Direct Rule: Teaching the Naughty Islanders a Lesson
Dear editor, St. Eustatius, a Public Entity of the Netherlands was recently placed under direct Dutch rule after the ‘Committee of Wise Men’ concluded in its report that there is a “gross neglect of duties” on St. Eustatius. The report further characterized the administrative situation on Statia by lawlessness and financial mismanagement, but More...
Test for evaluating candidates
Dear Editor, My test for evaluating candidates for the upcoming election is to question them on how easy it is to make things better on Sint Maarten. If they claim it is easy then they drop on my ratings. Much of More...
“Mr. Knops, do not disappoint us!”
Dear Editor, Today is a black page in the political history of St. Eustatius. Even in the old days, when the Statia government, without significant support from the National government in Willemstad, had to operate More...
Dump fires are the new norm on St. Maarten
Dear Editor, On the night of Sunday February 4, the people of St. Maarten were again reminded of the deadly, living giant which has now become more of a landmark than our salt pond or any of the other national monuments. More...
Koos Sneek: “Very unfortunate, but unavoidable”
Dear Editor, This morning early, I have taken notice of the news that the National Government has taken the decision to sideline the government of St. Eustatius and to appoint a special commissioner who will take More...
Why we are called Civil Servants
Dear Editor, The main motivation when postulating one’s self to political party is to serve the people. It’s why we are called Civil Servants. Unfortunately, however; not every postulated candidate shares More...
Why yes to Spadaro and not a basketball court for the youth of Fort Willem Mr. Giterson of UP/DP coalition?
Dear Editor, Why is this interim cabinet hell-bent to destroy the approval granted by his predecessor CHRISTOPHE EMMANUEL of the NA to build the long awaited and promised basketball court for the youth of Fort More...
Time to put down the flag
Dear Editor, After hurricane Irma the site with the flagpole was set up. A lot has been said about the flagpole. Mostly about the costs of USD 150.000. Despite all the negative, I find it was good idea. From many More...
Describing investors as “greedy” is not productive
More and more I am hearing investors in Sint Maarten described as being greedy and exploitative. Yesterday a posting on Facebook did this without nuance. Whilst in the early years investors in Sint Maarten were More...
Dictatorship of the majority
By Koos Sneek In the Daily Herald of Friday, January 19th, there was an article about the Island Council meeting in Statia held on the day before. In the article the reporter mentions that the faction of the Democratic More...
