect Peridot Foundation is very pleased to host this year’s programme with guest speaker forensic psychologist Ms. Zoya Hyman on Monday, December 5.

Ms. Hyman is a well-known personality praised for her knowledge, enthusiasm and well-rounded approach to the issues previously outlined.

  A subsequent release will provide information on the full programme and location of our event. Let us resolve to be United! in our efforts to break the deafening silence and declare domestic violence Public Enemy Number One, as we continue in our pursuit to protect loved ones we may lose.

Gracita Arrindell

President of Peridot Foundation

Dear Editor,

  Maybe there is something I am missing here, but I believe that at a certain moment people have to realize for themselves, I should not let myself be used in this manner. I could add more to that but I will leave it to that sentence.

  It is with a heavy heart that I have to write this, but when things are not going well for St. Maarten and it affects us all, I am included in the “all”. I am not the one to walk out of Parliament meetings, and the Minister of Justice is not the one on WhatsApp, dancing in the hall of Parliament, laughing and rejoicing. That member of Parliament should let us all know what that happiness was about because Karma is real, but like I stated before that this is written with a heavy heart, but “sorry” and “I tell yo’ so” usually come after something unpleasant has happened.

  I used the word “petty” in my last letter to you concerning the behavior of members of Parliament and it is appropriate in this letter also. Which one of those members of Parliament can afford to rejoice while every time the people go to the supermarket they are getting much less for their money? I happened to meet a well-known person in the community this morning, who said to me that he has to do some shopping to be able to prepare Thanksgiving dinner at home because he cannot afford to take out his family like before.

  By the way, there was an article in the paper in the past concerning the poor performance of the government of St. Maarten, and I stand to be corrected, but If memory serves me well, the Ministry of Justice was the sole exception.

  In a letter to you I suggested you dedicate a little corner for words often misspelled or misinterpreted. Proverbs and sayings could also be added. For instance, if some of the members of Parliament would use some of their leisure time doing just that, they would know that “you cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs”. But then again if one is being used, and one does not understand that one is being used, one will not understand the reason and meaning of the proverb. But when one walks out of meetings or does not attend the meeting, one cannot be blamed, because that person did not perform. That person is collecting the people’s money for not performing.

  For one to be accused of a punishable offence all the elements of that offence must have been violated, so I am not sure if I can determine whether such acts are fraudulent, etc., but there should be a minimum of hours stipulated for those members of Parliament to be actively present in Parliament in order to justify the reason for the kind of salary that they receive. Because if they were not present, they should not be allowed to claim anything. Show maturity, go to the meetings, vote for or against and bear the consequences.

  When one does not want to be outperformed, one should upgrade oneself.. There is a Dutch saying “wie A zegt moet ook B zeggen”, and if one was not informed about B it will be difficult to proceed. What is one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence called? I would like for someone who works there and could know if dancing is permitted in the Parliament Hall?

  By the way the person who filmed those who were dancing in the Parliament Hall and published that video should be considered guilty by association.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

  Proverbs 13:24 is far-reaching and the consequences for not adhering to it are enormous. As one parent told me many years ago: "I do not want my child to grow up hating me." My reaction was "Do you hate your parents?"  "Does it only take  good  brains to become a teacher, or does discipline also count?" Do you have to discipline the children in school? She told me it seems as if I came to discipline her. That is one way. The other way is the way of the politicians who only react to "wrong-doing" when it is convenient for them. When they do that, are they not sparing the rod and as time goes by, spoiling the child(ren).

  Hence the question: "What do they expect?"  I was asked at one time, "Russell, why don't you go in there, you know how to let them have it"  I gave him two answers. One was what my father taught me when I did not even have in mind writing to the Editor. He said and I have stated it several times before, "politics and integrity do not go hand in hand". He answered me :"You always saying that everybody has their faults. "Exactly, but when you swear to do the right thing, you should not knowingly do that which is not right or convenient and practical, even though you know that it is improper or even immoral.

  Children would usually say things to work in their favour. And my father used to drill us: "If you know you can't do it, do not promise to do it. People rely on promises". In the beginning as children that did not have any impact on us, but as life  went on, I noticed that indeed people were grateful to those who kept their promise to them.

  I was not the best-liked police officer, because I tried to be fair to everyone. This did not always sit well with the way certain (influential) persons wanted it to be. But I always remember one of the few sayings that my mother had impressed upon me when I decided to become a policeman. She said: "Anytime anything happens to anybody anywhere, some  mother's belly hurts." And then ever so often, when she read something in the paper and I got home, she would give me that look, which I can see up to today.

  Later on, she would ask me if I had anything I wanted to discuss. I would remind her that I leave police business in the police station. I told the late Mervin Scott at one time, that they should install some mirrors in strategic places in the Legislative Hall. His answer was  "I do not know if they will give Williams a bon for that." I strongly believe in that because that was also instilled in me: "You should be able to look in the mirror and ask yourself questions , and give yourself honest answers.

  If you break the rules for one (not in case of an emergency), you will eventually have to break the rules for all. Breaking rules is a form of "sparing the rod". And when you do that, you have to be prepared to sit on the blisters. I did not make up those sayings, they come from real experience in life. For instance, you cannot have your cake and eat it and one should not forget, "What goes around comes around". And one never knows what it will bring back around when it comes. Those old-time sayings were not made up, they came from experiencing one another. So, "If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas".

  All of this is playing out consistently by us. Should we not attempt a change? In this day of modern technology and digital telecommunication, nothing hides and definitely not on merely sixteen square miles. .Why not just go out there and do the job, return home and relax with the family, so that you can go back to work with a clear and clean conscience. It worked for me!

Russell A. Simmons

By Alex Rosaria

  People often claim that our biggest problem is the lack of laws and enforcement. But is it? I was recently on a metro train in Singapore, a country known for all kinds of strict rules, including stiff fines for not clearing your table after eating in a fast-food restaurant. An older but seemingly fit man wearing jogging gear was sitting in the designated area (by law) for the elderly and expecting mothers. At the following stop, a young guy got onto the train stumbling and making a grimace. He had his skateboard under his arm and had obviously hurt himself badly. He asked the older guy if he could sit but was denied as the older guy pointed to the section of the law above his seat.

  The older guy was, of course, right. He had the right to sit there. But did he do the right thing? Must we just comply with rules and regulations in order to be good citizens? Can’t a young person be needing a special seat on the train?

  It seems we’re creating a society that only relies on rules or laws to do the things we ought to do out of graciousness and civility. It’s clear that we’ve lost our moral compass. In the past, we relied on the church for direction, but these are so deeply engulfed in their own scandals and how to cover them up, to be taken seriously.

  So next time we blame the lack of law and enforcement for the filth all over our island, as well as the dire state of our street animals, we ought to be teaching norms, values, civility, kindness, and cordiality at home instead of waiting for someone to legislate what cannot be legislated.

Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has an MBA from University of Iowa (USA).