" In this world, nothing is so sure and certain as death and taxes "
This analogy, compares the unavoidable fate of death, to the difficulties of evading taxation.
President Gumbs, in his sad pathetic speech last Friday has proven the contrary. In Saint Martin, people die, but don't pay taxes. So in a moving tone, he cries famine, begging and shouting almost with tears to turn the clock around. Please, he requested, be a first class citizen, pay your taxes, so that we get the money to pay, to govern , to do our job.
President Gumbs does not realize that it is now too late. As a leader, you do not wait until the end of your governing term, to request your Citizen to comply with their legal duties, when you know before time , that there is a tax related situation, when, finally, there comes a time to pay.
President Gumbs, it is now too late, you cannot convince the population in such a short notice, you should have started long ago.
You agreed to govern and plan our destiny after our first elected President LCF was ordered to step down. That was the time you should have decided to discuss again the tax decrease that was done in a rush quickly after his election...That was a major mistake. You do not change a winning horse if you don't have a faster running one...Why cut down on taxes when you do not even know your needs for a smooth running of the Collectivitiy's affairs ?
It was bad governance not to have ensured compensation, but you did not listen, you were asked to persue , and you did not.
President Gumbs you are still suggesting, as asked by ousted President LCF, the possibilities of changing the Organic Law so as to take over from the State the handling and collection of Taxes...How could you even dream that within six months of the Territorial election, you could forsee the event, the miracle of a new settlement ? With what means ?
These are just some of the reasons my friends why I started to distance myself from the ruling Majority. I was tired of not been heard, and not being allowed to fulfil my responsabilities, as defined by the law. Why stand there witnessing the fact that only their course was the correct vision for our country. Only what they wanted was effective...Wait wait wait....does not take you any where. Other members of the Council had the same feelings, total lack of consideration, and we realized that it was time to unite and form a working group, and so ""Union pour la Democratie " was formed....
When our President in his speech was talking about the different Services rendered by the Collectivity to the population and their cost, he did not consider the lost opportunities, the waste and non accurate spending in these difficult times.
President Gumbs, the true reasons of your financial collapse, and the poor situation in which you have placed our country are evident to all.
-You have choosen to go along alone, with just a few carefully selected persons, not with the expected collegial atmosphere.
-You have systematically refused to go to the modern and practical way : The use of Private Investments...
-You refused to consider a professional fiscal approach towards the local Enterprises and Businesses. See how all the doors are closing and moving out to the Dutchside. Marigot has become a ghost City, and the TGCA, loosing ground because there is hardly anybody to pay.
-We are now again dependant, budget wise, because we are turning back to Mother State for Subventions and loans to survive..
-We were not able to profit from our new Status allowing us much autonomy and deeds with the private Sector.
-We have didn't had positive collaboration with the dutch neighbours and partners...
We are now totally dependent on State handouts..
-You display an arrogant attitude towards people and partners not completely agreeing with your way and not kowtowing to you...
- Governance, excluding democracy. You have forgotten that you were elected by the people, for the people, not just the cherished few you have choosen..
- You neither listened to, nor heard the cries of the suffering majority, asking for jobs , work, and opportunities to make a better life for themselves and their families .
- You have completely denied and put aside the People Representatives ( Conseil de Quartier ), providing no finances for their projects..There has been no support for the various associations dedicated to the Youths of our Island, your youths, our future, men and women of tomorrow...
What about the Youth Territorial Council ? today, it is only a sleeping Entity ! Mr President do you have no consideration at all for the well being and future of your fellow citizens ?
My dear President, I must confess to you my disgust when I consider your stunning determination not to have gone along with proposals offered concerning the Hotel development ( La Belle Créole , Happy Bay ) Refusing the possibility of revitalizing Marigot City and the water Front. All these projects could have been taken up with the same speed and interest you put in decreasing so blindly the Taxes. This unfortunately was not of the same interest, not of personal interest, so, of no concern to you and your friends and advisors....
Could you imagine President Gumbs, after these five years, the imput and progress you would have brought to the Economy of Saint Martin if you only had accepted the challenge to change the destiny of your country ! The Collectivity would have profited from the new taxes and other income brought in by a reinvigorated environment.
Yes President Gumbs sad to consider that all those projects, including the Port of Galisbay, had they been acted upon, thousands of jobs would have been created, Our French side business would have seen successes both long and short terms. Tourism, would have been, once again, our major industry. . What a lost of time and opportunities for the Island and its people !
These are not words, President Gumbs, these are facts. You had everything in place for you to succeed, everything at hand. Nevertneless, you , your Senator and friends, refused to embrace an opportunity presented to provide for your people. Here again, this was not of personal interest, this was for the people and you bluntly refused. They were not your ideas and you could not boast, saying, " I have done this " so, in fact, you refused.
What poor consideration for those who put you in power with confidence and hope..
Now President Gumbs, in all your request asking the working people to pay taxes by all means, have you one second paused to think, that probably, if they are not paying it could be that they don't really have the means to do so ? How, could they if they were not offered the opportunity of a job ?
"Mon President Gumbs ", our people, St. Martiners as a rule and those living here and working with us, are not cheating , they are concerned, don't suggest that they are not conscious of their social obligations. What is true ,is that they are daily watching you, waiting for your miraculous solutions. What and when ? The papers you have shown with the Prefet and the millions euro projects, where are they again and when?
The people are begging and waiting for a responsible governance, one of honesty and transparency. Your time has long passed.
Daniel Gibbs