Philipsburg:--- The Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Rhoda Arrindell cannot help but display arrogance at the members of the media when she is asked for explanations. On several occasions the Minister of Education would go after the media claiming that reporters on St. Maarten do not seek the truth or both sides of a story but whenever she is asked for explanations the Minister would display arrogance and become very defensive.SMN News asked Minister Arrindell if she had the final figure for the cost of the St. Maarten's Day festivities and even though the celebrations are over the Minister said she did not have the figures, she further explained that the committee did not meet to discuss the final figures.
SMN News also asked the Minister why she never sings the national song of St. Maarten "Oh Sweet St. Maarten Land". Instead of giving a straight explanation, Minister Arrindell who already said that St. Maarten does not have a National Anthem also refused to acknowledge that "Oh Sweet St. Maarten Land" is considered as the National Song of St. Maarten. After a bit of tit for tat, the Minister then explained that she is 45 years old and has never sang the song in her lifetime since "Oh Sweet St. Maarten Land" does not speak to her as an individual. Minister Arrindell said she does not know how to sing and she believes that her choice of singing or not is her private right as a citizen.
Minister Arrindell said as the Minister of Culture she has a duty and responsibility to execute certain things, but she does not have a responsibility or duty to sing. Singing she said falls under the realm of the private rights of a citizen. "I dance to music but I don't dance to every song that people play, I dance to the ones that speak to my soul and I think that this is what music is meant to do. I tap my feet because the music is really good music but I really cannot sing."
SMN News referred to "Oh Sweet St. Maarten Land" as the national song of St. Maarten, however, the Minister asked if there was a national song for St. Maarten. For the sake of clarity, it must be noted that when a foreigner obtains his or her Dutch Nationality on St. Maarten they are presented with a CD by the Governor of St. Maarten. On that CD which has on its cover, "The National Anthem" has two songs, the Wilhelmus and Oh Sweet St. Maarten Land. It is now very clear that while the Minister of Education and Culture said that St. Maarten does not have a National Anthem and National song then it is only fitting for her to tell the people of this great nation why "Oh Sweet St. Maarten Land" is on the "National Anthem" CD that is presented to new Dutch nationals.
