I have read carefully the request of my friend, Leopold James, to have the Kingdom Government of the Netherlands intervene and install full and complete Higher Supervision over all of the governmental affairs of the Island Government of Sint Maarten. I respectfully disagree. I do agree however with Leopold's premise that the circumstances and conditions on the ground in Sint Maarten require urgent actions to reverse the deep slide into chaos and worst yet, a lawless society.
What I disagree very strongly with is the implication in the call by Leopold that the people of Sint Maarten are incapable of correcting this mess. I think the people of Sint Maarten are now ready for change and will finally send the DP home and elect a new honest and courageous Island Council to make the changes that are necessary to reverse the slide into what Leopold calls "total anarchy and terror spilling over to the region and other parts of the Kingdom,"
In the elections of 2007, the people rejected the call for change because they believed Sint Maarten had entered into an historic agreement in November 2006 and the DP deserved a chance to bring the new constitutional status into being by July 2007. The people were again misled and deceived into believing that the new status was around the corner. The people were so excited about the new status and the promises of debt relief or debt cancellation, they returned the same DP government that caused all of the serious problems and massive debts. As is always the case, in time, the truth will rise and rebut all the lies.
The people now accept that they were lied to about the constitutional status, debt relief, Higher Financial Supervision, the need to enact laws relating to conflicts of interests, self dealing between Commissioners and members of their families and the select few, corruption, bribery and basic malfeasance and dereliction of duty on the part of members of the Executive Council of Sint Maarten. Other than the most hardcore DP supporter, most people on Sint Maarten including many DP supporters now support a new direction and change in the management and leadership of the Island Government.
I have confidence in the people of Sint Maarten and believe they will vote for change given the opportunity today. The people now know first hand that the Dutch Parliament and Cabinet are reluctant to grant a new constitutional status to the people of Sint Maarten with the DP at its helm.
After reflection and discussions, I think the best solution for the people of Sint Maarten would be to call fresh elections in 2009 to provide a new mandate to the party or coalition of parties that prevail in those elections. If elections are called and the change in the composition of the Executive Council happens, the people will have an opportunity to again address the government of the Netherlands on a new constitutional status for Sint Maarten.
I am further convinced that with a new Executive Council, committed to good governance, best practices, transparency in governance, the immediate enactment by the newly elected Island Council of laws imposing criminal sanctions on Commissioners engaged in conflicts of interests, self-dealing, corruption, bribery or buying and selling votes in the election cycle, would send a clear signal to Holland that the days of anything goes are over. The people of Sint Maarten will then have credibility and respect in Holland, the Caribbean and the international community generally.
If elections are called during 2009, there will be no need to ask Holland to intervene. On the other hand, if this DP government continues with its head in the sand and arrogance, the call of Leopold James will resonate louder and be more compelling.
I hope we can avoid the Dutch intervening (again, not because the circumstances are unwarranted but because in 2009 the people ought to decide) and give this very sensitive issue to the people of Sint Maarten to resolve through the election process.
Again, to avoid any misunderstanding or doubt, I accept that the conditions on the ground are very serious and are declining, but see the solution differently than my friend Leopold James. I hope others including members of government will join in this public discussion and not engage in business as usual of ignoring this terribly important subject of whether the Dutch should intervene on Sint Maarten to preserve and defend the rights of the people in a time of crisis.
Gracita R. Arrindell