Member of Parliament, St. Maarten.
After having read this morning the Opinion & Commentary Section of the TODAY-newspaper of today, Wednesday, February 9, 2011 ( Abuse of identity-difference), I must publicly admit that I agree completely with its content
That should be no surprise to you-, and to whom know what we stand for, without being perfect ourselves.
Without an doubt, you will recall that evening, when I personally called you by phone a number of weeks ago.
I did not hide-, I did not send a messenger.
No-, I contacted you in a very personal-, and very honest manner.
I made it my business during that conversation to share a deep concern with you about the 'double role', you had assumed.
Meaning the 'combining' of two very different-, if not 'conflicting' roles, we all are aware of.
Also you will recall me telling you, that I prefer you getting mad at me for expressing such concern to you, than to see you having to bear far more serious consequences.
I appreciate that you indeed-, true to your fine personality, did not get mad at me, but tried to explain me (justify) in fact that you saw nothing wrong in combining those two functions.
My response to you was; dear cousin, as much as I truly love you both as cousin and friend, you did not have to answer to me, but to your own conscience.
Although, I personally found that type of argument going down a 'very dangerous-, and slippery slope', I said nothing to that effect to you, because all I wanted was for you to independently decide in fact 'which master to serve'.
In addition, I shared with you that the situation on the island is not like before, and that people were no longer prepared to accept corruption and abuse of power from politicians and that such could very well have 'consequences'.
I remember telling you; 'Jules, watch your back'.
I had good reasons to warn you, because when one takes bread out of the mouth of poor people, while eating themselves towards 'obesity', such can have a very serious back-lash.
Thank God the court-ruling prevented that - at least for now at Pelican Resort.
In ending dear cousin.
Let this be a very serious and 'life-altering experience' to you-, and may you indeed the conclusions right in the eyes of God-, and that you might stop hiding behind legal technicalities. ('It is not illegal to serve two masters')
One thing, I would hope, my honorable cousin.
That you as a Man of God, as you profess, will now use your position as representative of the people to start fighting corruption in Government, and in-equality, starting by making sure that 'Charity starts at home' for us, your own 'flesh-& blood'-native St. Martiners.
Do not let yourself be used by political criminals to destroy your own people.
Should you take that route cousin Jules, you will find our grassroots St. Martin nation building movement at your disposal.
If not, the opposite will be the case.
Hope you make the right choice - this time.
At any rate, the choice is yours- again.
One love,
Cousin Leopold JAMES
