St. Maarten Private Eye

Yeah, cockfighting is prohibited in Dutch SXM, but it is tolerated. It has become a topic due to the draft ordinance for the protection of animals. That document contains a clause to prohibit all animal fights on the island.
If the Exco goes along, it cannot keep turning a blind eye to what is happening in Dutch Quarter.
Laveist has already said that he opposes a ban.
I appreciate the debate on PE and I will keep reporting about this subject.

O Psilos

Laveist will say anything without having background information and without thinking things through. If the newspaper has proof that cockfighting is taking place in Dutch Quarter, then go and take pictures and write a story!
It is illegal as it is, so why debate this? if any cocks fight on Dutch SXM, it is an illegal act right now. In fact, whoever was offended by the cockfights in Festival Village should go and make a formal complaint of what they saw and try to get whoever is responsible to live up to their crime.
The time has come for people to stop looking for others to do the job for them, every citizen has the right to file a complaint.
I heard today from another person that visited the Festival village that indeed the cockfight took place, the person then went on to say that it was very brief and over before the crowd saw what was taking place. Now, there is a police station in Festival Village, why did the police not arrest this entertainer that committed this illegal act?

This subject is like kicking a dead horse. Don't hold your breath about anything being done because, like I argued before here on SXMPE, there are just some things on SXM you should just let go. This is such an issue. Too many people, including "higher-ups", has a vested interest in it. At the Carnval Village the singer stayed on stage a long time with the fighting cocks fighting, almost his whole song. Much to the delight and loud cheers of the people in attendance including the police who stood and loved the show. Me too. I liked the performance. I had no issue with it at all. It's cockfighting, so what. I admire posters here who wants to champion every single issue that comes up, but you are completely naive if you think cockfighting will cease to exist based on the intervening actions of the powers that be. Cock-fighting MIGHT end over time, its dying out as the older generations are dying out. It will probably die a natural death. But keep dreaming if you think the law will step up and stop it. It's simply not an important issue.

Juliana Baptiste

Letters to the editor signed by a Juliana Jno Baptiste seem to appear around election time. Often the content is about Commissioner Theo Heyliger and Maria Buncamper. I would refer to the type of letters as damage control letters as they often appear in response to some other writer who had some negative opinion about the two Commissioners.
There are times that Juliana signs as Jno Baptiste and other times as Baptiste.
I remember some time back, Juliana writing some letter saying she is a voter. However upon closer inspection of our voters register, there is no Juliana Jno Baptiste registered as a voter.
The voters register is the list of voters that have Dutch Nationality and can vote on St.Maarten if they are registered on the island at the cenus office.
Now my question is, why would someone who is not a voter come out in defence of DP politicians? I have seen letters around election time where Juliana Jno Baptiste chastised Gracita Arrindell because of this and that and nonsense in general.
My gut feeling is that Juliana Jno Baptiste is a pseudynm for some DP damage control freak or spin doctor that spends their day spinning DP hogwash.
I have never seen a letter by this person wondering why the dump is on fire and questioning if something wil ever be done by the dear DP party to correct the problem, I have never seen a letter by this person questioning why our locals are complaining about the loss of access to our beaches.
I am left to wonder....... so many things........
But one thing I know for sure, I cannot take this writer seriously.

Is this the inquisition? I think you are out of bounds looking at people personal business in an effort to discredit them. This is not what I expect from this site.

I have addressed this issue in a reply by Julianna below. Questioning other users about their identity or attacking them personally is not accepted. This case is a little different in that one person claims the name and persona they use is real and another is claiming it is not. It's up to Julianna to prove it if she wants to, maybe she just chooses not to vote, there is no obligation to. Readers will make up their own minds what they think and how much value to give either position. - Flipper

Flipper

I have been following this thread. You must understand that the voters list is a list of eligable voters on the island of St.Maarten.
Even if Juliana decides not to vote, her name will still be registered. If she does not vote, the list will show that she did not show up at the polling booth to vote.
This list is used at the polling booth to register the voters when they arrive, names of voters that do vote are then scratched off.
Leaving ofcourse the names of the registered voters who did not show up. The past couple of years I have witnessed that the largest parties have their own people inside the voting room at their own table marking off the voters that do arrive and guess what???? each political party also has a copy of the voters list. It has become common practice that political party supporters will call the voters who did not show up yet to vote and 'give them a reminder'
I know several people that have recieved these kind of calls including myself.
What i am trying to say is that the voters register is in the hands of the political parties on the island. It is not a secret document.
The only thing I did not follow with Juliana's argument is some comment about dead people, this is an insult to the Lt. Governor and his people as they have cleaned up this list already. if Juliana is a voter her name will show up in this register otherwise she cannot vote.
For those people not of Netherlands Antilles origin following this thread, keep in mind that each voter that comes in to the polling booth has his/her name read out loudly across the room by the electoral committee that sits and ticks off the voters that do show from the voters list.
This is not the United Stated of America where one has to register to vote. Like mentioned above, each and every citizen of Dutch Nationality is automatic a voter once they are registered as such at the census office.

If Juliana is an agent who cares. She STILL has good points. And look where this post has gone. Down to jokes and people talking about all sort of other stuff. I would like to see some discussion on her points. Just like flipper said. They are valid. I think certain people are hiding and using this whole hoopla about her name as an excuse. Could we please get back to the high level discussions. PLEASE!

not signing my name IS my name :)

And sometimes I sign as JB, sometimes as J. Baptiste, sometimes as J.N. Baptiste, I guess it depends on my mood that day so what's your point? I now understand why people who write letters to the papers and on here refrain from using their names. This is exactly the type of backlash they fear. Went digging into the voter's list? Busy trying to figure out who I am. That list also have addresses, what are you gonna do when you find me? Pay me a visit?

You sure you have the right list? Even the list after all those people who didn't get a voting card and was reported not on the list? Even that list? I dunno, I'm not gonna attempt to clarify anything from a list that still has dead people as voters. I must have really ruffled some feathers in here if posters are now checking into my background after I was comfortable enough to use my name. Not that it's any of your business, but the Herald has my name, address and phone number on file. And they've called to verify when I write. You know standard procedure.

And no rebuke from SXMPE? Wow. So I guess the point is clear, don't use your name. I didn't realise that SXMPE, who caters to mostly anonymous commenters, now requires people to explain who they are, where they are from etc etc. So I won't start now. You have my name, deal with it. Whats yours?

Then you say I pop up around election time. Did I miss something while I was off island for a bit? Is there an election going on now? Yet here I am talking about....the environment. Not about any politician. So what's your point? I have written in the Herald about issues from crime, to education to Carnival. I have not mentioned the DP anywhere here in my last posts, so where did your "i'm spinning" theory come from? I didn't mention the DP, you did.

Now I am not blind. I do realise that I am one of the sole voices in here that tends to look at things from a perspective that supports the status quo, the establishment. My tone, as Veen pointed out before, comes over harsh and "don't carish" sometimes. I know this. But I take away great suggestions from a wide range of issues here on SXMPE, I get an education. But there are times when I feel that posters don't quite grasp the realities of the "ground game" as it relates to a particular issue and the people of St. Maarten. That's where I usually chime in. Now excuse me mr/mrs poster if I kicked in the door to the kingdom, but I thought we were all free to make comments and have a discussion.

But nooo. Your post reminds me of.....the DP! Don't stand against them lest you be persecuted, you personal life rummaged through. Don't stand against them or your opinions simply gets tossed in the "who she think she be" box. Don't stand against them or you risk your opinions being classified as "conspiracy theories and spinning" simply because they are not in line with theirs. Let me know how you like the image in the mirror I just placed in front of you.

If some posters on SXMPE have come to believe that the site is solely an anti-government site, and anyone who even utters a word different than the majority of opinions is some sort of unwelcomed outsider, then I am saddened. Because I do not see the site as such. I could of course be wrong, but I hope not. I will not let one poster speak for all. Unless all start to echo your statements. Then I'll know.

JB, Juliana Baptiste, Juliana Jno Baptiste, J.N. Baptiste

PS: I think it is hilarious how an annonymous poster is going to state that he/she/it can't take ME seriously....an ANNONYMOUS poster!

Actually, I think you make some very important suggestions in your previous post Juliana, it is my hope that once SXM PE gets relaunched and making an income from advertising, it's gift store and donations then we will be able to take the message and information to the people as you suggest by sponsoring such efforts and programs. It does need to be approached as a political campaign issue, because it is. You are right, the politicians will jump on board, few if any of them are real leaders, they are followers pretending to be leaders and jumping out in front when it's politically expedient to do so.

You are right about users asking other users questions about identity, there is no requirement for people to use their real names here and if they do then they do so at their own risk. We prefer instead that people keep to the issues and arguments and refrain from personal matters, or attacks, on other users.

I won't claim to be an expert on moderating, it is a learning process and something new always pops up, like this thread. The writer who questions if the name you use is your real name has fair questions, you do present yourself as local, you do often support the governing party and it's policies and you do often present counter arguments to those espoused by regular writers here. It is not unreasonable to consider the possibility you do have an agenda coming here, it is fairly common for political and business interests (Exxon) to employ people to troll blogs and websites to cause disinformation and arguments. Nor is it unheard of that the supporters of political parties or causes do the same thing on their own time.

That person has an opinion about you and your writing, they explained how they came to that opinion, and you are free to reply and respond as you wish. One commenter's opinion does not speak for everyone else that uses this site, consider it like a stage, the readers are the audience.

I don't care who you are, there is nothing wrong with using an alias to write under and in fact I encourage it because it helps readers to follow a writers opinion and decide how much weight that writers opinion has with them, a reputation in a way.

Your case is tricky, on the one hand you use a name that you claim is real and another user claims that it is not. The user questions who you are because they are suspicious that you may be someone like, say Theo, or Maria? lol. Why not, Maria is fond of the internet and Theo is a smart cookie too. It is really up to you how much you want to prove you are a real person and your name is real, you are under no obligation to do so and I will make sure I moderate any more comments that press the question. Readers are quite able to decide for themselves what they think and how much value and consideration they give to what you say in your comments.

SXM PE is not an anti government site at all, but it does have an agenda and flavor based on progressive thinking and ideas, human rights, justice, environment, animal welfare, education etc. It's not hidden, and the fact that most of the politicians and policies the government has now clashes with these ideals just contributes to the taste. While SXM PE is open to anyone to contribute to, the core writers and moderators behind it support the agenda and you should not be surprised that your views get challenged.

The new SXM PE will make it so much easier for any user to post blogs and if well written or if they light a fire for an intelligent and educational debate then they will get promoted to the front page. Even Roy, Theo and Maria would be able to post blogs if they wanted, but anyone doing so must be aware that this is a forum and there will likely always be others who will disagree or challenge the views or ideas presented by the writer. You will be able to post your letter to the papers directly as blogs and create discussions and debates about whatever you want.

Anyway, I've been unable to log on for a couple days and there is a list of comments waiting to be published. As I say, i will pay more attention to the issue of users questioning others about identity. - Flipper

Alfred Marsden - Immigration Chief Cock figher dynamo - 23rd November 2006

Hey, prostitution is illegal too but the brothels are accepted. Another social aspect of SXM that needs progress via reform, legislation and oversight.

Hady

IN SXM they didn't call it Prostitution, they call it exotic dancing and entertaining! that way they grant the permits and legally there is no grounds for prosecution. Guys this is the Friendly Island, welcome to it. I think what you guys are missing in this whole discussion on cock fight is that Louis was saying fight for his cock is part of his culture. I heard somewhere two women were fighting for Louis and then this whole cockfight came up..., HA!

previous poster is funny. Some time ago2 of louis women had a major fight and the current girlfriend went to the police station to file a report against the previous girlfriend and mother of his outside child.
Only on St.Maarten this goes without a word while the news was carried in the Curacao press and online site smn-news.com. Louis cocks are his women, he does not need the birds.

O Psilos, while i myself is against cockfighting i don't see how you mr. intelligent can add this into draft ordinance for the protection of animals. COCKS are birds NOT ANIMALS! Unless you have the document and the fools that wrote it included cockfights in it.

Wow, I recognize an idiot when I see one. Since when were birds thrown out of the animal kingdom?
Get a brain, will you?

O Psilos

According to Wiki and Dictionary.com an animal is any member of the kingdom Animalia, comprising multicellular organisms that have a well-defined shape and usually limited growth, can move voluntarily, actively acquire food and digest it internally, and have sensory and nervous systems that allow them to respond rapidly to stimuli: some classification schemes also include protozoa and certain other single-celled eukaryotes that have motility and animal-like nutritional modes.

Wikipedia says that birds are bipedal, endothermic (warm-blooded), vertebrate animals that lay eggs.
Dictionary.com confirms that.
Brittanica is on the same page mentioning that the feathers are the major characteristic that distinguishes them from all other animals.

A bird is not a mammal but I I think it is fair to say that a bird is an animal.

Rackham

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

In the last Island Council Election last year PJD2 (I could have the source wrong, but I think I'm right) did a survey about the most important issues. The usual answers like education, crime, etc came up. Make a guess which issues hardly garnered any percentage points.......Environment & Animal Welfare.

So what happened? JUST like the US where politicians go as the people and the polls (talking points) go, SXM politicians went the same route. No serious discussion about those topics whatsoever because the majority of their constituents could care less. My point: While Veen, Deher, Caballero & Co. does admirable work, somethig is amiss! There is a disconnect between what they do and why people don't care (or think not important enough) about what they do.

I will say this again and again with no malice intended: These groups have to go into districts and involve the people of those districts to even see a slight change in attitude. I specifically mean places like Middle Region, Suckergarden, Dutch Quarter, St. Peters, Ebenezer, South Reward. The districts where more than 90% of the population of SXM resides.

Not just conduct a clean-up ever so often, go door to door, touch the people, treat it like a political campaign. THATS how you reach true sxm people. Alot of people on SXM view these groups as elitist and tailored for the bored, affluent, white & foreign demographic of the populace. Don't kill the messenger, I'm just stating what I know based on several discssions with people.

The nice pictures in the papers of whatever event seems to draw the same base of people every year. We have award shows that award the same people every year. The impression is you are just tapping eachother on the back for a job well done. When in fact, you have shown little progress when it comes to raising awareness to influence the the level of priority people place on the issues you champion.

Notice I said little progress, not "no" progress. Even the youth show little or no interest. I have a newsflash: A few young people who make environmental videos and take part in science fairs does not constitute "high concern" or involvement among young people. Quite the contrary. In fact I'm sure if you ask these kids who make the videos, they will tell you that their peers have little or no interest in what they do. And the majority of these kids have parents who are involved in the environmental groups or are environmental and animal welfare activists. It's almost natural then, that their children follow the same road. Therefore I do not think their positive achievements should be used as a barrometer for the rest of St. Maarten's teens.

Based on a survey conducted by the youth newspaper teen times in one of their recent issues, only 13 out of 100 young people showed an incling of Environmental concern. And who were those young people? Children of people who are actively involved in the environmental and animal welfare groups.

You will forever be taking 10 steps forward and 100 steps back if you do not somehow alter your approach. And if you don't think you are taking 100 steps back, then you are dilusional. I don't judge progress on how many meetings you've had, how many times you've met with government (I think they meet with you just to gag you by the way) how many clean-ups and awards you've won or even how popular you may be. I judge progress on how seriously my people take an isses and how actively they participate in bringing a positive change.

Simply put, in my humble opinion, you are not supported by the people that truly matter. As foundations I believe it's time to re-evaluate. Years after all your efforts we are stil here debating the same things. Ask yourself why. But thats just my take. Hope I didn't offend anyone.

Juliana Baptiste

You state that the children that make the environmental movies and participate have parents that are involved in the green groups and animal groups;

Lets take a look shall we?
Laura Bijnsdorp, no parent involved in green/animal groups
Andrew Sylvestre, No parent involved in green/animal group
Louise Lyclama, no parent involved in green/animal group.

The students that took part in the Science Fair, not one has a parent involved in green or animal groups.
The students involved with SIMARC, not one.

Again you are wrong Juliana, show me the child that is busy with environmental awareness through any non-profit group that has a parent involved with a green/animal group.
you are busy undermining the good these children are doing as you yourself are not aware of what is going on around you.

The majority are. Ok let me not group the kids. Cause I admire what they are doing. You are right on that point. I'm woman enough to admit that. BUT (you just knew a but was coming) I can mention a parent who's kids are involved, but you know what, I don't even want to discuss names and people's children. I'll stick to my previous points. And you need to not avoid my entire post an hide behind the kids. Address the post!

J. Baptiste

While we all know the Veen you are reffering to, who is Deher and Caballero?
I follow the green movement on SXM and I know that a Andy Caballerro left the movement some years back. Even when he was part of the movement he did not stick our significantly. And who is Deher?
You offer advice, eventhough it seems you really do not have much background information.

Andy still very much cares about the environment. I didn't realise he had to "stick out" to matter. The Deher (Kathy, Michel, Brian et al) family still very much care about animal welfare having been some of the instrumental people in getting that movement going. I understood what you attempted. To paint me as I don't now what I'm talking about or who these people are. You underestimate who you speak to. And you didn't even discuss a single thing else I wrote. You focussed on who "stuck out". Thanks for making my point about your priorities. Good luck with your future efforts. I mean that.

JB