St. Maarten Private Eye

A bird also feels distress and pain. And in my opinion, those who get pleasure and enjoyment from watching and gambling on the pain and suffering of animals should take some time and reassess their morality and conscience. I blame the education system and the lack of any real guidance of leadership from politicians and govt. Progress means having to leave things behind, cockfighting is definitely one of those things. Claiming 'culture' does not trump the science and psychological studies linking indifference and insensitivity to the suffering of animals to similar behavior towards other humans.

There is a great deal of insensitivity, inconsideration and disconnection to others and the value of life in St. Maarten, compared say to Europe and most of the US. We have a great deal of domestic violence, we have gangs and youths stabbing and shooting each other, we have violent attacks on tourists. We all know that there are more than a few people out there who would assault or even kill you if you get on the wrong side of them or in an argument.

It's not just that there is little security from such people, unless a victim presses charges they always go free again, if they even get picked up at all. It's not even that if they do get sentenced it's always very mild. It's got more to do with knowing that there are people out there, more than a few, who really do not understand or comprehend the value of life. The ones who may stab you just for looking at them the wrong way or saying something that makes them feel or look stupid, which they usually are. I think most of you out there reading this know exactly what I am talking about.

No, I am not saying all those who are involved with or go to cockfights are dangerous and unstable (just in case someone claims it). I'm saying that St. Maarten desperately needs progress if it is to have any chance at a happy future. It needs progress in it's environment protection, it needs progress in it's education system, it needs progress in energy and it needs progress on a social scale too.

But hey, our govt won't even take responsibility for it's orphaned, neglected and abused children so I guess it's only a slim hope for an animal welfare ordinance. It's in the queue, behind zoning, the Emilio Wilson Estate, the Marine Ordinance, the Monument list and ordinance, an island sewage system, etc etc.

Hady