5/30/2011

The old adage "What you don't know, will not hurt you"

If I was one of those people who looked at the NEWS and took it at face value, then I wouldn't be writing this blog.
- When "I hear it" I question what am I miss here.
- When "I see it" I question what are they not showing.
- When "someone says something" Question what was really in their hearts when they said it.

Sounds cynical ?
Maybe, but I've seen things go from "I didn't have Sex with that woman" to "Well I had an inappropriate relationship with that woman" .
Or one better yet "they have WEAPONS of mass-destruction in Iraq"   actually it was "a mass Distraction" of what the real intentions were and how incompetent the Leaders in the intelligence Agencies really were. That started a war that lasted more than 10 years to date....... that destroyed a surplus.
So I don't buy things at FACE VALUE just because it is in the News.

Where am I going here?
We live in a World that things will change on a dime. One minute the Economy looks like it will recover, then  Gas prices escalate to the point where people will not take trips to beaches on Memorial Day.
-  So if we believe that they will visit SXM in great numbers next season then we just have to hope that the money they save from not driving as much in the USA and Canada will be used to travel to our Caribbean Islands...... I don't expect good news here.

Here is what worries me most in today's NEWS? Links  like this one.
THE HAGUE - Deputy Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Theo Heyligers Should Be put across the knee 


I love movies - with Good Cops and BAD Cops action - Tag teams that will show you one side and then the other side and use it against you.
I started looking at how a current  Dutch Parliament is playing that roll so well right now. The comment by Vice-Premier Heyliger, which cause the BAD cops in Parliament to react with. "He is a Mafia Boss" followed by "he is known as Mr. 10% " and then to top it off " Put him across the knee."
NEWS flash Vice-Premier Heyliger is not their Whipping BOY. Now that maybe okay to those who believe That Vice Premier Heyliger (Not in the Dutch Parliament) should not have said what he said, BUT to me  IT IS WHAT HE (and some of us) BELIEVE.
This reminds me of the Rodney King beat down followed by "Can't we just get along"
WE do not except the thought, or worst yet, that you can use a Master and the Slave punishment of any kind, to chastise our Elected officials in St. Maarten.  No European of any Nationality should be suggesting the  BEATINGS of any of our PEOPLE, let alone our Elected Officials..... We elected Vice Premier Heyliger to do a job. We now see that St. Maarten is SHACKLED financially and the Dutch Parliament holds the keys. We can say -  don't bight the hand that feeds you -  OR we can say - don't tie my hands, so I can ONLY eat what you feed me."-

The Amigoe news:
The Dutch PM Donner will START Investigating CURACAO, then I say we in St. Maarten are next..... Because if there are investigatory actions on a the Central Bank of the two Islands then you can't investigate one Island and not the other.     Is it good timing that The President of the Central Bank is St. Maarten right now? I will wait and see.


WILLEMSTAD / PHILIPSBURG - Emsley Tromp, president director of the Central Bank of communal Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS) Traveled to St. Maarten this morning for a summit meeting. 



MAN: Tromp should resign


Isn't this the POT calling the Kettle BLACK. The MAN party in Curacao, of all parties is demanding that Mr. TROMP step down, and  Ministers to step down upon investigation. Waw, lets bring the Government down based on allegation no real facts.....


PHILIPSBURG - The government party MAN is of the opinion That Central Bank director Emsley Tromp
Should resign - Galanthus clearing the way for a thorough Investigation into the financial institution


Now lets get to part where HIGHER supervision can now be put in place....

Donner to investigate conflict between Schotte and Tromp


Back to where I see a problem. Freedom from Slavery really means permanent removal of the shackles. The Dutch Parliament want to rush in and restore order before their investment in these Caribbean Islands cause a negative balance Sheet.

IF OUR VICE PREMIER speaks his mind...... he is accountable only to the People of  ST. Maarten. 
The Modern day Slavery issue bothers the Dutch Parliament  because there is TRUTH in what he said. 
When People don't understand what is going on, then we except things at face value. I don't, because I have seen the BAD cop tactics used at one end to give the so called GOOD cop a license to do what he wants. 

Reality Check: I don't believe that a  Members of the Dutch Parliament can demand that a Vice Premier of an Autonomous Country be brought to Dutch Parliament to be "PUT OVER THE KNEE" for speaking his mind...... THEY don't have that Power..... YET. 

If our Parliament don't start fighting back ...... Then  SXM we have a problem!  
   
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5/28/2011

I often spoke about The Cabinet of Ministers needing a Press-Secretary.


This is an example where a Press-Secretary can tap dance on a question and make everyone laugh!

When I see these types of headlines (click on the links below,) I know that it's time to stop and think before we run and say things we will have to defend over and over again. A little diplomacy goes a long long way. 
There are ways to get your point across without saying it bluntly (especially if you are planning to negotiate with the person/persons at a later point in time.) Everyone knows that Government (Ministers) need to have a strong say in the policy direction of running the Country, especially when it comes to our main Industry, but making statements that can come back and make you look like you are trying to strong arm the process is not the way to do it. A smart person once told me " You CAN NOT un-ring a bell." 
http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/17142-shta-tells-meyers-tax-money-is-peoples-money.html

This is another point of jumping the gun, this should never get to a point of chess piece bumping and yelling "check", or in your face dunking of the basketball like your playground days. Proper protocol and diplomacy is needed here. Believe it or not this is an International incident, both sides are representing their Country.  

Choice HOTELS, will they take away customer from the small Hotels on the Island or will they buy them all like Walmart when they move into a community ?
My two cents on this is: this brand is a step above MOTEL 6 "their light are always on" like neon signs. They can help with attracting numbers but will not attract the Upper-Middle class and definitely not the HI-end Visitors which we have already lost to St. Barths and Anguilla to the tune of about 30% of our arrivals. Watering down of a Bar-brand of your favorite drink is OK if that is what you want when you are on vacation, but when you want to enjoy your vacation, you may want something to brag about when go back. Your Brand of choice needs to be a name brand that attracts the somewhat affluent patrons. A few names that come to mind  are Hyatt, Mariott etc...... 
Comfort Suites and like-hotels... Well, they are well know - because their signs are on Interstate Highways in the USA, you can't miss them so they will have recognizable names, if that is what we are trying to establish...... then we will continue expanding the market that they will attract. 

Rush Politics never stops on this Island. This, in my humble opinion, is a mixed bag that needs to be handle properly. Many will see it as a good thing while others will see it as another band-aid that Businesses can use as a excuse to not hire temp-workers or trainees...... period. Our Parliament needs to Examine these amendments carefully and use good judgement when it comes down to the time to vote on it. Remember "all Politics is local" meaning if it favors me, I like. If it favors someone else, I don't.

This  situation could have been avoided. I have stated, to anyone who will listen, that this should not be a public issue until it is settled on what the requirements are for a civil service position is, and who will be appointed after all applicants are considered, when done properly  the vote is just a formality to confirm the person.
We should not put the applicants on display as a Political football. Civil servants issues should be A-political. People should not need to shy away from applying for a job out of the fear that their laundry detergent of choice will be displayed. "She is too difficult to work with," "He is not qualified but he is a nice guy." "My spirit does not take him/her/ them" I hope you see what I mean !

The time is right to bring new amendments on traffic Laws to the table.    
If you need some suggestion I have a few just read my blog titled.


Solving Problems with practical approaches!


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School will be back in session soon. Lets Solve Problems with practical approaches!

HOW do we fix it? There is road construction everywhere. School buses will be picking up and dropping off school kids on ever busier streets due to road repairs. I posted this blog back in May of 2011, in hope that someone would take a practical approach to keeping school kids safer. Not to long ago we experienced a deadly accident involving a school child and a dump truck..... Since then not much has been done about making it safer for school kids on these busy street. I hope by republishing this we could avert another serious accident. The loss of a young life, due to an accident is painful and most importantly a lingering reminder that something needs to be done. A 12 year old was  run over by a dump truck, IT WAS tragic. The driver didn't STOP, he should have! But the laws on the books may not be as easy, as we think, to enforce. The roads are busy during the hours that School buses transport children. We need to look for practical solutions that can be done quickly. Here are some Questions that many may be asking:

  • What are the current traffic laws regarding dropping off and picking up Students in neighborhoods? 
  • Are these laws enforceable if the school bus STOP sign isn't visible to on coming drivers?
  • With the Island having drivers with licenses from many parts of the World renting cars or even operating heavy equipment, are they knowledgeable of the Local traffic laws ?
  • Can and will Parliament or the Justice and Education Ministries address these types of problems with  solution? Quickly !
My response:  Use a practical approach, make it clear with preventive action and My version of K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple  Signs.






Parliament can then amend the Laws that are then enforceable, after the signs are UP..
page3b074

  1. Establish School bus drop and pickup points, these should be designated areas in all the neighborhoods. Clearly indicated with speed bumps, on both sides of the street. With the above signs warning drivers that they are in School bus drop-off area.   
  2. Schools aren't the only zones that should have signs. The responsibility of taking care of OUR children is every-bodies responsibility. Bright Yellow WARNING signs will help all drivers act more responsibly.
  3. Then use a practical approach to amending  the Traffic Laws....... Brokers: Govt needs to activate ‘guarantee fund’ against losses.Government should activate the "guarantee fund" outlined in the motor insurance ordinance to help pay claims against, for example, uninsured motorists.
  4. Educate the students on how to wait for the School bus, and most important teach then about safety.
Make local Videos like this one that will make kids relate to their local situation.
This, I believe, will be a start.

Get on the School Bus and have a safe ride to school and back home!

     
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5/27/2011

Let us start acting like we give a darn!

Those of us who have Seniors in our family need to look at what is considered by many in the International World as below standard living for our Elderly People on fixed incomes. My SXM perspective on this subject is that we the people need to step to the plate and demand that changes are made to aid those who can no longer work  for a their income. When we were children these Seniors stepped up and took our welfare on their shoulders and worked their fingers to the bone to help use become successful. Now it our turn to make their lives comfortable and less stressful. Our turn is coming as future Seniors.... its just a matter of time.
Start by looking at this link How seniors in Sint Maarten think about the old age pensions in Sint Maarten. 
By announcing that the first quarter created a surplus (even though there is a disclaimer WARNING that we are now in the slow season) I believe that a cost of living adjustment for seniors should be tackled right now before the outlook changes. The Seniors need it the most. http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/17248-first-quarter-shows-a-positive-balance-.html

Another important subject that seems to keeps raising it ugly head in the news weekly is the many allegations of wrong doing. We need to hold officials accountable for their actions. Write to them and tell them that they are representing the Community they serve and everything they do reflects on all of us.

Investigation necessary, says Attorney General


If members of the Cabinet of Ministers on our Sister Island is causing an unstable financial situation then  "SXM we have a problem." This is not longer a Netherlands Antilles problem. It is a Curacao and St. Maarten  problem. We are the only ones share the same currency
http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/17249-tromp-must-step-down-says-man.html

http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/17252-clash-in-curacao-worries-donner-dutch-parliament.html


Central Bank situation worries financial sector The Curaçao International Financial Services Association CIFA is concerned about the current situation with the joint Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten.


I hope I'm not the only one who believe that these above subject should be areas of concern for all who give a darn about St. Maarten's prosperity. 


  

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