the constitution...your last chance'.
First of all, it is my privilege to commend a number of persons whorecently had the intelligence, professional independence and courage to publicly question the decisions taken in the Hague during the discussions on the Kingdom Consensus Laws.
They did such in-spite of all the 'hoopla' about what was signed off to, or better said what was 'signed away' during those negotiations.
For speaking out publicly on this most important issue pertaining to our constitutional rights, Paul ROGERS Consensus Law, in the TODAY
of Thursday, April 22, 1010 Senator Reginald ZAANDAM Zaandam tells
it like it is, in the Daily Herald of Thursday, April 22, 2010 andMr. Eldrige VAN PUTTEN Constitutional Change in the Daily Herald of Wednesday, April 21, 2010 have done our community a very great service.
In particular the letter to the editor by Mr. VAN PUTTEN, we consider a 'classical' .
More than that.
It constitutes a cry of the people and a an outright historic indictment of the political leaders of St. Maarten and of the other
islands for in fact selling out sold out the dignity, the rights and autonomy of the Antilles, with the Dutch conveniently and opportunistically serving as collaborators in betraying the people of the Antilles, for their own neocolonial and commercial purposes.
Consequently, the following question should be answered by the political leaders when they return from the Netherlands and expect the people to come out and celebrate '10-10-10'.
What sane people celebrate betrayal ?
And what do we the *PEOPLE *of this island stand to gain from this '10-10-10' gimmick other than most certainly having to pay taxes 'through our noses' and probably lose our land and patrimony to the expected influx of Dutch consultants, technical-assistants and business people.
Do not forget, that since St. Maarten will be deemed 'not ready' on most counts, the functioning and operation of most departments and ministries will automatically be executed and/or controlled in the end by the Dutch Government.
So much for the 'increased' autonomy of country St. Maarten, come '10-10-10'
Clearly, negotiating with the Dutch, requires people who are fully aware, that one of their biggest 'assets' is that they are consumate merchants, formerly also known as piracy.
Also for the record.
In none of the many critical reports about St. Maarten,(*BAKHUIS-,POURIER reports* etc) was there ever an indication that the main cause for the many problems in the Antilles was the constitutional (Antillean-) system.
On the contrary.
Ours was one of the best and most stable in the entire Caribbean, reason why many are attracted to these island, never wanting to ever leave again !
*ALWAYS* the main cause of our socio-economic misery was *INCOMPETENCE & **CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES.*
And what have the Dutch done to 'remedy' that systemic problem ? Well, in a game of chess called constitutional talks, they gave the 'crumbs' (so-called*/ 'debt-relief' and other expired Sinterklaas 'candies') to the Antillean players only to capture the 'Queen' and consequently annex and recolonize the Antilles, including the potentially very, lucrative Saba -bank resource**s.
Check-mate !
So, consequently they DESTROYED the good constitutional system which only needed amendment, they BETRAYED the people, they MAINTAINED and finally they REWARDED the same crooks in high place.
Long live the Dutch pragmatism and the beginning of the real challenge
when '10-10-10' hits the'ground'.
But, be warned that this act of betrayal will evoke a curse by the spirit by our departed ancestors including the greats like dr. Da Costa GOMEZ.
Nevertheless, leaders of the 'Friendly island', your last chance might be to amend the constitution on all the islands to recognize and to maintain and to protect the rights of the Antilleans to come first.
Should you fail do do even that, 'Crappo smike yo' pipe.
In ending delegation-members, welcome back home, to the reality 'on
the ground'.
drs. Leopold JAMES,
Proud, native-indigenous St. Martiner, without apologies.-
