Dear Editor,
Soualiga Social Movement (SSM) is a non-political foundation aiming to promote awareness while encouraging participation and inclusion of the people of Sint Maarten, for the progressive and sustainable development of its society in the areas of social, environmental, health, and economic matters. The supporters from SSM are from all walks of life and professions, properly representing our multicultural and diverse nation.
We want to point out that we touch on all kinds of issues that affect our society. We cannot neglect the fact that our government's actions do affect our daily lives and therefore we followed the budget debate closely and sent letters to Parliament with multiple comments and questions on the budget. We also wrote a letter to Parliament asking for an update on the status on actions taken pertaining the UNICEF report on the situation of children in Sint Maarten and the recommendations given in that report. It is our and your constitutional right to address Parliament. There is a Petition Committee that has to provide an answer to petitions/letters within six weeks.
Government is representing The People's choice. SSM respects the democracy of this country and is not and will not be in support of an individual politician or a political party, neither will it oppose an individual politician or political party. However, we are and will continue to follow the functioning of the government apparatus closely. When we feel that we have to address an issue that pertains to our government that affects our society, we will do so.
Having the above stated, for a change, we would like to recommend our Parliamentarians for passing a motion that has the right intend to move the country forward and alleviate the financial burdens of many. Some of the points in this motion: write off of taxes prior 2006, tax incentives for businesses that decrease the unemployment under the youth, to introduce a simplified and more customer friendly tax collection system, to look at possibilities to move away from direct taxes to indirect taxes, to stop issuing labor permits for the next two years, to look at measures taken by the former Netherlands Antilles to decrease youth unemployment and to top it off: introduced tax incentives shall NOT apply to Parliamentarians and the current members of the Council of Ministers!
We don't highlight the performances of individual citizens, so we will not mention the names of the Parliamentarians that voted for or against the motion either. The Parliamentarians that voted in favor of the motion know who they are and we recommend them for finally passing a motion that has an actual intent to move the country forward. To our members of Parliament: Please continue on this course and work for The People. And don't forget: we, as a non-political organization, will be watching you closely! #sxmmovement
SOUALIGA SOCIAL MOVEMENT