Member of Parliament PVdA
With great interest, I read your interview in the Daily Herald of Friday, July 17, 2009, in which you made a number of statements.
Honestly speaking, I would like to believe that you mean well for our island and I hereby express my appreciation for such.
However, in general terms I could not disagree more with a number of statements you made in that interview according to that article.
These statements make me wonder how many times you actually visited this island and more importantly whom you spoke with and under what circumstances.
For instance.
Were they independent-minded people?
Do they have any ‘track-record’ of speaking out publicly on the issues at hand?
Certainly, you have not spoken with any member of our organization, which must raise legitimate question considering our very long, intensive, and public record of accomplishment on addressing the most critical issues facing this country.
Just in case you were not aware of who we are, feel free to ‘ask around’ with our worst critics, since we might ‘inflate’ our own value and reputation.
Nevertheless, for us to read your some of your statements, gives us the strong impression that at best, they might be ‘theoretically’ motivated, but certainly not based on the reality most native St. Martiners and Antilleans have to confront on a daily basis.
For instance, you asserted that the BES-status is not an option for St. Maarten, because the people did not vote for it.
This argument is what our politicians use all the time, but are afraid of ‘putting to the test’, by having the nonsense ratified, like what happened in Curacao.
Now, instead of showing some kind of independent mind, wisdom and understanding for the people, you simply repeat what these so-called leaders are ‘pesting’ us with on a consistent basis.
Clearly, the statement misses ‘depth’ and certainly does not indicate any deep knowledge of how our politicians have deceived and betrayed the people and that consequently the people have NO confidence in the body politic across the board.
That is the main problem of the ‘Friendly Island’….no confidence that they can bring about the fundamental changes needed, because they themselves are part of the problem.
‘Country St. Maarten’ status, whatever that might mean, will bring absolutely no change, just more of the same, because the political-mindset and/or culture remains unchanged.
Pushing this so-called country status down the throat of the people will turn out to be a complete catastrophe.
We, who live here, we who are from here and we who know the situation and feel the heat, realize that the best thing to happen to St. Maarten, post whatever ‘breaking-up of the Antilles’ is indeed a form of ‘time-out’ or a ‘transition’ until, there is confidence once more in the system.
If that means that St. Maarten will temporarily become a BESS-island, so be it, no need to rush only to regret later!
Right now, as a native-indigenous St. Martin movement we say, St. Maarten is NOT ready for any ‘Country status’ and certainly, allowing for the ‘calendar and/or the clock’ to decide when we are ready, is not a very ‘wise’ approach, to put it euphemistically.
In reality, it is a dumb idea.
As far as we are concerned, as long as the native-indigenous people and Antilleans living on St. Maarten cannot be recognized by their own politicians and their rights cannot be guaranteed in any new constitution, we the people will NEVER be ready.
Of course, the politicians have been ‘ready’ from the onset, that is to take care of ‘self’.
That is not the readiness that counts for US the PEOPLE of this island.
So, dear Mrs. ORTEGA-MARTIJN, please make sure to do your homework properly before speaking for the people of this island.
Our future is too important for political machinations.
Have a nice stay on the ‘Friendly Island’
With kind respect,
Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/Association L’Esprit de Concordia and
Proud native-indigenous St. Martiner…without apologies