Lately there have been many articles about immigration and the functioning of our government. I would like to focus on us this time. What are we doing to make things better other than complain, complain and complain some more?
What is wrong with our youngsters that the majority of them are not willing to clean the roads or sweeping homes, but rather be on the block? Hearing my father and others, the average Sint Maartener left school and started to work immediately. Some went abroad to study, but the majority took all kind of odd jobs to make some money. Then we have my generation either born here or abroad: not having to grow up with the hardships our parents went through, but being raised with basic principles. When you went wrong you suffer the consequences and when you did right it was the most normal thing to do. Also you learnt about sharing and helping others.
What can we possibly put in our constitution or make it law to prevent us from going astray from our own unwritten principles? That we keep our local music alive? What about our local dishes? Our language? And last but not least: our norms and values, which gave us the name "Friendly Island"? Nothing. But that is my opinion. Government is responsible for the legal framework and we need to keep their feet to the fire to make it happen that such a framework will not only be there, but also maintained. Yes, hiring workers illegally needs to be attacked. Yes, illegal immigration needs to be dealt with. But what are we doing besides putting all the weight of responsibility on our incompetent government and blaming illegal residents? I guess you have the answer.........
In closing I can only state that we can fight for all kinds of things to be made law, but that we are responsible for our own lives and raising our children, and those in our community, according to our norms and values. When we are able to that then we have all the right to criticize our government (who are also children of the soil and put there by us) on not implementing certain laws pertaining the Sint Maartener of heritage. In the mean time I will continue to focus on not only the immigration issue, but also on all issues affecting our daily lives.
Have a great day,
Sjaoel "Shooz" Richardson
