Wishful thinking

By Hilbert Haar The prime minister listening to his own fairy tale. That is how comedian Wim Kan once described the traditional speech by the Dutch Queen (at the time) during the opening of the Dutch parliamentary year. Why does the speech Governor Ajamu Baly made during the opening of St. Maarten’s parliamentary year triggers this association? I More...

Eternal debt
By Hilbert Haar I am not an accountant and not a financial wizard, so I share my thoughts with our readers about rather diffuse topics like debts and refinancing on a personal title. The Netherlands loaned St. More...

Personnel affairs
By Hilbert Haar I am completely stunned by the way government-owned entities handle their personnel affairs. When you read the verdicts in the two GEBE-cases (against Sharine Daniel and against Clifford Sasso) More...

A hot air balloon
By Hilbert Haar According to UD-MP Sarah Wescot-Williams Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs sent a letter to government-owned companies urging them to hire locals for management positions. See Government has no clue More...

Trustworthy politicians
By Hilbert Haar “I am an honest politician,” the man said to the beautiful looking blonde who sat next to him at a bar. “Yeah, right, the blonde quipped. “I am a prostitute, and I am a virgin.” This is More...

A recipe for financial disaster
The intention to appoint two full-time directors at the Cadastre next to the managing director that is already in place has raised serious concerns with at least one Member of Parliament, the formidable Grisha More...

Where freedom ends
By Hilbert Haar I have written this more than once but this seems an opportune moment to repeat it: freedom ends where it intrudes upon the freedom of others. Unfortunately, the prime ministers of St. Maarten, More...

Who benefits?
By Hilbert Haar I am not a fiscal expert, let me make that clear from the get go, but I have a simple question. Have you ever wondered why things are the way they are? I ask myself that question a lot and now I More...

Carnival-advertising
By Hilbert Haar Party for Progress-leader Melissa Gumbs has called political advertising during Carnival “tacky.” It is a clear reference to the overwhelming presence of Vision for St. Maarten, the banner chosen More...

Independence
By Hilbert Haar José Lake Jr. and Dr. Rhoda Arrindell are two prominent proponents of independence for St. Maarten. You have to admire and respect the efforts they tirelessly devote to this cause. The question More...