St. Maarten Private Eye - Franklin Richards

Richards and Joan - Paying the bills

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:01:08 -0800

Lt. Governor Richards, Mr. Good Governance, apparently wants some bills paid by the island which our island secretary disagrees with. At least that's what we read in the papers today. Of course, with proper management, transparency and solid protocols and policies we probably wouldn't have this sort of thing popping up again and again.

I do find the news item on SXM Island TImes rather interesting though, is it a press release or a news report?

No rift pertaining to advice says Governor Richards - 13th October 2008

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Stress and the Police job

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:17:36 -0700

The recent story of a police officer shooting at the door of his ex, or unfaithful, lover, should come as no surprise when you hear that there are no social workers working within the Windward Islands Police Force. It's not the first time an officer has displayed unstable behavior and decision making, nor, if the club and gun rumors are true, the first time authority has been abused with a display of arrogance and egotism.

Power corrupts, it is well known, which is why a healthy democracy must have transparency and accountability from it's government and public officials. Police and Law Enforcement officers have a great deal of power, which requires a higher level of supervision and management. The big picture here is not this officer, or the others before him who have 'screwed up', the Big Picture here is the failure and almost criminal neglect of responsibility from Dutch and NA politicians, in particular David Dick and Hirsch Balin, to fix the problems of St. Maarten and it's justice system.

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Good governance and transparency = New Status

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:50:11 -0700

PPA Leader talks about conflict of interest
Written by Gracita R. Arrindell
Wednesday, 11 June 2008 19:16

We read with great interest the news reports and the editorials concerning the public spectacle at the Island Council meeting Monday considering the clearly impermissible and improper conduct by Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus and her spouse.

However, the most disappointing part of the meeting was the continuing role of the Lt. Governor who uses every opportunity to prevent and delay any effort to call the DP to order.

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Mr Good Governance? Sky is the Limit and Telem Donation

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:33:31 -0700

Time and time again, sketchy deals and outright disrespect from the EXCO towards the opposition and the public when it comes it what should be public information is condoned by Mr. Richards. I've tried to convince myself that he is impartial and has integrity, but this latest issue has wiped any hopes I had left away.

Repeatedly writers on here have questioned whether he is capable of walking the walk, and it seems clear, at least to me, exactly on which side of the fence he stands, because he certainly isn;t sitting on the fence in the middle. I mean, really, the best this man could come up with to stop people using phone cameras to sell their votes was to have them switch them off before going in the voting booth.

Anyway, all the news clippings from the past week covering the Sky is the Limit donation issue are below. Feel free to share your thoughts and vote in my poll.

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