St. Maarten Private Eye

Who would have thought the ruckus instigated by the NA and further fueled by Marietje's statements and the whole Telemgate affair would have had such far-reaching consequences? Het hele bedrijf ligt nu op zijn kop. The whole Group of Companies is turned upside down. And the loose change is falling out of everyone's pockets.

The whole affair has reached such proportions that it is now easy to lose sight of what it is all about and what the consequences are or will be (for those involved). Door de bomen het bos niet meer kunnen zien, as they say in Dutch. We can't see the forest for the trees.

The public debate going on, in the Island Council; on the streets; wthin the Telem Group of Companies; amongst the employees; union; management; board; on this forum; and in the newspapers show one important element that is undeniable: there is a wind of change blowing.

People are becoming aware that it serves a higher good to be critical and openly so. Opponents of such a development can cry foul all they want. Including the Telem management with their open letter to the people of St. Maarten in The Daily Herald. But this will be to no avail. The Berlin wall came down the same way. The walls of non-transparency in St. Maarten have to fall also.

Telem has some serious internal issues and management can no longer stick its head in the sand like before and hope this will all blow over. Deal with the issues and clean up your act. That is what's needed. Not a full page ad full of huff and puff. Who's money is paying for this anyway?

There is definitely a wind of change blowing over this island. Even the Carnival Foundation (SCDF) is getting de wind van voren. The board is feeling the hot breath of the carnival contributors breathing down their necks and there is no other way out but to resign. Fabiana you're a fabulous person, but you've got go. Sorry.

From the Taxi Assocation's board to the Chamber of Commerce's new board, everyone is now feeling the winds of change. People are getting critical. They don't want to be taken for granted any longer. To further stimulate the winds to ensure permanent change, here is in short what needs to happen now.

- Politicians must full give disclosures.
- Island Council members should not be Executive Council members.
- Local non-political (preferably retired) professionals should be appointed to supervisory and advisory boards.
- Appointments to boards should be minimum 2 years, maximum 3 years.
- Compulsory local counterparts and training of staff members for replacement purposes when hiring foreign managers and external consultants.
- Complete transparency in awarding of contracts by government and government owned companies and affiliated foundations.
- Enforce "No work, No Pay" policy on a strict basis.
- Establish Ombudsman Office immediately.

Call this the Macgee Manifesto if you'd like. Everyone on this forum will know where I stand when discussing the issues. I for one like the feel of this breeze blowing. Gives me hope for the future country status of St. Maarten.