St. Maarten Private Eye

The saddest part is that no one has gotten any of their facts straight, but once again the finger pointing becomes an issue as soon as Election day is around the corner.
We will always be divided as a country if we constantly blame everyone else for the downfall of our society without realizing that we (and I do mean each candidate that represents a party) are a mirrored image of what the other is doing. Years have gone by in which the same antics have been utilized. Politicians travel the island "fetching" votes by doing favors for the citizens of the island in hopes of winning the race for that election. However, once in office everyone once again forgets what the main purpose was of having elections and the same cycle continues, and eventually escalates to a situation that is irreversible. In this case, the story of giving away land without proper documentation.
I am a student studying abroad in hopes of returning to St. Maarten to give back to this wonderful island, however the constant inconsistencies in the media are becoming quite bothersome, and growing a bit old. During prior weeks a debate was held in which citizens abroad and on the island had a front row view of who will be running for this year's election and to no one's surprise, the veterans are once again in the race ( the same ones we have always considered to have done absolutely nothing) with some inexperienced youngsters who are blindsighted by their egos. The very thought of returning to a MORE Corrupt and crooked St. Maarten is scary, however something can be done with the right government officials. I am convinced that government has indeed fallen short, however constant bitter statements will not solve one thing.
From the commentary it almost seems as if no one has done his or her research on the topic, and just enjoys sitting back with the evil eye on what Mr. Marlin should or could have done.
The main point to take away from all of this confusion 10 days prior to election is that the ultimate decision should not be solely based on gifts or promises made by any politician. After all, if the person can only obtain a vote through unethical ways, he or she probably won't be able to help you, your neighbors and friends progress ethically!

Don't lose sight of the island's future....and the future of your young people who want to come home and make it a better place.

Dear Anonymous:

Your comments are so right on! The Island is in a real need of change and yet it's people continiously fall for the bait and are weakened by bribery and the question still continues: Are you better off now that what you were 5 years ago and the answer from the majority of the people is no, but yet they still allow themselves to be dangled by the carrott.

This upcoming election is very crucial for our Island and those that are dangled by that same carrott will determine the future generations of Sint Maarten. Take responsibility and do the right thing, Vote for a leader you can trust and of course that is Gracita Arrindell, Leader of the Peoples Progressive
Alliance, she stands up for what is right and has the present as well as the future generations in sight. Believe in "The Secret", believe that their is a higher power, pray to that power, ask for it, believe that you are entitled to it and you shall receive it.

We as most of the world are loosing sight of the middle class that strives for achievement to better themselves. Somehow along the way crooked and self absorbed politicians have indeginous people believing that they can go from the bottom of the ladder to the top without believing there is a middle to that ladder and one has to pass thru it to get to the top.

Remember what former U.S. President John F. Kennedy quoted, "Ask not what your Country can do for you, ask what you can do for your Country"

If we want a change for the better, it is now in your hands.

I fully agree that Gracita can make a difference, she is motivated and will fight for her country and her people, she is not ( yet) tangled into old politics, too old for this island .
to save SXM politic as usual in no longer the answer.
Good sense is the key now.
good sound decisions.

yes investements are good but how?
who? what is the island getting out of it?
if it is only destruction of the beauty and peacful environment , then the island is finished. Dead, F.up for ever.

is it so difficult ot understand it?
the treasure of SXM is the sun the sand and the beauty and peace.

if we take two out of the four items ( thank God the sun stays) what is left to sell?
the condos will stay empty... the plains will arrive empty...
soon very soon...
Gracita go for it.

Guys, The Kadaster office is at lost, they were stormed with people looking to get a document to say they aint own land no where else.
They called Roy, he never answer them, then they sent him an email and agreed to do the spreadsheet way.
Now they dont know if which lots Roy selling because they have an old survey of Belevedere. They dont even know if the lots exists... Its stiill not clear if they can issue the new (owners meetbrief)
To make matters worst, Domain Office is lost too..
They said there is a new meetbrief ( big lie) the meetbrief they have is from 1996 which says that developers own the beach.. This is binding.
Duck International case with Dawn Beach Resident scheduled for Tuesday...
I think Lexwell Law Firm can check this out Jadira

Sorry, but an apology is not good enough, it's ridiculous that he was able to do this and there should be a serious investigation and look at how these procedures are carried out. Who the hell is he to just give away land like that.
There is no apology this man can give that would excuse him for his failures and for what he has done to this island.

LH

Comm. Roy Marlin is contributing to the discredit of his own party in a massive way, the leader of the DP will have to blame her own commissioners (plural) for the loss of votes in the coming election.

The roundabout with the statues near the government building will be enough of a big mirror to blind the voters?

Ok, so it is more than a week since the great Belvedere land scheme. Has anyone seen the list of persons who Roy allowed to apply for land on a Saturday and Sunday? While he advertised this application process for the Tuesday and Wednesday?
In the meantiime, Joan Verwoord had a protest action to renew her vendors license. She is a strong woman who has guts to stand up and speak up for herself as well as the people who showed their faces in her support.
So where is the outrage with the Belvedere people? Where is their protest action?
Don't tell me it is a nasty looking piece of cloth hung up in the bushes across from the housing district with a some crappy writing about we came, we saw and we settled. This is exactly the attitude of the real SXMner, loud on talk shows, loud on their porch, but when it comes down to proving their big talk, they looking for someone else to push their cause.
They will find every excuse in the book on why they would not support Joan, or the Dolphinarium people, or the residents of Dawn beach -they will shout at family gatherings of the injustice of the locals but when it comes to a march or a protest no where are they to be found.
And you know what??? They deserve the government they get, all the big fridges, big mattresses and beds, household appliances that cannot fit in their houses, the rental cars for a few weeks, they sell themselves out to the Political Santas.
I am not amazed anymore of the low attitude of the Belvedere residents, they were scammed, they were screwed over, but not one of them decides to protest in the name of transparancy. Since when is our Commissioner a real estate agent? It is the job of the SMHDF to take care of the Belvedere housing district and other public low cost housing.
There was a Island Council meeting on this issue, the DP voted in favour of their Commissioners action, so in my opinion they should all be held responsible for his mis handeling of the Belvedere land issue.
Again, has anyone seen the list that the Commissioner has with the names of the persons that applied for the land? The Belvedere residents who are renting, should have first priority for owning land. Some of these renters are living in a small apartment with a entire family, they deserve larger accomodations and the ability to own their own home.
Where is the outrage people? Why are you the Belvedere residents not staging a protest to see the list? Or did you people already accepted gifts and cannot open your mouths anymore?

Last week in The Daily Herald:
"Criteria that need to be fulfilled to come into consideration for a plot are: the potential buyer must be a Dutch national, registered as living on the island before December 31, 2006, must not own land already and must be employed."

Did anybody, for instance, check at the kadaster office if they made up 184 statements of non-possession? Did anybody see people standing in line there?

A liability is anything that is a hindrance. Roy must by now be a real hindrance to the destruction party. He is to the people of Sint Maarten. It's all over and talk of the town galore. The last nail in the coffin was the land scheme he put together. I wonder what The Daily Hoax will write about it if anything at all. Likely that "star" reporter Singh in her quest to get a permanent status and passport will write some lame story one day how Roy is a hard working commissioner and he means good for the people and it is all a misunderstanding. Daily cronyism at work.

But think of this. That morning, people woke up excited that they might have a chance to finally move up the ladder and build a home for their family. They woke up at 5 in the morning to be on time to have chance. Papers ready and all eager to grab the opportunity. Then roy sister walks in and tells all of them the land -they could not get in the first place- is all gone already. Disbelief, disappointment and a lot of dissing. Roy himself does not have the balls to face the crowd of course. He is grinning behind a coffee and reading what good stuff his crony wrote in the daily hoax.

People: It is a comedy. I am puzzled that you all still accept this nonsense and don't take it a step further and demand an explanation. What are you waiting for?
Maybe we should let Montecore out of his cage one more time . Grabbing him by the neck is indeed the only thing to do.

I will start my very first comment on this issue with; "Com. Marlin spit in the sky and it's about to fall in his cara..................

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

I thought, what's that? Then I looked at your link and laughed. Thanks for that.

Dr. Voodoo