Cusha Cartoons book in production

Dear reader,

Welcome to this page where I will be compiling the best of the satirical cartoons we have published over the years since 2016 when StMaartenNews.com was first launched. These cartoons will be bundled and published in an upcoming book called ‘Cusha Cartoons‘ as these will be as prickly as my columns in my first book called Cusha Columns.

Over time, I will publish here on this page the selected cartoons that will go into the book with their respective backstories. Readers will be able to access this page and follow the development of the collection of cartoons with their backstories that will go into the book by buying a Cusha Columns subscription for just $19 US Dollars. Paid subscribers will also get a copy of the Cusha Columns book.

So far I have 96 cartoons selected.

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Cartoon: The Emil Lee Effect – Grass Roots Campaign Cartoon

Published: Thursday, September 29, 2016
Back Story: The Emil Lee Effect

Cartoon: Frankie Meyers Tantrum

Published: Monday, September 26, 2016
Back Story: MP Meyers apologizes for migrant remarks

Cartoon: Political Leaders Back to the Track

Published: Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Back Story: It’s Going To Be Four Long Years

Cartoon: Constitution Day Celebration

Published: Monday, October 11, 2016
Back Story: A nation under construction

Cartoon : Samsung Note 7 – Spontaneous Phone Combustion

Published: Monday, October 24, 2016
Back Story: Spontaneous phone combustion

Cartoon: Mount Trashmore

Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Back Story: Welcome to Mount Trashmore

Cartoon: Aruba PM Mike Eman – He-Man

Published: Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Back Story: The Dutch asking too much

Cartoon: Fat Cats

Published: Monday, November 14, 2016
Back Story: Another blooper

Cartoon: Border dispute at Capt. Oliver’s

Published: November 18, 2016
Back Story: Border dispute in Oyster Pond between French and Dutch side

Cartoon: Brownbill Internet History

Published: March 20, 2017
Back Story: MP Brownbill released

Cartoon: Wycliffe Smith gives UDA manifesto a D

Published: March 30, 2017
Back Story: Glorified manifesto

Cartoon: Chanel Brownbill takes a stand

Published: November 2, 2017
Back Story: MP Chanel Brownbill was forced to take a stand

Cartoon: Christophe Emmanuel flagpole project fallout

Published: November 14, 2017
Back Story: Christophe Emmanuel flagpole project

Cartoon: Seasonal vs Seasoned Politician

Published: November 21, 2017
Back Story: Seasonal vs Seasoned Politicians

Cartoon: World of Unhappiness

Published: Thursday, December 7, 2017
Back Story: A world of unhappiness & Deep pockets

The Alegría Resort, once known as the Caravanserai Beach Resort, epitomizes a paradoxical saga of relentless legal disputes that have turned its promise of “happiness” into a protracted narrative of discord. The resort’s entrance boldly proclaims “A world of happiness,” a direct translation of its Spanish name “alegría.” Yet, for those entangled in legal battles with the resort since its 2014 takeover, this tagline reads more like a cruel irony.

Hilbert Haar, in his exposé “A world of unhappiness,” delves into the resort’s contentious history, marked by a series of legal defeats. The resort’s litigious pursuits included a vendetta against Marty Dijkhuis, former operator of a pool bar on the premises, and an attempt to revoke the casino license of GN Entertainment’s Dunes Casino. Alegría’s rationale for the latter was fear of reputational damage due to the casino’s association with Francesco Corallo, a figure the resort claimed had a tarnished reputation. However, the court dismissed the resort’s argument as lacking substance.

The most recent legal skirmish involved the homeowners of the A-building, an apartment complex within the resort’s bounds but not under Alegría’s ownership. The resort’s disruption of the building’s electricity and water supply led to another courtroom confrontation. The presiding judge expressed his disbelief at the resort’s refusal to settle such a trivial matter without legal intervention. Unsurprisingly, Alegría faced another defeat.

These persistent legal confrontations paint a picture of a resort with “deep pockets,” using its financial clout to exhaust its adversaries through a relentless barrage of lawsuits. Despite a track record of losses, Alegría’s strategy appears to be one of attrition, wearing down opponents who lack the resources to sustain a prolonged legal fight. This approach has prompted many to abandon their stakes on the property, leaving the resort as the de facto victor, with lawyers reaping the benefits of this litigious culture.

The opinion piece “Deep pockets” criticizes Alegría’s aggressive legal tactics, suggesting that the resort uses litigation as a weapon to ultimately win its war, regardless of individual battle outcomes. This strategy has escalated to the point where the resort no longer waits for court decisions, instead deploying bulldozers to enforce its will.

The accompanying cartoon, “A World of Unhappiness,” visually encapsulates the conflict, depicting the Alegría Resort amidst explosive chaos, symbolizing the escalated battle between timeshare/apartment owners and the resort’s management. The cartoon, set to feature in the book “Cusha Cartoons,” serves as a satirical commentary on the resort’s tumultuous relationship with its stakeholders.

The story of Alegría Resort is a cautionary tale of how deep pockets and a penchant for litigation can create a climate of hostility and despair, overshadowing the idyllic promise of a “world of happiness.” It serves as a reminder that wealth and power, when used to bully and intimidate, can tarnish the very essence of community and harmony that businesses like resorts are meant to foster.

Cartoon: Government Money Bag

Published: Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Back Story: Government out of money by month’s end & No reason for panic Minister Gibson says

Notes: Depicted in the cartoon are from left to right: Christophe Emmanuel (Minister of VROMI), Rafael Boasman (Prime Minister/Minister of Justice) and Richard Gibson (Minister of Finance).

Cartoon: Trash Talk Christophe Emmanuel

Published: Friday, December 15, 2017
Back Story: Again a stalemate between the Government and one of its companies with the dump caught in the middle

Amidst the escalating waste management crisis on St. Maarten, the cartoon titled “Trash Talk Christophe Emmanuel” in the upcoming book “Cusha Cartoons” illustrates the irony and disappointment surrounding the government’s handling of the notorious landfill sites on Pond Island. The backstory of this satirical piece finds its roots in an article published on December 15, 2017, on StMaartenNews.com, detailing the stalemate between the government and its utility company, GEBE, with the infamous dump caught in the crossfire.

Christophe Emmanuel, the then Minister of VROMI (Public Works, Environment and Infrastructure), had pledged during his campaign to transform the growing landfill into a Waste to Energy (WTE) facility. The plan was for GEBE to purchase the energy generated from converting the island’s waste into power. However, post the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, not only did the dump remain, but a secondary site, colloquially dubbed “Baby Dump,” emerged, further complicating the waste crisis.

The article, “Again a stalemate between the Government and one of its companies with the dump caught in the middle,” casts doubt on the VROMI Minister’s assurances regarding the landfill’s future. Emmanuel’s description of the decision-making process within GEBE, particularly the signing of a power purchase agreement, raised questions about the proper protocols. The norm for board decisions is to hold a vote during board meetings, not to require individual signatures as Emmanuel suggested.

Furthermore, the article highlights the peculiarity of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EnviroGreen and the VROMI minister, which was set to be presented to the Council of Ministers. The arrangement appeared premature for such a significant project, leading to inquiries about the legal counsel provided to the country on this matter and their recommendations.

In a separate but related issue, Minister Emmanuel declined Parliament’s invitation to discuss the clean-up and salvage operations of the Simpson Bay Lagoon, adding to the concerns about his approach to environmental challenges.

The cartoon itself portrays a disheartened Christophe Emmanuel wandering through the dump, with the Government Administration Building in the backdrop, symbolizing the proximity of the problem to the heart of governance. The header “MP Sarah Wescot-Williams pulls support because of trash talk Christophe Emmanuel” and the caption “Whereabouts Christophe Emmanuel unknown since fall of government. Last seen heading towards new dumpsite mumbling to himself about a load of trash…” suggest a direct link between the waste management fiasco and the political turmoil that ensued.

The image serves as a poignant commentary on the minister’s unfulfilled promises and the subsequent governmental instability. It reflects the public’s disillusionment with the lack of progress on a critical environmental and health issue, despite the bold claims made during election campaigns.

As the cartoon finds its place in “Cusha Cartoons,” readers are encouraged to delve into the history of this environmental debacle and the political fallout that accompanied it. The original articles on StMaartenNews.com provide a comprehensive understanding of the events that inspired this satirical representation.

Cartoon: Grasshopper

Published: Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Back Story: Trampling the Constitution
Notes: Who jumped from USP to UP to become PM? (Idea by Hilbert Haar)

Published: Saturday, Dec. 12th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/will-parliament-play-hardball/

In the political tapestry of St. Maarten, the cartoon titled “Grasshopper” from the upcoming book “Cusha Cartoons” leaps out with its vivid portrayal of political opportunism. It draws from the article “Trampling the Constitution,” published on January 24, 2018, on StMaartenNews.com, which narrates the political maneuvers leading up to the elections and the subsequent shifts in power dynamics.

The article describes a period of intense political activity, symbolized by the ubiquity of the United St. Maarten party’s blue flags on Harold Jack Hill. The political scene was further animated by a Central Committee meeting with market vendors, overshadowed by the actions of the previous government’s ministers, who had caused upheaval among the vendors. Ingrid Grell emerged as the vocal representative of the vendors’ grievances, pointing fingers at former ministers Melissa Arrindell-Doncher and Christophe Emmanuel, as well as USp-leader Frans Richardson for their roles in the controversy.

Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin’s statements at a Council of Ministers press briefing added another layer to the unfolding drama. She accused the former government of trampling the Constitution, suggesting that the decree to dissolve Parliament could be annulled. However, the article’s author challenges the Prime Minister’s position, arguing that while certain constitutional terms were indeed violated, the end result was more beneficial for the electorate, as it allowed for the formation of new political parties and eased the organizational burden on existing ones.

The “Grasshopper” cartoon encapsulates this narrative without words. It features then Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin depicted as a regal grasshopper, hopping from the blue mushroom of the USp to the green mushroom of the UP, and finally landing on the black mushroom representing the Prime Ministership. The cartoon suggests that Romeo-Marlin’s political trajectory, marked by shifts in party allegiance, ultimately led to her ascent to the highest office on the island.

The backstory provided by the article “Trampling the Constitution” sheds light on the context behind the cartoon. It paints a picture of political agility and the strategic calculations that can propel individuals to power. The image serves as a metaphor for the fluidity of political affiliations and the sometimes tumultuous path to leadership.

As “Cusha Cartoons” prepares to bring this and other political satires to its readers, the inclusion of such backstories will offer a deeper understanding of the events that inspired these illustrations. For those seeking further information, the original articles on StMaartenNews.com will be accessible via provided links, allowing readers to explore the intricacies of St. Maarten’s political landscape.

Cartoon: Waterbenders battle Cole Bay fire

Published: January 29, 2018
Back Story: Major fire breaks in Cole Bay warehouse complex

Cartoon: Frans Richardson residency issues

Cartoon: Frans Cartoon St. Maarten Saint Martin

Published: April 18 & 23, 2018
Back Story: Recap MP Frans Richardson residency issue

Cartoon: Sarah Thanos Wescot-Williams

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Back Story: MP Brison: “Chair of Parliament seems to use her ‘prerogative’ just at a whim”

Cartoon: Test Results MP Brison In…
Published Date: Dec. 19th, 2018
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/politics/johnson-describes-action-mp-embarrassment/#prettyPhoto

Cartoon: Christmas 2018 greetings from StMaartenNews.com Cartoonist

Published: Thursday, December 20, 2018
Back Story: Merry Christmas to all our readers

Cartoon: Chicken Soup

Published Date: February 28th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/judicial/theo-heyliger-detention-cell-philipsburg-police-station/

Cartoon: Free Theo

Published Date: March 4th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/judicial/will-theo-heyliger-detention-be-extended/

Published Date: Thursday, May 30th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/history/heyliger-pays-price-years-suspicious-dealings/

Cartoon: Not my AA Flight to Atlanta

Published Date: March 10th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/justice/will-theo-heyliger-spend-birthday-prison/

Cartoon: What is he saying now

Published Date: March 16th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/judicial/heyligers-detention-extended-60-days/

Cartoon: Kidnapped

Published Date: Monday, March 25th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/hostage/

Cartoon: Hostage

Cartoon: Salary Seppuku

Published Date: Saturday, April 6th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/rock-hard-place-worse/

Published Date 2: June 25th, 2019
Back Story 2: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/an-egocentric-attitude/

Cartoon: The Skinny Robber Baron

Published: June 5, 2019
Back Story: Rolando gets the skinny on Mike Ferrier

Cartoon: Captain Marten

Published Date: Monday, June 17th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/local-news/theo-heyliger-passport-released-wife-grisha-marten/

Cartoon: Fish Alley

Published Date: Thursday, June 25th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/defamation-remains-part-st-maartens-culture/

Cartoon: Claude Peterson Rude Awakening

Cartoon: Stuart Johnson on a cruise

Published Date: January 27th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/editorials/rude-awakening/

Cartoon: Go Pay

Published Date: Aug. 19th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/parliament/motion-says-go-pay/

Cartoon: Screening Process

Published Date: Sunday, Sept. 8th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/views/ask-sjamira/

Cartoon: Super Wever – Captain VROOM VROOM

Published Date: Sunday, Sept. 15th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/environment/wever-foils-creative-attempt-light-dump-flare-gun/

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Cartoon: Driving Miss Daisy Sarah

Published: September 17, 2019
Back Story: Sarah leaving Parliament

Cartoon: Driving Miss Daisy Sarah 2

Published: September 24, 2019
Back Story: Sarah wonders if she turned off the lights in the Parliament building as she was the last to leave the building.

Cartoon: Meyers Melon

Published Date: Wednesday, Sept. 18th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/politics/meyers-breaks-silence-political-decision/

Cartoon: Rolando B stings Sarah

Published: October 7, 2019
Back Story: Rolando B catches Sarah with a good one

Cartoon: Knops Before After

Published Date: Tuesday, Oct. 8th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/dutch-news/dutch-coalition-loses-majority-sounds-familiar/

Cartoon: COM Council of Ministers – And Then There Were 4

Published Date: Wednesday, Oct. 16th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/pm-smith-responds-query-mp-marlin/

Cartoon: Tax Office Pay Taxes BMW car

Published Date: Thursday, Sept. 10th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/news/have-taxes-been-paid/

Published Date: Saturday, Aug. 13th, 2022
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/business/doing-business-in-st-maarten-bottlenecks-and-solutions-part-3/

Cartoon: Brison ShipJumping USP to UPP

Published Date: Sunday, Nov. 3rd, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/politics/brison-run-1-given-full-leadership/

Published Date: Saturday, Oct. 30th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/deja-vu-all-over-again/

Cartoon: World Bank Elephant on St. Maarten

Published Date: Monday, Nov. 4th, 2019
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/at-a-snails-pace/

Published Date: Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/mps-question-country-package-but-dont-oppose-it/

Special mention: The Van Raak (SP) Cartoon in The Daily Herald

Published: Tuesday, November 7, 2017, in The Daily Herald
Back Story: SP MP Ronald van Raak wanted to contribute to a free press in St. Maarten
Reactions:
Interpreting the images we see
The vindictive Dutch politicians

Cartoon: PMoP PoP 2

Published Date: Saturday, Dec. 12th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/will-parliament-play-hardball/

Cartoon: PMoP PoP Cartoon

Cartoon: Door2door Liquidity Support

Published Date: Sunday, Feb. 16th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/liquidity-support-still-air/

Cartoon: State Secretary Knops Slaps St. Maarten People

Published Date: Wednesday, June 17th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/prime-minister-silveria-jacobs-sends-letter-prime-minister-mark-rutte/

Cartoon: Knops Left the Zoom Chat

Published Date: June 28th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/pm-jacobs-complaints-state-secretary-knops-fall-deaf-ears/

Cartoon: Knops on CRE Money Ship

Published Date: Aug. 13th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/kingdom-news/dutch-intervention-aruba-rst-national-detective-agency-raises-eyebrows/

Published Date: Aug. 15th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/news/kingdom-stands-firm-no-third-tranche-of-liquidity-support-for-st-maarten/

Published Date: Aug. 28th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/news/knops-no-liquidity-support-without-agreement-about-conditions/

Published Date: Sept. 11th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/news/third-tranche-of-liquidity-support-remains-elusive/

Published Date: Nov. 15th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/shta-sounds-the-alarm-and-supports-caribbean-reform-entity/

Published Date: Dec. 12th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/now-or-never-knops-demands-hard-guarantees-in-exchange-for-liquidity-support/

Published Date: June 18th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/dutch-news/knops-releases-liquidity-support/

Published Date: June 20th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/dutch-news/kingdom-imposes-conditions-on-sixth-tranche-of-liquidity-support/

Published Date: Sept. 30th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/coho-no-choice-at-all/

Published Date: July 20th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/dutch-news/kingdom-puts-liquidity-support-on-hold/

Cartoon: COVID-19 The Great Reset Button

Published Date: Aug. 17th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/editorials/distance-learning-or-no-learning/

Cartoon: Chess vs Checkers

Published Date: Dec. 14th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/politics/political-grandstanding/

Published Date: Dec. 14th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/knops-demands-that-parliament-accepts-legal-basis-for-consensus-kingdom-law/

Cartoon: Chess vs Dominoes

Published Date: Dec. 18th, 2020
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/reviews/foundation-maintains-incorrect-claim-that-united-nations-rejected-kingdom-charter/

Cartoon: Pinocchio of Parliament

Published Date: Friday, March 19th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/news/pop-brison-bloopers-with-charge-against-mp-wescot-williams/

Published Date: Saturday, March 27th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/now-were-in-the-dog-house/

Cartoon: Shoe Throwing

Published Date: Monday, June 18th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/local-news/mp-christophe-emmanuel-lashes-out-against-mp-brison/

Published Date: Thursday, Sept. 16th, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/news/controversial-chairman-of-parliament-criticizes-mp-emmanuel/

Cartoon: St. Maarten Pig Trough

Published Date: May 11, 2022
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/opinions/follow-the-money-3

Cartoon: Robocop Cheerleader Brison

Published Date: Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/parliament/minister-doran-sticks-to-negative-opinion-about-ombudsman-report/

Cartoon: Captain of a Dinghy Boat Rolando Brison

Published Date: Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/government/government-maintains-majority-support-in-parliament/

Cartoon: Robocop Court Vineyard Heights

Published Date: Friday, Oct. 14th, 2022
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/legal-matters/ombudsman-closes-file-on-over-the-bank-dispute/

Cartoon: MegaWatty Prostate Enlarge

Published Date: Thursday, Dec. 15th, 2022
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/reviews/toxic-organizations-gebe-is-not-alone/

Cartoon: Robocop Zoom

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Cartoon: Robocop complains about GEBE bill

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Cartoon: Campaign Clean-Up Crew

Published Date: February 21st, 2021
Back Story: https://stmaartennews.com/local-news/complaints-cast-shadow-over-garbage-collection-bidding-process

Cartoon: Geerlings Leona Leak

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Cartoon: Skinny Meager Goat

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A photo published of an emaciated Theo Heyliger at the SMMC medical center led to the commissioning of this cartoon based on the local saying ‘Long rope for mawger goat’ as he was finally released officially that day from prison, allowing his wife Grisha to take him home from the medical center.