Of course not.
Nor, that it was on the increase
Neither, that there is a strong correlation between increased lawlessness and increased illegal immigration.
Nor, that many illegals have take lawlessness to the 'next level' of brazenness.
Nor, that the Government of the 'Friendly Island' has responded to this imported culture of lawlessness with acquiesecence, tolerance, acceptance and even rewarding.
No, none of that all is new.
What is new, this time around, although we suspected and expected it would come, sooner that later is the following.
Now that the so-called BTA has run its course and there are still thousands of illegals on the Friendly island, 'honorable' Minister of Justice Roland DUNCAN, finally publicly admitted that in fact Government has no clue what to do with this set of illegal people on the island.
Worse yet.
Reading 'between the lines', it becomes clear that the minister is psychologically, preparing the population to accept that there will be 'solution' - the 'no solution'.
That means nothing less, nothing more than that Government will not deport them and allowthem to 'permanently chill out' right here on the 'Friendly Island'.
Of course, you should not believe me.
But just analyze what he is quoted of having said in the TODAY newspaper of Saturday, August 13, 2011; ....because some of them have families here, children and grandchildren'.
That is the 'set-up', the 'justification' for in fact 'legalizing' their imported lawlessness.
It is becoming more evident by the day, that if no balance is created between the various stakholders on the island, that there will be very, very serious social consequences.
How can it be, that those who broke every law of a country, by being here illegally to start with, can end up having exactly the same rights as native, indigenous St. Martiners and other legal residents ?
That is totally unheard of in any self-respecting state of law.
Not only that.
It is an outright invitation to people in the region and around the world, to come illegally to the 'Friendly island', make children, because doing all of that would protect you against punishment and ultimately even reward you with the same rights of the legal citizens - wattating !
If that is not a recipe for a 'Norway', a 'London' and what have you, what is ?
However, although Government is admittedly 'clueless' in terms of a structural solution, we have very long ago offered such to Government and to the 'honorable' Minister of justice himself.
It is our MARSHALL PLAN, which allows for a 'win-win' for all stakeholders based on a number of premises.
As such, in fact we would not even have to deport one single illegal, but we would have to create 'counter-balances' to protect the other stakeholders.
It should be very clear to the illegal immigrant population, that supporting such a concept would be the best protection for them against deportation or any other form of 'social backlash'.
We have no problem, if they are interested sharing this concept with them as we did with Government.
God knows, one day, together with the immigrant population, we can enter into a 'strategic' relationship to work towards such a socio-economic balance within our society.
Needless to emphasize, that such a relationship would be in their best long-term interest.
Time for finding a solution is found to balance the interest of the native, indigenous St. Martin People, the immigrants, the naturalized residents, the foreign investors and Government is of the essence.
But guess what ?
The 'Friendly Island' is very fast running out of time.
Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia