St. Maarten Private Eye

I think the comparison to the French way of returning land to people is a bit contrite. Coming from a relative of one of the former interested parties of that land, one of the main reasons it's going 'back to the people' is because of the complete mess of the legal system when it comes to land. Add the passing away of some involved members and french 'zone vert' law and it's easy to see how this is happening. However, the article was absolutely correct in stating that green zones are not respected. By whom you ask? The government and the privileged investors whose networking skills and close ties to government officials allow them to undo certain green zone areas to develop. Just look at some areas on the Eastern part of French St. Martin. And there are more areas to follow soon. Green Zone Policies do not prevent development, it only makes it more difficult and time-consuming to apply for construction permits on these zones. What is more important for us to focus on is to get people en masse to protect these areas once they are considered green zones. An organized, peaceful, and consistent protest movement can put pressure on governments to influence policy.

Mr Ansary is a long time supporter of the DP, he is very wealthy, involved with purchasing banks, oil refineries and the media in Curacao. He is, if I recall correctly, the former ambassador to the US for the Shah of Iran, a CIA and US puppet. I don't think it would be far wrong to speculate that he is or was a CIA 'affiliate' too. May still be, he does seem to have a lot of interests down that way near Venezuela.

Roy Marlin and this government do not want to put any restictions or conditions on the redevelopment of Mullet Bay, Ansary would not like that, he expects to be able to do what he wants and our govt will most likely let him as they let just about every other developer do so. Bunch of Pimips is what they are.

Hady

Hady,

Try googling Hushang Ansari and see what you come up with.
He was never a real Ambassador, he invented that title for himself. He was Minister of finance under the Shah of Iran.
He also left with the treasury when the Shah was exiled.
Somehow he became the custodian of their wealth, he invested in many companies in the US and overseas.
Most recently he is linked to purchasing Banco Caribe and Ennia in Curacao. Rumors are that he has interest in some takeover of the Venezuela oil refinery there as well.
When he is present on SXM and back in the old Mullet Bay days he would insist that people and staff call him Ambassador.
I have to agree with previous writer where he/she writes that it does not matter for Ansari who is in power, he does not give a rats ass who is in power, he will throw coins to keep any politician as a marionette.
it is indeed the DP and their Commissioners that seek him out for money.
The man wields incredible power almost like a demigod, he is so small of a man that it is hilarious to witness his big time managers like Clarence Derby practically kissing his ass, brown nosing, and rolling out the royal red carpet when he comes to SXM.
Whenever he comes and his idea is to stay incognito, he stays at La Samanna.
Has anyone noticed that Mullet Bay did not come up during the last election? I did not hear the NA nor PPA bring up the issue either.

I understand your sceptism about Ansary but he really was ambassador to the U.S.. Read this link for a heavily sugarcoated resume of his highness. I also took the liberty of adding his picture to this site. Just in case the link disappears some day. I bet many amongst you don't know how he looks. Now you do.

Rackham

It is the other way around. Ansary is not a supporter of the DP. He doesn't give a rat's ass about them. The DP however is a great supporter and admirer of Ansary. If Ansary says jump, they jump. If Ansary says don't jump, they don't. Just like in the circus. And if they obey and perform well, he throws some coins at them. You can read more about the Ansary circus here.
I hear Mullet Bay was sold by him. Anyone out there knows more?

That explains why the elected politicians like Roy and all did not act. But the Governor? Or is he on the take too?

Well, not really a mistake, more a lapse, because I think I know you welll enough to read you better. I guess I over reacted a bit, or at least appear to have done, but I attribute that to the fact I was busy writing a post about vote buying and electorial reform when you posted.

My point is that reform is desperately needed if this island is ever going to have accountable and proper governance. Vote buying can be stopped, or at least made much more difficult and risky for those that either buy or sell, as it is right now, who is looking at it? No one as far as we know, yet the 'rumors' and 'stories' we all hear are widespread and I think we can all confidently say that in this case, 'where there is smoke there is fire' seems likely.

When there are rumors or a murder, or a boat missing at sea, or really any crime, it is the duty of the authorites to investigate those rumors, if only to prove them false. These 'rumors' undermine the very foundations of the voting process and democracy, by not confronting it it is being condoned. This is not culture, it is fraud and crime being ignored and left to run rampant, like so many other crimes on SXM.

Throwing water in Jouvert could be called cultural, but because it affects other people detrimentally, ie getting wet, it has been stopped. Driving with your child in the front seat could be called cultural, but we have learned that back seats, preferably children's seats are much better, most countries have laws about it. In Europe in the middle ages they used to throw their sewage water out the window, perhaps there were some in those days that wanted to continue doing it, claiming it was their culture to do so.

I don't accept the 'Cultural' excuse being used, I see it as a cop out from having to confront the big social issues and problems and making progress as a community and society. Still waters will soon stagnate.

I don't expect the NA to fight very hard for reforms, so who will? What SXM really needs is an SXM MoveOn or SXM Civil Liberties Union who will watch out for the general interest and proper governance of the people. It's plainly clear to me that neither the Lt Governor or the Main Stream Media are doing this, or are capable.

All we can do at this time it write about it, try to bring attention to the issue and not let it be forgotten or put on the shelf to think about later. Next year, if there are no reforms then we will have the same thing all over again. As LH say's above, the best way to stop it is for some brave souls to start carrying recorders. I got mine at boolchands, but I see a few online that look more discrete.

Again though, it shouldn't be up to citizens to do this, it is the job of authorities to investigate where crimes are suspected. There is a serious problem with this 'only if someone makes a complaint' requirement. We see it in cases of domestic violence, where the victim doesn't want to make one, often through fear. Who seriously expects or believes the authorities here could or would protect anyone who did so, it's not possible. If the person who the complaint is about doesn't get you then their friends or family will. So, these unstable and violent individuals are left unchallenged and are in our community continuing their abusive and violent behavior.

It shouldn't require vigilante civilian investigators, the authorites and justice officials should be doing their job. Richards is Chief of Police, top dog here on the island, but responsibility and accountability goes all the way up the chain to the top, we should be looking and questioning those further up too.

Election reform is something I'm going to try to write about often over the next 18 months, and if the NA and PPA don't get on the case then they will come under my fire too.

Again, I know you don;t think it is an issue to be swept under the carpet or forgotten about, you are quite right that if some would come forward then it would make the whole case much stronger. But as I see it, it is strong enough and important enough to demand and require an investigation and reform, instead of the brush off the Richards gives it.

Problem is, there are just too many things that deserve writing about, all as important at the next. As I mentioned in my comment on your post, I agree that answers should be demanded, just what has the 'New Hope Foundation (SXM) done withe the GGV money?

Hady

Flipper, Hady, and readers

Thought you might find this article interesting. I know some of you disagree with the cultural reason, however, it is interesting to see that vote buying also occurs in the Bahamas, where they are having their elections today Wednesday.

Click here for story

Don't see vote buying mentioned in the link you provided. You?

Rackham

sorry about that. was reading many articles and pasted the wrong one. here's brief mention of it. i wanted to raise the point that the topics/accusations are the same there as well. vote buying, sellling land to foreigners, etc

Here and Here and Here

this last article mentions a similar action taken in bahamas where mobiles were banned. the similarities are obvious.

I think you saw a post on this site where I asked for proof, even asking someone who commented on this site to post their email so I can contact them to see if they have proof. A photograph is on this site where people were lining up the day before election to collect from Theo Heyliger. That photograph should still be on site and that is one proof to investigate; but the Governor and police who said vote buying is a crime Turned a Blind Eye. I actually called the police to ask them what they are going to do about this International Crime and the Police Told me " Well no one made a Complain and I should not start trouble. Actually it seems the law on SXM says the only way the Governor can investigate is if someone filed an official Complaint to him. My sugeestion is if someone is willing to do that; then do so, send copies of the complaint to:-

* Prosecutors Office SXM
* Attorney General Curacao
* MInister of Justice
* Kingdom Relations in the Hague and Even the Queen.
This way Stein would have to do his job and the Governor.

About the NA being as guilty as the DP, it doesn't really matter who did it the most either, once is a time too many. It was pointed out here that Richards cell phone plan to have people switch them off was a joke, who does he think he is fooling?

It can be fixed, it can be fixed by people starting to carry microphones and recorders, it can be fixed by whistleblowers sending sites like this information and documents. Vote buying is a very very serious crime that undermines the whole democracy, it must be stopped and it can be. At the end of the day though, isn't it the job of authorities to investigate crimes, even rumors of crimes?

Mr. Richards, do your job, or make room for someone who can.

Local Hero

It is so strange how in all the years I have been voting on this island nobody has offered me one nickle for my vote ever. Politicians have asked me for my support, but never offered anything in exchange.

And as long as no one has actual proof of it happening it is melee and nothing more than that.

If the Laveist Foundation is culpable for accepting a gift, so are many other foundations that support the campaigns of politicians. Like that foundation of Marietje Buncamper, handing out money and computers all over the place. That money must have come from somewhere. Or did she win the jackpot somewhere?

As long as there is no law that forces politicians to expose the way their campaigns are financed and how the moneys they receive were distributed there will never be any change.

As for the "tis our culture" remark. That is such absolute balony. On Sint Maarten it is customary to excuse bad behaviour with the same argument. Like getting drunk in public, womanizing all over the place, women whoring themselves out, and so on........... Some men even boast it is a legacy from slavery time..........

Let us face the real issue at hand: Sint Maarten people are a people of beggars. They always want something for nothing. And when it is a vote they have, and someone wants to give them money for it, they don't have a problem. For them it is normal. Tis like a thief that starts of small and gets away with it...... it emboldens him, and he will move on to bigger things until he gets caught with his pants down.

Zo, dat lucht op................

How can it only be melee when you clearly acknowledge that there are serious issues and problems in the rest of your comment? I'm not seeking an argument with you, but I contend that it is more than melee and if the authorities really wanted to confront and expose it they could. They just don't want to, for a variety of reasons. Like I said above, there is no one really digging into it or looking anyway.

You are right, as long as there are no laws and no threat of consequences for breaking those laws then nothing will change. Are the political parties going to bring about this change? Only if the people, or enough people demand it.

I demand it, I want my vote to count. SXM has often been called the "wild West' of the Caribbean, anything goes. That was nice and even quant once upon a time, now it is not, times have changed, the world has changed.SXM needs to change to have a real future.

Hady

We are a nation of beggars....

the people expect to get something for doing nothing... demanding that land be given away for free to a certain lazy group.. not paying their rents to government owned buildings...

asking for a bail out from politicians for the water bill, when the night before they spent their cash at the casino and they just made a 30,000 dollar loan for a car they don't need....

we have selfish people on this island,,, its not a surprise that we also have selfish politicians as a result.... And why would DP or NA want to change that? The DP can stay in power and the NA can sleep every 4 years..

We need to change the mentality.

PPA is the only hope for that change. We need some serious camera footage of this vote buying nonsense...

You all should take a look at elections all over the world and you will see that money plays a role in ALL elections and yes even in Holland!

For instance in France, money has been playing a huge role forever there, just ask the right questions in for instance the immigrant communities in Paris.

Anyway the bottom line is, if we all say that we want serious change, then the community should demand it and they can do so by groups proposing and publishing legislation to bring order and also avoid whoring themselves for money and gifts.

However, one big question comes to my mind, are the TAX payers of SXM ready to pay for election reform? A reform in which the majority of campaign funds are paid from the government coffers and limited from the community at large, like it is in many western countries.

And finally, the beggars you all talk about today ARE NOT SXM'ers. The real SXM'ers (not naturalized ones) are by far the minority in accepting election funds, just do your home work and you all will see this is true.

So please we are NOT a nation of beggars, so STOP disrespecting my people!

Perhaps it could be better said, but I think you are over reacting just a little with the disrespect issue, for all you know the post could be written by a local. When you put the discussion in context it does not appear to be deliberately and intentionally disrespectful to me, more like a lament.

Sure money plays a roll in all elections around the world, but there are different levels and having laws and enforcement can and does limit it greatly, the intention is to make corruption and bribary more difficult, in SXM they do not. It's like no one cares to look into it, it's 'Cultural'. Why do so many people make the claim that because someone else does it that it's ok for us, or just how things are. I also don't buy the cultural claims.

Tax payers are rarely WILLING to pay any more than they have to, they all try to pay as little as possible. Is St. Maarten willing to pay for a fully staffed, fully equiped and trained police force? Or more ambulances, or cleaner energy, or a sewage plant?

Taxes are the foundation of any government, without them there is little they can do, the trick is spread out the taxation fairly and spend it wisely. Taking Sweden as an example, they have high taxes, but they also have complete healthcare, social care and service, an efficent police force, high quality education and schools, etc etc

It does not have to cost the taxpayer a great deal, just by putting limits on signage would cut costs. I think the legislation should be focused on limiting public contributions and making the party accounts public and accountable, in particular these so called foundations everybody has.

It all depends what the puiblic wants, to live on the cheap or not. I myself have no problem paying taxes if they are used wisely and if I (the public) benifit from them. I myself would prefer to pay 2% more tax and have health coverage, 1% more and have better schools, 1% more and have a cleaner environment. There is money that can be raised on St Maarten, I would say it is mainly in the housing market, which needs cooling down anyway, and also in the luxury goods imports.

LH

LH your response has proven to me that you are a decent person, however what I dont understand is why most of the threads have to be so negative and bashing on this site, rather than the positive and helpfull outline that you gave in your response to me.

I will keep hoping for the best and yes our society has to stop accepting unlawfull behavior!

Thanks.

this is a blog created to spill the ills of this community, something newspers dont touch... if you are not ready for reality then jump ship

Reality? Who's reality? Yours?

Your comment shows me that YOU are from space and that you missed my point totally. Moreover the undertone of your comment prooves that some people misuse this website and medium to further their personal agendas under the cloak of solving the "problems of the society".

Why dont you get a life! Cause spilling your beans and telling all your pitifull stories here will not solve the problems of our society.

Fact is, if you look good at the biggest so called community activitist today, MOST if not all of them are angry because they didnt get "setup from Govt.", the current and past Govt's.

I dont ask Govt. for nothing, thats my norm.

That we have problems, YES some serious ones too! All hands on deck lets start meaningfull disgussion and solutions of the problems and not personal attacks and in general MELE that sometimes is the case on this website.