St. Maarten Private Eye

Hey Daphné,

I think you are missing my point. Therefore allow me to clarify a little more.

What I’m saying is, you have billion dollar projects on this island on both sides. Yet the same people are always making more money of the simple exploitation hence “SMICARD” of course people are going to do it because they need to survive (if you are working to survive there is a problem). Like I said the idea of the American dream is unattainable. Because at the SMIC Daphné, you don’t need me to tell you that you can’t get a loan for anything or move on with your life.

Now you are talking about the fact that our social service provide for those people. Do I have to remind you that you always have to front your money then get refunded? So you do know that a play school cost between 300 & 450 Euros per month, unlike Dutch Side where they start from 170 to 250 USD (Rough Estimate).
Oh and Daphné, your 1254 Euros is a gross amount so your net is 985 Euros (environ). So let’s see 985 – 300 = 685 than you pay your rent all in euros let’s say your rent is 300 (realistically that rent does not even exist for a studio, but we’ll use the figure considering that APL covers the rest according to you) 685-300 = 385. Oh you still have your phone/light/ water/ gas/ mutual/ etc oops oh what the hell FOOD and PS don’t get sick and don’t go out ever. So you mean to tell me that you missed the latest big debate of our great republic.

Le Seuil de pauvreté n’a jamais été aussi bas en France! Les Francais n’ont jamais été aussi pauvre COME ON DAPHNE Be realistic. Why would SXM be an exception?

When we point out modern slavery in France because the Chinese are keeping their friend in a little apartment making “Bouchée aux Crevettes” for the reward of a meal HELLO !!!!. How is that different? We go to work and spend our time spending our marvelous 985 Euros and can’t even save 200 Euros per month because we are too busy surviving (getting food on the table for our family).
Sorry to burst your bubble dear but that’s a form of slavery. We may have stopped getting our ass cut but we are financially not independent. And that REAL LIFE!
“ Moreover, if you are, for example, a single mother making SMIC you are eligible for rent controlled housing, housing allowances, extra support for your children. All in all, it is not a bad life, for someone living on "minimum wage".

It’s not a bad life …. HUH!!!!!!!! Why should we settle for I don’t have a bad life? Aren’t we also allowed to dream and believe that achievements are possible? Are you saying that you are wrong for wanting to be ambitious and set long time goals?

Now it’s funny how you went in Bulgaria to compare! If our “Pouvoir d’Achat” does not help us through this life, then what’s the point of living it DAPHNE. You tell me!

Il faut arrêter quand même. The Average working class has to be able to work, not be worried about how to pay their unexpected expenses. WE SXM People don’t have that luxury yet. HENCE Slavery!

For the record:
Larousse de poche 1994 says and I quote:
1) Esclave adj. et nom. Qui est sous la dépendance totale d’un maitre. Qui vit dans la dépendance d’un autre, qui n’a pas un instant de liberté. Qui subit la domination d’un sentiment, d’un principe : être esclave de l’argent, de ses passions.
2) Esclavagisme Nom Masculin, Système social fondé sur l’esclavagisme
3)
Webster’s New New World Thesaurus 1990
1) Slavery n., Subjugation, restrain, involuntary servitude, Menial labor see work
Of course when u go to work you find slavery again along with exertion, struggle, stress, strive, and more of course.

Now I know you feel like the Word is a bit extreme but hey that’s life. AS you can see according to the context it can be called for. CLEARLY HERE!

Highly Opinionated Cathy