I am wondering if our leaders in charge of this country are realizing that the hills in Concordia are being destroyed day by day! Being in Concordia on a daily basis, since 1988 , I am seeing the evolution of the deforestation on all hills surrounding the valley. The heavy rains that we had lately demonstrated clearly to us that something is happening ! I never saw so much water pouring down in all the roads in Concordia! The road in front of the Lycée was like a monstrous river ready to devastate everything on its way!
And yet , the buildings are popping up as wild mushrooms like no one seems to care! How much more are they intending to shack up in Concordia! I am convinced that soon , we won't be able to breed fresh air in that area!Thousands of people are now living in the area. Just check the traffic jam in the morning, in the rush hours and any blind man would see that this is a situation that is going to be hell to handle soon! But they had "A VISON"!!! I think they need to get their eyes checked! LOL
But what is more frustrating is the deforestation done by some individuals (non saint martiners) to the rest of the hills that is not destroyed by the bulldozers! Every day , as I look to the hills, I can see that trees are disappearing! The smoke keeps burning day and night! Yes, the koal keels are legion in the hills! I have brought this to the attention of the actual government through their services for Environmental Issues and yet our hills are burning away!!!
Are we going to become like Haïti???? Today, we can all see : THEY ARE PAYING THEIR DUES! A drop of rain becomes a flood ! Our country seems to be running on automatic pilot ! If I can notice what is going on, Why can't our leaders see it ? May it be those in majority or those in opposition!!! Is it because they just don't care about it????
I AM HEREBY ASKING THEM TO PLEASE PROTECT OUR HILLS AND LAND BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE ! STOP THE DEFORESTATION OF CONCORDIA HILLS May it be by the SEMSAMAR or whoever! Enough appartments, enough buildings ! These leaders were in opposition under Mayor Albert Fleming and as I can recall it was our "cheval de bataille" ( major fighting cause) !!! Short memories????? In my opinion, it has even become worse! Is it for the love of the money?????
I think we will have to from a group to kick up against this issue! I need your feedback on this, Peeps!
It is very clear, that Aline writes what most St. Martiners also are aware of, but for whatever reasons are afraid to publicly express.
Wherever I go, and whichever St. Martiner I speak to, they have one thing in common; 'Haitian immigrants fatigue'.
I have said it many times before and I have been 'crucified' for that in the past, although that is now changing significantly.
In recent times, I have tried to 'moderate' my 'tone' in particular towards the Haitian immigrants, in order not to project any animosity and hatred.
However, thus-far, no matter how hard I try, there is only one conclusion staring me straight in the face, whether I like it-, or not.
This group of immigrants, more than all the others combined are the biggest threat in every sense of the word to any normal, civilized, healthy, balanced development on the island- by any standard !
We can, continue to fool ourselves otherwise, until we realize that they have effectively and deliberately used their numbers as a weapon against us, and that indeed they would have created exactly what they ran way from...another 'hell-hole', called Haiti.
In the meantime, they are becoming a plague, a maladiction and a curse to the very existence of this country, and many people actually feel this 'vibe' and become sick.
It is a shame that collectively, Government, St. Martiners, the tourism-sector, churches etc. have simply allowed for what they have sacrificed to build up, they are also allowing for a set of wretched immigrants to systematically-, and completely destroy.
Every sector they 'penetrate', they dominate, create their own bush-laws-, no-one other than them can live by and consequently push out every other set of people out of that enterprise, or district.
What Aline writes about,- is just a tiny fraction of the truth and how this once beautiful island is fast degenerating into a grimy slum like many in Haiti.
Despite the fact, that they are destroying the island much the same way a virus destroys its host-cell, they still have the gall to always complain about how the entire world is taking 'advantage' of them.
They are upset for instance, that for instance tiny St. Martin (33 sq. miles) does not fast enough accommodate their 9 million or so subjects, while still 'breeding' more '24-7-365'.
These people still live in some 'backward' state of mind and must try hard to enter the 21 st century.
The visit of their vice -consul Jean Claude CELINE, some days ago, is testament to them never taken full responsibility for their own (illegal) actions, but always blaming others, while at the same time disrespecting and , undermining the people and laws of every country they enter.
In ending,those who don't like the 'message', can feel free to attack the messenger.
However, my message will still remain, even more convincing.
And just like their vice -consul found it fitting to come to my island to complain to my Government, I reserve the right to speak out on behalf of MY native St. Martin people to be preserved, protected and respected in their own land.
If that is wrong, save me the 'right' thing.
Let us take back our country please.
Leopold JAMES