As St Maarten move into country status we have no choice but to wish our government success in governing St Maarten to a successful country.
Sadly our crime situation is deteriorating to unacceptable levels. We must institute moral values and God back in to school and society; we can choose to live free or die hard. We need leadership not only to create wealth (conservatism & capitalism) but more important we need a system to ensure personal responsibility for each and every individual action. The lack of money might enhance crime but the strength of moral values and personal responsibility including loving your family is what will alleviate crime and will make a successful nation or country. I promise myself and the people of St Maarten I will help seek and find solutions to make St Maarten a better country. Unfortunately most of our politician does not understand political ideology so they not know what system to apply to tackle a financial crisis or criminality. To tackle criminality we must understand that human nature stay obedient to laws by punishment and not the Dutch way of rehabilitation. After punishment then we must teach them moral values and personal responsibility. Giving money to people without teaching values and personal responsibility is a waste of time. You can be rich and still commit crime. Many rich people continue to steel. But teaching our children in school about moral values (right & wrong) which can be also instituted in sex education will make people understand it is right to do what is right and it is a choice to do what's wrong. Leadership is not only about creating wealth but more importantly by living and setting the example of how we should treat each other with respect to all regardless of race, religion, color and sexual preference even when we disagree with each other position. No person is perfect in life, however we must stand for what we believe in and live free or die hard. To change our financial situation we must institute a tax system that allow people to keep more of their earn money. Government must cut waist. I would have prefer we build a 10 storey building that can house all governmental department including offices for the ministries and a legislative hall for members of parliament, we should make the new government building opposite of the university of St Maarten more bigger. A march against crime is nice but the power and knowledge of God is greater than any man made institution. We can spend and hire any criminologist but without the teaching of right and wrong we will be fighting a loosen war against crime. Many young girls does not get love at home or have a father to lead and head the home and they look for a father love by getting involve with a gang or being seduce by older men who has money which they see gift as a expression for true love. Until we have leaders ( political or pastoral) who can come out and speak about these realities in life we will never attain a society of true hope that will foster success in all avenues be it financial or improvement of family values. We need men of character who has the courage to do and say the right things even if they are hated but which will prove right in the long run. We must have the courage to call bad things evil and right principles and values good. We must have the courage to tell our friends and family when they are going wrong and reward them when they are doing good things. Building a nation or a country is not an election procedure; it is an all inclusive daily way of life which should be values and principles including culture of a nation. Our constitution mentions God in the beginning. If we are a Christian nation under God then we should act like it. We need leader that lead and live by example and not give in to self interest business people friends or family members. We must demand honesty and fairness in all governmental decision as to unite all people in St Maarten. My friends and people we can either live free or die hard.
Miguel Arrindell
