Inspector Radio Communication / NIB of
Bureau Telecommunication and Post, section Windward-islands.
Mr. Don HUGHES
General manager PJD-2
Dear gentlemen,
Being a professional educator, long term and consummate social-activist, president of a native St. Martin grass-root movement and conscious citizen of this island, I have made it my duty to be a frequent listener to the radio-program 'In the back yard with the young professionals' as well as to practically all other talk shows on the island in the English language.
To those talk-shows in other languages, e.g. Spanish and Haitian-Creole, unfortunately I do not follow, for the simple reason that I have absolutely no clue what they are saying/preaching or possibly even swearing or inciting for that matter.
By the way.
I wonder if the relevant communication authorities and radio-station owners themselves have any clue and can therefore evaluate the contents of these programs which are conducted in 'foreign tongues'.
That this lack of proficiency to understand these 'foreign tongues' can create a very unfair evaluation of the content of these programs, is self-explanatory and is a very interesting topic for future discussion for sure.
In other words, is their a 'level paying field', when it comes to the criteria applied to sanction certain programs ?
After all, all programs should be treated 'equally under the law', I would like to believe, if we are supposed to live in a state of law !
Therefore, allow me at this time, to request your explanation of the reason(s) why the program 'In the backyard....' is no longer on the air and what is expected to happen with the program in the future.
In addition, gentlemen, I am extremely concerned, that at a time when we as a people are facing the most crucial 'cross-roads' and challenges in our modern history, our own St. Martin and Antillean people are absolutely not being offered enough opportunities to express their views on all these matters in the media in general.
This once more justifies the question; '10-10-10' for WHOM ?????
Being exposed to the grass root St. Martin people on a daily basis, I am extremely worried that this lack of freedom of expression is resulting in many of our people developing a sense of being deliberately excluded in their own home.
At the same time, one can not tune in to any radio- or television station, without hearing lots of heated discussions going on in languages foreign- and who knows, possibly even hostile to us.
If ever there was a time to guarantee that there was the unrestricted possibility for the people of this island, as well as other Antillean residents to have first preference to be on every program on a daily basis in order to express their concerns and ideas pertaining to THEIR constitutional future, it is now !
In ending, I would appreciate meeting with you gentlemen and other stakeholders in order to discuss this matter in a very frank and professional manner.
Do not under-estimate that come '10-10-10' we will be exposed to language on radio- and television that would make us 'blush' and turn even blacker that most of us already are, simply because the Dutch tend to enjoy being extremely 'foul-language explicit' and confrontational and then what will we do ?
Remove those shows off the air ?
In that case, better be prepared to pay exorbitant hight legal damages !!!
Looking forward to your kind reponse.
With respect,
--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia
