St. Maarten Private Eye

Dawn Beach: --- Residents of Dawn Beach are presently living in fear due to the increase in crimes, mainly armed robberies. On January 11 2008 an American resident identified as Leta Lynn Cordes disappeared from the area and there is no trace of her since, this among other armed robberies have created an intense fear in the Dawn Beach community.

According to several emails that were sent out by residents of Dawn Beach stated that early Wednesday morning a check mate security guard who was on duty was kidnapped by armed bandits. According to the emails the guard was kidnapped and placed in the truck of vehicle which left the location at high speed.
The residents are now calling on those living in the area to start a vigilante group since they are feeling very unsafe. The residents said they will be on the lookout for all persons and or vehicles that are looking suspicious or strange since each of the residents in the area received a written letter notifying them of Wednesday’s incident.
They identified the guard as Trevor Blair of Jamaica who is known to be a friendly and hardworking young man. According the residents the armed bandits wanted the security guard to point out to them the homes of the rich people that are living in Dawn Beach and or Oyster Pond area.

In an invited comment Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard confirmed that police was called to the area around 1:30 am yesterday morning by residents who stated they heard the guard screaming for help. Leonard said that police were told that upon inspection the residents noticed a car speeding away from the area and the guard was nowhere to be found.

Several patrols were dispatched to the area and in deed the guard could not be found on his location. Police and the company for whom he was working tried contacting the guard by telephone and his company’s radio to no avail. Police began an intense search of the area and they later located the guard on the estate who was still in handcuff, and he was also bleeding profusely from a wound on his face and had to be transported to the St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment. The guard told detectives that he was kidnapped by four armed men who were wearing masks and armed with shotguns. Leonard said that the detectives could not take a full statement from the guard who is a patient at the St. Maarten Medical Center due to the injuries he sustained.

source smn-news

The issue is a serious one. Maybe some may need an interpreter for our island lingo but the facts remain the facts. What I read is that people are being hired without these positions being advertised locally and when they come in they don't have legal documents. They also are making more than the qualified locals while trying to get rid of these locals. Is this the Country St. Maarten that we want? Is this the type of practice that we want? The university should set a proper example or the people of St. Maarten/ St. Martin should call the university board and management to order.

I hope the writer of the above post does not work or go to school at the USM. I cannot follow that kind of writing.
The writing is hard to follow and I hope that this is not what they are teaching the students there.

I’ve read the above posts and what I can conclude is,

1: The first writer is trying to cover up their identity or writing style, but they state valid facts, anyone from St. Maarten who says that they can’t follow that thread are either lying or are in denial.
2: The 2nd writer who wants the first writer to learn to write proper English (not in those words) is just as silly as the first writer, because he or she is overlooking the point that is being made. I can only “assume” that this person is not concerned with that issue (so why comment at all) or just wants to distract from the point.
3: For the 3rd writer this hits home, so he or she most likely works at USM and knows the situation (Could be the same author of the first post). Again questions should be raised in the public forum and not SXMprivate eye. Try writing to the daily herald to get more exposure. I’m not sure how many people have read this post but I can see that only a few have replied.
4: The forth writer is concerned about if the original author is working at USM or going to school there. This is another attempt at being cute (just as the first writer was trying). I wish this person was going to school, At the very least they would learn to spell correctly and or make major grammar adjustments.
5: My personal opinion on the matter; this is what St. Maarten is coming too. We don’t live in a democratic society anymore, we live in a banana republic where deals are cut behind closed doors and the locals (not those born here or been here for a very long time) get a shot at making it to the top. There is no equal opportunity. This is just another example of how rules only apply to a select few. If I had personal information on the matter and could verify these statements, I would surely have called the immigration department and have these good gentlemen deported until they get their act in order. All while making this a very public issue.

Just my two cents.

I cannot comment on the financial controller's position. The Dean's vacancy position was known locally and advertised for quite awhile. There is a lot to consider to find a Dean with qualifications to lead the University of St. Martin into its becoming an accredited institution. If there was a local with that knowledge, he/she would have certainly been considered. When you are applying for a job at the Doctorate level, you do look in educational journals and on educational websites for employment listings all over the world. This is a common thing. Check one out online. Perhaps the first writer is just using a humorous style to report the issues.

Did you read the article on sxmislandtime.com about this same USM issue? A lot was brought to light. Some years back money was raised to build a library at USM. What happened there? To date, I have not seen a library

USM staff calls for management team removal - 2nd October 2008

Well, as we all can see, in St. Martin, if you want to get ahead, just steal something and you will get a better position in the end. The more you steal, the better the position.

It's payback time for the NA for the ruction they caused the DP in the Buncamper-Telem affair. Joan Smart-Berkel is a soft-spoken lady who obviously is no Maria. But by giving up her position, NA has one up on DP. She can not expect to function properly with a sword of Damocles hanging over her head. She did the right thing. Respect!!!

I've followed with days the papers and sxmpe to see how the reactions would be regarding the saga Joan Berkel Smart. Before I delve into the facts and story let me say it's sad what has happened to a GOOD state secretary.
The facts however are quit simple: Naf 42.000,- went missing and Ms Berkel testified to SOAB that the RATS eat the money. Ms. Berkel paid back the Naf 42.000,- some days ago with a check to the LT. Governor as she thought it was being deducted over the years from her salary which wasn't the case. This story was in the papers to my memory. The facts are a couple of years old and Ms. Berkel went through the antecedenten onderzoek by the VNA (national security)
It's amazing when I read the TODAY newspaper today (ed Saturday) in the commentary to read the one sided story telling, Like one of the post said in the Maria saga EVERY DAY was a different headline and tens of follow up stories to make something happen or give. William Marlin reacted to hastly in this matter asking Ms. Berkel to step down. The VNA didn't find nothing and the SOAB report didn't accuse her of stealing the money. (otherwise DICK would have locked her up "I hope')
So what's the big deal you say! Well very simple. Every minute it's something different involving politicains and/or high ranking officials. HIGHER SUPERVISION will follow if we continue destroying our own. Comic Duncan already is asking for it to be put as he didn't get his way with Winair and Sarah.
I didn't agree with the maria saga nor do I agree with the Berkel saga. But to the media I say good reporting we now know where you'll stand on being biast.

What's up with the governor. I hear he smelling bad. (he like Holiday)

I agree that I would've love to read more indepth details in the newspapers regarding this case. Everything is sketchy and conflicting. The newspapers need to do more digging and investigative reporting. If only for the simple reason of creating awareness to a serious problem in government (and government-owned companies for that matter) regarding the lack of a system of checks and balances, controls, supervision and timely reporting when it comes to financial matters.

The only fact that is undisputed is that all parties involved made it clear that Joan Smart-Berkel should step back and she has done exactly that: she has resigned her position.

Is that an admission of guilt of any past wrongdoing?

Is paying back NAf 42000 - if true - an admission of guilt? I don't know. What I do know is that now that Mrs. Smart-Berkel has resigned, she should make a public statement as to what exactly is the true nature of this case and why she didn't fight it. There is more to this case than what meets the eye.

It's one of the times I can say that I openly agree with your assumption on the Berkel Smart case when it comes to the media. That Mrs Berkel-Smart make a comment after the fact that she resigned means nothing more than cleaning up the mess. The comment should have been made before she resigned as her political carreer is over. What a shame as she was a decent state secretary in my opinion. She worked hard and did a lot for SXM. She helped Maria bring the lab home. But like I said earlier you don't step down from such a position because somebody says so based on rumor. Her stepping back is based on COLD HARD FACTS in the SOAB report. Let's hope the DAILY HERALD and THE TODAY through their WELL INFORMED sources can get the report and PRINT the whole story. Stop writting rumors and put the hard facts. Let's NOT repeat that shamefull act of crucifiing people (remember Maria) when what's being said isn't correct. Get the facts and write the story. Question the governor on open government as he send the SOAB report to the prime minister. Question William Marlin and the rest of the NA on the real story. Question comic Roland DUNCAN on his good governance stance. What a damm joke this whole story is! But then again what GOOD journalist we really have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you serious? There are people who still holding their breath waiting on the media here to do good work? You'll die before that happens. They don't know how to dig or do any investigative reporting. News come to them, they don't get news. What they are is simple: sponges for rumors. Don't hold your breath any longer. Local media is pathetic.

That because the Herald headline is not one that grabbed attention. I asked some of my friends and they didn't even notice the story. So we will see.

Uhm, the story of Smart Berkel was on the front page of the herald, what more do you want? I guess your friends can't read and need an illustrated version?
Typical of people on SXM, they don't read, all they do is scan the paper looking at pictures.

Nonsense. I understand what the previous poster was saying. The story appeared on the bottom fold of the paper almost among the ads with a very light headline. "Berkel asked to reconsider her position" that could mean anything, could even be positive. So I can understand how it hasn't gotten attention. In maria case now headlines were blaring even BEFORE herald had any "proof" of anything. Headlines with "embezzlement"..."stripped of portfolios"...."wrongdoings"..always above the fold of the paper. So stop. With newspapers its also about where and how you place something. Can't blame the people for going for the sensational when it was clear that is what herald was doing. Not in berkel case though at least not yet. All of a sudden in Herald editorial today is preaching restraint. Very funny. Where was the restraint with Maria. Also PJD2 had that she was relieved of her duties. Herald should start diggin instead of telling us to take it easy.

Someone seam to know their Newspaper business. Don't compare the NY times with the Daily Herald. Where the hell is the DH's below or the bottom of the fold?
The size of the NY times and the Daily Herald are very different.
Where the story appears below or above the fold in the daily Herald does not make sence, just becuase of the size and layout of the paper which is different from your conventional paper layout.
I agree that the headline did not draw the attention that it should have.
The story regarding Ms Berkel needed more substance, because it is a very interesting story of deceit to some level.
There was some money missing in this case. Ms Berkel should have cleared the air on the missing funds. The newpaper should have followed the smoke and ultimatley published where the fire was. They should have pressed the leader of the NA a little more, aswell as follow the leads in the SOAB investigation or get a statement from the prosecutors office. The lady in question is part of the coalition government in the Fereral government.
If there's an investigation which warrants our attention, then let the chips fall where they should.
Ms Berkel should step down and someone able body with the qualification to be State Secretary of Health should be appointed.

... ipsos custodes.

Today's news about a guard being kidnapped and the news that State Secretary Joan Smart-Berkel is set to resign today were cause for me to read up on my Latin philosophy and find the expression "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" because it is applicable to both newsitems: "Who watches the watchers".

It is good to see after all these years that certain information is being brought to light by the watchers (read SOAB) - a bit on the late side - but hey! what can you expect from a government foundation that has to untangle the myriad web woven by our politicians not willing to admit to any discrepancies in their pasts before accepting their positions as the people's representatives?

Because, really.... how hard can it be to inform your peers before you accept appointment that there may be some skeletons in your closet? And aren't appointees investigated to check their antecedents and background checks carried out to make sure there are no skeletons in their closets? What kind of investigations do these crackerjack investigators carry out?

Like I asked: who watches the watchers? Who guards the guards?
It's a pity how low our society has descended both morally and ethically.

asked Plato.. His own answer to this was that they will guard themselves against themselves. Simplified the question is where the ultimate power should reside.
The answer is that noone should have ultimate power. That is why we must separate powers in executive, legislative and judicial. A significant problem on Sint Maarten is that the executive and legislative powers are in one hand. The Maria saga is a good example how an executive was saved by colleague executives wearing their legislative heads. Under the BES rules this can no longer be. We should learn from that and do the same. Commissioners cannot be IC members at the same time like senators cannot be ministers. What is so difficult about that?

Ego funditus congruo. I totally agree.

See the MacGee Manifesto in the Brady Bunch thread.

Dualism in governance, it's called.

Angelina
angelinablogger@gmail.com