While for many years, we have expressed serious concern and doubts, about the ‘readiness' of ‘St. Maarten', for any new status, and having taken much slack for it, there now appears to be a very strong and growing consensus among the people on the island that our sentiments were very legitimate.
As a result of this general concern of the public, it is our very strong conviction that your ‘advice' to the St. Maarten delegation that visited the Netherlands this week, is very well received by the majority of residents on the island.
According to the headlines in the Daily Herald of Tuesday, April 21, 2009 ;'DUTCH PARLIAMENT OFFERS HELPING HAND, BUT INSISITS ON WAITING A BIT'.
We consider that excellent advice, which we hope you will actually stick to and execute in the interests of the PEOPLE of this island, whose confidence in the good intentions of the body politic, has been eroded to a very critical level.
While the St. Maarten politicians, might try to put up a ‘fight', and try to blame you of disrespecting the ‘will of the People', the people themselves will not join them, but praise you for standing up for their interests.
By the way, we are not sure whether or not, St. Maarten ‘has' any government at this moment, while the leaders are in the Netherlands !
Therefore, as controversial as it might sound here, given the current set of circumstances on the island, which unfortunately and realistically can ‘not be fixed by us as a community at the moment, we strongly suggest you consider the following steps, which we are ready to expound on in due time and/or upon your request.
They are not necessarily mentioned in any particular sequence here.
1. STOP the nonsense and waste of tax-payers monies of ‘Country Status'.
2. Implement a transitional BES-status for St. Maarten and/or Higher Supervision.
3. Clean up the island, by starting the implement of a thorough investigation on corruption in Government and make sure that credible, local St. Maarten people are given the opportunity to have share their experience in this process as well.
4. Assist in the training of a new generation of political leadership in order to create a new political climate, in which respect for law and order, transparency and accountability becomes a standard norm and ‘modus operandi' in Government.
5. Cooperate towards a more equitable society, in which there is a healthy, and dynamic balance between all stakeholders, whereby certainly the existence and the rights of the natives of this island are defined and guaranteed constitutionally, as well as the basic human rights of others as well.
In ending members of the Dutch Parliament, we once more on behalf of the silent majority of residents on the island, thank you for not allowing yourself to be coaxed and rushed into ‘Country St. Maarten status', without guarantees for peace and stability.
Looking forward to your continued sense of responsibility towards the PEOPLE of St. Maarten and towards a constructive relationship with you,
Respectfully Yours,
Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia
