But guess what ?
No-one in his/her right mind, would also want to experience another hurricane like Luis, or an earthquake like in Haiti, or a tsunami that hit Japan, just to name a few examples of absolute horror.
But, guess what again.
'Wishful thinking' has never been a good 'coverage' or 'protection' for worst case scenarios.
Quite to the contrary.
In fact, 'playing the ostrich' only allows for the situation to deteriorate and get even worse.
It is like the California super-earthquake, which according to all scientific findings is long overdue.
Imagine, what will happen there, if the US Government doesn't create the appropriate 'contingencies'.
And so it is with the 'Friendly island'.
The best way is be 'ready' for calamities is first to recognize the potential for such events.
Then, to deal with the possibility of such occurring.
In other words.
Research, whether or not the 'ingredients'/preconditions are present for any worst case scenario, be it a natural-, or a man-made one, like what happened in Norway and in many other places before.
This requires vision and real leadership.
Not only the protocol aspect of such, but the realistic, very unpleasant and unpopular aspect of real leadership.
Ever since the occurrence in Norway, the blogs on the island, have been full of heated, emotional discussions and with accusations back and forth.
While these discussions may have brought out a lot of anger and resentment, from their individual points of view, they all have very legitimate arguments.
However, and we have stated that many times before.
The buck stops with the leadership of every country - there is no getting around that.
And in this case, with the person holding the country's highest executive governmental function - the Prime-Minister, whose name happens to be Mr. Sarah WESCOTT-WILIIAMS.
Please take it easy, and do not blame me for that fact, but that is the way it is.
Now, please do not get me wrong.
Not for a fraction of one second, do I think that the job of Prime-minister is an easy one - it most definitely is not.
The point of the matter however is, that once anyone has accepted to hold that office, it comes along with an awful lot of responsibility.
Just for instance look at the dilemma President OBAMA is in.
I love him dearly and was glad he was elected.
But, although he did not create the economic and other mess the US finds itself in - guess what again - the buck stops with the president who happens to be OBAMA.
Now, if we analyze the motive behind the atrocities committed in Norway, at its very core it boils down to a 'global' problem.
Simply put, it is this.
Increasingly, especially in countries with a reasonable economic prosperity there is a constant, almost institutionalized conflict between two opposing forces.
On the one hand, fed by the globalization process, the reality of mass immigration in all its aspects, and on the other hand, the fear of the people of receiving country to lose their identity, their heritage, their way of life and ultimately their very existence as a people.
While in Norway, the native Norwegians still make up, by far the majority of the population, that did not matter for the gunman, whose sentiments, by the way, represent those of many of his country people !
Now, look at the 'Friendly island'.
A total disaster in terms of demographic balance.
The natives being completely overrun, by an immigration deluge gone completely berserk.
For many years, the natives have been crying out, expressing their concerns about being marginalized and becoming the victims, of what historian, Daniella JEFFRY terms - 'silent genocide'.
These cries have fallen completely on 'deaf ears' as far as the politicians are concerned.
Worse yet.
The politicians, for 'political correct reasons'=VOTES, have not only betrayed their own native St. Martin people, they always are always, oh so concerned about immigrants, including those who have broken the laws of the land to be here in the first place and thereafter, about every law.
For instance, we see certain politicians defending the rights of non nationals living on the island for Dutch scholarships and the like.
To top it off, in the Constitution of the land, not a single word is dedicated to the native St. Martiner, but yes, provisions are made to protect human rights of everybody else.
Get the picture ?
So, those who 'wishfully' think and/or hope that there will be no repercussions like in Norway - time will tell.
My bottom-line here is, for the 'umpteenth' time to appeal to the Government of 'Country St. Maarten' to do all it can to prevent what many see might well be inevitable.
As a grassroots movement, we have on many occasions offered our help to Government towards that end.
Although, we represent native St. Martin people, whose very existence is currently at stake, we still prepared a concept, in which we take the interests, concerns, rights of ALL stakeholders into account.
This is our version of a MARSHALL PLAN, which has to potential to create a 'win-win' for all involved.
It is up to GOVERNMENT to be willing to implement such a social-economic 'balancing' concept.
If not, God forbid, Government will have to bear the full consequences.
drs. Leopold JAMES