St. Maarten Private Eye

Today is November 11th, St. Maarten/Martin´s Day, I have no doubt that all the local power and money hungry politicians, from both sides of the island, will be out and about giving speaches, stoking the ol fire of national pride. Reinforcing the delusion many seem to have, that because they are local we must be proud of them too.

Every local, and by local I include those who have emigrated here, who love the island and call it home, should avoid the ´political´events today and do something else instead. I have some suggestions.

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1. Watch Caribdude´s photovideo about Global Warming called St. Maarten - Past, Present and Future. Although it was made with the intention to highlight climate change, the first part will remind you of what we have lost.

2. Take the family for a drive around the island, open your eyes and really look, at what we have gained, reflect upon the price that has been paid. It´s Sunday, traffic may be lighter than usual, maybe not.

3. Go visit an old favorite beach. Kim Sha maybe, Ms´B´s, or better yet, take the whole family, cooler boxes and bbq and go spend your day in front of the Westin, make some friends.

4. Many will likely go to Mullet Bay, lets face it, it´s really one of the few places left where locals can gather to enjoy a traditional day at the beach. If you go there, then consider that new plans being drawn up for the area will likely limit access for locals. Afterall, we all know those high priced condos don´t sell too well if a certain level of privacy can´t be guarenteed.

5. If you do go to Emilio Wilson Park, then take a moment and look up the hill at the whole estate and reflect that if it wasn´t for people like Wilhelm Patrick, Jadira Veen, Fred Philips, Rueben Thompson and dozen of others who stood up to oppose Henri Brookson´s self enrichment plan to develop, then it would most likely now be looking like Cay Bay.

Consider that here we are, 4 months after the last minute IC decision in July and it still has still not been acted on, despite many requests, the IC or Exco have yet to sit with and discuss the matter with the foundations who fought for it to be preserved. And then some idiot decided to give Theo a medal. I wonder if he will wear it today if he visits the park

6. Find somewhere quiet, if you can, where you can sit and think. Think about the future, your future and that of your children. Think about the rush to new status and how national pride, vanity and lust for power is driving the head long rush to a very uncertain and insecure future. I mean seriously folks, think about Minister for Justice Roy Marlin and tell me the idea doesn´t give you cause for concern.

7. Make a commitment, to yourself and your children. To pay more attention, to be more informed and to be more involved and engaged. By making this commitment and actively being a part of the community you will really be loving St. Maarten, not just talking about it like so many of our politicians do.

It´s up to you, you have the power to cause change, you have the right to demand change. You have the right to demand accountabilty from the public officials and politicians who act and work for you and for St. Maarten. It´s not a hopeless dream, have faith, courage and confidence that you can make a difference, that your voice does matter. You are not alone.

St. Maarten needs your love, desperately. Please give generously.

Hady Nufyet

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