St. Maarten Private Eye

No surprise here, it´s the same old story, passing the buck and avoiding responsibility for the situation on the island, not just in law enforcement but also in development, education and environment, to name a few of the very serious problems we have.
Personnally, I think it could be time for a new referendum with all the options of SXM´s future relationship with Holland and the other NA islands being offered. I don´t think Sperate Ststus won because people want the island to be totally independant, the main reason it won was because people were sick of being ripped off and neglected by Curacao and the federal system of govt.

Flipper

And you're doing a fine job of showing the world our bad press. I dont think if you people have visions of grandeur, but you live on a rock. Not many people care, not many people know. But here you come along ane letting those who may not know, know. Plus I realise that doom-preaching is in style on this site, heck its practically the theme of every day, but with some fixes here and there SXM will be just fine. It's not a catastrophy. You can sit in you little cyber world with your little fake names and rub eachother's ego's all you want, but until you get your message out in the mainstream with REAL PEOPLE attached to the complaints, you'll forever be having this lil members only party. This site is NOT mainstream. If you do a survey among the people that MATTER, you know, the "small man", nobody has even heard about or read this site. I remember The Dailye Herald messageboard usedto be just like this, then, because people got tired of talking, it went dead. Same can be said for some of the issues you've been rasing here recently. No comments, dead end discussions, no substance. You complain and complain. Send some stuff to the papers, stage some protests, do SOMETHING. You bash politicians on doing nothing, so look in the mirror and ask what viable contribution have you made to SXM? I mean besides giving certain members ideas to go fluff their resume with? You haven't done a darn thing. You bash politicians from behind a screen name the use the excuse "its your right". I beg to differ. People who hide behind a screen name are afraid that the hypocrisy of their lifestyles might render them silent if they want to give an opinon about anything. You preach about openess and transparency then hide behind a name. Hypocrites. After a while the only thing that comes from talking is SOUND! And I do believe that people are going tone deaf to this doom preaching from a bunch of ghosts.

Julian A. Petty
look me up

www.bonaireenews.com

Tonight, I had the pleasure of meeting a recent inductee of Flipper's blog posse.

The man, a retiree and self-proclaimed computer illiterate, has for years been a vocal (and erudite) commentator on life on this "rock" in the DH letters to the editor section. Rightfully so! When I later ran into Paul himself, I asked his opinion on those letters and was told: "he's weird, but usually right on the mark!"

Julian, I honestly believe you're missing the point when you say (to paraphrase) that this blog is merely a fringe outlet for anonymous salon socialists (or perhaps socialites?) - discussing for discussion's sake... How can you read these posts and see them as anything but protests? The issues are out in the open for anyone to see (who has been given light but prefers to guide themselves); I bet you'd be surprised to find that this blog is getting quite some traction where it matters.

One last point, your taking issue with anonymity. It may come as a surprise to you that many people that have become known as revolutionaries in history chose to publicize their rationale for change under a pseudonym or pen-name.

François-Marie Arouet
Look me up :)

Just a reminder, anyone is welcome to make comments here or even post blogs, one person´s views DO NOT reflect or represent other writers or commenters Points of View, too many people seem confused by this. Just thought it should be mentioned, Please, he aint in my posse! Wasn´t even aware there was one, except maybe one thats after me. lol
Flipper

posse

Pronunciation: \ˈpä-sē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin posse comitatus, literally, power or authority of the county
Date: 1645

1. a large group often with a common interest
2. a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency
3. a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child)
4. entourage

Flipper, you don't think that the people who post here have a common interest?

I do and hope so, but not sure if Julian´s is the same as most of the readers, writers and users of this site.

Flipper

I fully support it, which of course does not mean I agree with it.

What exactly is it that you are saying Julian? That because bad news and serious issues are being published and discussed here that we are enabling the whole world to know our problems? You remind me of Dick Cheney a couple years ago claiming all was going well in Iraq, if only the media would publish the good news instead. You may live with your head up your ass, be my guest. Your attack is not unexpected, I´m only surprised it took so long to get here, it´s not the policies, the politicians or incompetance that got us in the mess we are in, it´s SXM PE for telling everyone about it. You funny person you!

You want to know why not many people know about SXM PE? It could be because we have never advertised or promoted ourselves, something that will change once the rebuild is done I assure you. Perhaps it´s just the people you talk to or maybe they just don´t want you to know they come and read here, did you consider that? Perhaps it´s because many of the ´small men´as you call them don´t have computers, a friend recently donated a computer to a school and he asked 8 students who were in a class how many of them had a computer at home, only one did, it was her dad´s.

Oh, and then you have the culture of fear that is indoctrinated into the populace by the DP governments of the past 40 odd years, people are in general afraid to speak up, be involved or pay attention to what goes on. Did you know there are some who are afraid even to make an anonymous comment on here in case somehow it gets traced to them? This fear factor is one of the many accomplishments of Claude that rarely gets mentioned at the yearly worship events held for him. He and the DP party crippled the development of the island´s people for their own personal ambitions and goals, and it goes on still today.

Which leads me into the ´hiding behind a screen name´as you call it. Honestly Juiian, I really couldnt care less who you are, it´s what you have to say and add to the discussion and the sharing information that goes on here that matters to me, you have done neither. I fear that you will never understand what a blog is, or how being able to write and express oneself free of discrimination or attack from others liberates a society.

I´m not sorry SXM PE is not your´cup of tea´, I could care less. I suggest you find somewhere else to go write or perhaps start your own blog about how wonderful everything is in St. Maarten, with lots and lots of excuses about why they are not. Feel free to blame the writers on SXM PE, I am confident smart people will see you for what you are.

You are right that people do use screen names partially from fear of people like you, who want nothing more than to distract from what is said by attacking the person saying it. I am not a public figure, I seek no public office and my business or personal life is first of all none of your business and secondly, totally irrelevant of the issues and subjects being discussed here. Try to stay focused Julian, please. Do some investigating using google to find out what blogs are, it´s not so difficult, even for you.

Flipper

Julian you are a clone of the fourth brother "Admit no evil," but only more RED. So, go create you own blog and pursue your "Everything is great on St. Maarten B.S agenda."

The only reason you came to this site is to be informed. And you like others will come again because this site is irresitible. We cannot be ignored no matter how deep you put your head up your arse.

If you were not so illiterate you would have noticed that the headlines came from your Daily Herald and Today newspapers. This is an island seeking closer ties with the European Union, wants paticipatory observer status with Caricom, OECS and the UN. As a country they will be seeking international recognition. Shouldn't the protection of the environment be on the agenda too?

It is sad to know that you are not among "the people that Matter."

I agree with Mr. Petty....this site will be irrelevant in a few more years. It preaches despair and disdain for everything that is st. maarten. and yes, it's definitely not mainstream, but mostly a passing diversion. I'm SURE though it means the world to the few that are hardcore bloggers/posters on this site, but as mr. Petty stated, if all you want to do is link us to sites that say bad things to the island, or slander politicians, or hurl $hit around for laughs and giggles...go ahead, this will go the same way as the daily herald forums, but it might last a bit longer, i'd give it the same length of time as another completely irrelevant site of the past...the Teen Times forum, which was nothing more than a "melee' spot for a select few teens on the island, this site is nothing more than a agenda pushing site for some bored drama queens intent on selling this vision that we live in a hell hole....if we do....why don't you move? and then you can write a blog about your paradise that we won't ever plan on visiting...cause...we LOVE it here

Are you living in a fantasy world? Look around you, you say this site slanders the politicians, wrong - they slander themselves. If all was Paradise then why would our Leader of Government come out with front page headlines in the Newspaper." Sint Maartiners are not even safe" Did she just awaken from a fairyland dream and realize that. Look around at the infrastructure, the enviornment, the living conditions of the people, the Electric Bills, water bills, food costs and yet one has to beg to pay them, as the people behind those counters need public relations training far more than any other place in the world I have been, and then they wonder why the locals are overlooked. Get a brain and a personality, WE RELY ON TOURISM, People enjoy coming to our Island but believe me their are other choices.and many are taking them! The report by the Nation Geographic Tourism study will shed some light as to why people are not coming back.

If you are are saying that Julian Petty endorses your view that we: "hurl $hit around for laughs and giggles...go ahead, this will go the same way as the daily herald forums, but it might last a bit longer, i'd give it the same length of time as another completely irrelevant site of the past...the Teen Times forum, which was nothing more than a "melee' spot for a select few teens on the island,"

I think Michael Granger, a former editor of the Daily Herald, would disagree with you.

SXM PE has moderators and we are not about to let this site be hijacked by trolls and flamers. Look those words up in Wikipedia. We give some leeway because otherwise we get accussed of censoring, but comments from people that just wish melee and bs arguments away from the real issues are not very welcome or encouraged.

Flipper

Hi Flipper, I am getting a little irritated about your postings lately. It is not about their content, but about the tone. In my opinion their tone is too arrogant and besides that, you are insulting people too much. In the previous posting, you talk about "hijacking the site by trolls and flamers". Although I also do not agree with Mr. Petty, it remains a basic rule to treat everybody on this site with respect and dignity. As you already said many times, it is not allowed to shout (= writing in capitals). But you did this in the posting "as stated already".
So, in my opinion everybody may write his comments on whatever is happening on Sint Maarten, whether you (or any other moderator) agree with it, or not. It might help to come with arguments and counter arguments, so that in the end people will actually see what's going on. Calling people morons, asses, trolls etc is certainly not the way to go and it will in my opinion finally result in less readers and writers. That will be a pity, since I really think there is a place for PE as an undependent news source and discussion forum.

A worried supporter of PE

Trolls and flamers are common on weblogs and in forums, we have had them and we will have more in the future. I was refering to what went on on the Daily Herald site and Teen Times, we will not be permitting that to happen to this site. While some people will be upset about that, I think the majority of readers and users want informed and intelligent discussion and debate.
Trolling and Flaming are common tactics used, sometimes subconciously, by people who do not like what they are reading and want to stir up arguments and off topic spats to distract from the real topic.
Mr Petty does not like or think much of this site, it is realistic to assume it will not and does not please everyone and there is a limit to how far one can bend trying to do so.

Blaming SXM PE for the exposure to the world of SXM´s problems is, in my opinion, a dumb argument. If people talk nonsense and sillyness then they will get a suitable response from me. If Petty wants to post again with a more intelligent argument that he is welcome to do so. Few comments get deleted, on average about 1 every 3 or 4 weeks I would say. The purpose of this site is for people to exchange opinions, debate and discuss., intelligently. Petty´s comment was published and I responded, in the best way I felt, clearly.

Oh, I reduced the caps you mentioned, it was not my intention to shout, just to make it clear, anyone can come and post a blog, if they have an issue of tstory they want to open up then they should not wait for a regular writer to get to it but do it themselves.

I will take note of your words and do my best to moderate my moderating :)

Flipper

How St. Maarten can get positive press on CNN.com and the Herald only does a tiny little story and buries it. If the story was negative it would be on the front page again. Media in general, including sxmpe, thrive on the negative. The people in charge tend to use the "we don't create the news" excuse, but when something positive happens, like the CNN story, you never hear about it or it is buried. It's all one big pissin contest to see who can get the most negative news first. No amount of sugarcoating can hide that. Any media person who tells you they would prefer positive news over negative or controversy is a blatant liar.

Please link us to the CNN story you are refering to.
is it the story about how much cruise passengers are coming to the island? while this is great for Front Street business it hurts the traffic and is an overload on the infrastructure as National Geographic pointed out.
I have no idea what story you are refering to, but keep in mind that many travel reporters get paid to "sell" a destination. My neighborhood has been out of water for four days in a row, I am wondering where is the paradise that you are speaking about, by the way, I woke up this morning to a foul Smokey smell as well.... did the Philipsburg dump burn down the town or did something else happen?

It´s been said a hundred time already, if you find some news and want to post it here, then go right ahead. I personnally am off island right now so I don´t know what story you are talking about, but I can tell you that there are no writers sitting at their computer waiting to post everything that comes along.
The idea is that the content here is USER generated, meaning you get to put in content. Are you under the impression SXM PE has a full time staff? So go back a few blog posts and find the one I wrote about posting a blog, then follow the directions and post your news story.

As for negative news, do you remember how Dick Cheney blamed the media for writing about and showing bombs and killings in Iraq and not focusing more on the good news? The Pentagon even hired people to write only positive news for the papers there, most of it pretty lame and pitiful anyway. Last throes indeed huh?

If you only want the good news and to hear about things that are going right then I´m sorry but this site is probably not going to appeal to you very much, unless you want to spend a little of your time to write some blogs. I will say this, no amount of good news will make the bad news dissapear, nor will it make the bad things better.

Please, be my guest and write some ´Good News´ blog posts.

Flipper

The issue is not about good or about news. I believe this site was intended for people to express themselves about situations which according to them affect the communty at large, or to make recommendation to improve the situation. The only problem is the way and the manner in which they express themselves. The truth can be said in plain english language without insulting anyone. All those that write negative reports about sxmpe please recommend to me another site that deals so much with issues for sxm in particular. This is all about the survival of sxm and we need all hands on board to prepare us for the next constitutional stage. Jadira just wrote about the lack of allocation of "sufficient" funding for the environment on the budget of 2008. Ruben continue to discuss the issue on the traffic situation. Crime is on the rise and there seems to be no end. These are the things we need to talk about because these things affect our day to day living. Abuses are taking place on a daily basis and there is no where to go then to go to sxmpe and express your frustration. We need to vent ourselves sometimes and many of these talkshows host has their own personal agenda's and they hardly do the necessary research to present a good program. Have a blessed day and sxmpe will continue to roll inspite off.
soon

AMEN AMEN AMEN .....

Preach the fear, this site is turning into the TBN of blog sites....we are all doomed here on this island, it's the end of this, the beginning of that. I woud love to see some blogs about the great things going on (and not just advertisements for functions lol, hope you all got paid for that ). How about a student section with their ideas about the bad AND THE GOOD. How about a section with "what's great on our island right now" How about a section "Person of the week/month etc"...how about "Finally St.Maarten is better off because......" ...don't think you'll get feedback? try it. might bring a few more readers here. THIS PLACE ROCKS!!!!

to proving you wrong about this site and how long it will be here. In case you haven´t noticed, you are welcome to post your own blog post here too, though I doubt you have the ability or that many users of this site will agree with you.
Your suggestion that if people are unhappy about some things and issues here then they should leave is pathetic and quite revealing about your intellectual level. I really see no reason to waste my time responding to such drivel, so like with Mr. Petty, feel free to go start your own blog or find one that is on your level.

Flipper

You know you are right, i just found out about this site a little over a month and I LOVE IT. As a St.Martiner,this is the only site I feel free to talk about the french side and the dutch. And for those who find we are talking too much about SXM or too negative, this site makes me share the anger I'm feeling actually because I love my island. My criticism aren't to bring down the island or its image but to show to my bro and sis that we can ameliorate the island we love. But this is what it's called private eye, to see what others don't, if you don't agree, open your own site. In addition, many times I sent the newspaper my views on issues happening on the island because I love my Island, and I do praise my island for the good it has in it but this not paradise but we can try to get close to it by improving where we can.

Love you Sxm

I think the ignoramous actaully enjoys this site, otherwise why is he here writing?
I check out several blogs a week, if there are some I don't enjoy their rethoric such as Big Dick Cheney right wing fan clubs I never go back.
i would never even write anything on a blog that is pro-Iraq war, pro- George Bush, so why would someone who doesn't like the tone set by SXM PE actually takes his time to write that the writers and readers here are not in his style?
Ah, maybe he thinks this is the old style Daily Herald message board? and he can infiltrate and push people away with pro-political nonsense?
This site is about many things, one of them being that the people demand accountabilty from their elected representatives and this includes also the opposition that sits in the Island Council.
We have not heard from the NA IC members lately except some meeting to discuss Constitional Affairs, I am left to wonder if they have left SXM local politics for good.
But of course this site is above Julian Petty's head, he is so pro-one party politics, he is typical of the people who enjoy rallying around a party for no good reason, just to feel part of something.
Politics is not a soccer match or your favorite NBA team, but rather a complex matter where elected politicians have to serve the people in the peoples interest.
We here on this site are not under any obligation to do a damn thing, we are not elected to serve the people. And like the others have already pointed out... if you want to read only the good stuff please create your own blog or go to the SXM tourism office site.
At least here we bring out what is wrong with SXM and many times try to come up with suggestions -maybe not too many writers come up with suggestions but the idea is for discussion.
You listen to Lloyd Richardson and watch Oral Gibbes? well others enjoy SXM PE, so get with the program and we will be looking out for your new red Julian Petty blog site soon.

You know you are right, i just found out about this site a little over a month and I LOVE IT. As a St.Martiner,this is the only site I feel free to talk about the french side and the dutch. And for those who find we are talking too much about SXM or too negative, this site makes me share the anger I'm feeling actually because I love my island. My criticism aren't to bring down the island or its image but to show to my bro and sis that we can ameliorate the island we love. But this is what it's called private eye, to see what others don't, if you don't agree, open your own site.

SXm4life, love lala

Which Petty?

Daily herald- Julien F Petty on PAYE- Aug 21 2007

Daily herald- Decent bus driver on PAYE- Nov 8 2007

Today- Where are the truly decent bus drivers- Nov 9 2007