For some time now, we have been rather quiet in terms of giving our opinion pertaining to the island's adventure towards 'Country St. Maarten status'.
One reason for us being 'under the radar', was to see if State-secretary of Kingdom relations drs. Anke BIJLEVELD-SCHOUTEN really knew what she was doing and really realized the lack of confidence most law-abiding citizens of St. Maarten have in what is currently 'functioning' as a Government on St. Maarten as well as in any future 'Country St. Maarten'.
To date, we have not been convinced of such, to say the least that its has dawned on the State-secretary, that there is a serious 'corruption-fatigue' brewing against our local Executive-council in particular, which has the potential to escalate in St. Maarten's own 'Treinta di Mei'.
Therefore, it was with great interest that we read in our local newspaper 'The Daily Herald' of Wednesday, April 1, (Dutch Parliament bashes Bijleveld )of the sharp criticism leveled against the State-secretary from various factions in the Second-chamber, for dropping the authority of the Dutch Minister of Justice to give instructions to the Attorney General of the future countries Curacao and St. Maarten.
Let it be known for the record, that as proud and responsible St. Martiners, under 'normal circumstances' we too would oppose such 'interference' to the highest extent.
However, and that is reality, the circumstances under which St. Maarten has been governed for the last decenia by no stretch of any imagination can be considered normal.
The problems of St. Maarten can not be tackled with 'academic' rhetoric, because our leaders do not get that type of 'language'.
It has said before, and I repeat it again for the re0iord.
It is high time that this island be placed under Higher Supervision from the Kingdom Government within the shortest possible period.
In the interim the Island's Government should be completely investigated, young professionals be trained to take over Government.
Granting the leaders of this island more autonomy, without conditions and without having 'audited' and 'cleaned' the house called St. Maarten, simply is 'rewarding 'corruption and 'betraying' the St. Martin people by taking away every perspective of good governance and social justice for the people of this island.
The Dutch Government better be painfully aware of what is at stake, because of the ramifications for the entire Kingdom as well and the tax-payers in the Netherlands in particular..
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Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia
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