St. Martin News Network

It is terrible when when we have to lose a life of a promising immigrant on our island, who has spent his years working hard, and contributing back to society as an employer, paying taxes, and giving a service to customers. It is a shame that our young black men on this island have become good for nothing vagabonds, roaming the streets at night and in broad daylight, plotting and scheming who to steal from or who to kill if we don't get what they want. I feel Government needs to get serious with mothers and fathers and ensure that at least one of them is at home to take care of their children whilst they grow up to have a decent and God-fearing upbringing, respecting others and the value of life. It should be outlawed for a mother to leave her children at home alone because she has to go out to work to make money. That is a ridiculous theory. In the first place, if she cannot afford to take care of herself and children with one job, then she should not have children as an unwed or single mother. No wonder we are seeing children growing up wanting things they can't have, or not educated enough to find a job, and buy their own stuff instead of burglarizing, pilfering, and murdering to get what they want. All we are seeing are young hooligans growing up on this island, and parents are to blame. if they can't take care of themselves, how do we expect them to take care of our island's children, protecting them from evil pervasion, corruption, greed, hatred and all that is demonic going on. BLACK WOMAN, BUCK UP WITH YOURSELF, RESPECT YOUR BODY, GO TO CHURCH, STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY, AND STOP MAKING CRIMINAL CHILDREN TO CHEAT, STEAL, AND KILL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. AND ALL YOU BLACK MEN OUT THERE, STOP SCREWING AROUND AND HAVING CHILDREN, IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO MARRY AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY!! OTHERWISE, ALL YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOU GROW OLD, IS A RIFF RAFF SOCIETY AND A GOVERNMENT TO BRAINWASH YOUR CHILDREN.

To the family my condolences.

Totally in agreement with FEDUP.
It is unbelievable what our country has come to.
Also, it must be traumatic for the family of the deceased, having no idea, who took the life of their loved one.
In addition, cable television-stations, radio-stations, radio- and t.v.programs, deejays etc. also have a very big responsibility in setting a standard of behavior for our kids by bringing more educational and enlightening programs.
Furthermore, Government has the ultimate responsibility to lead by example and to formulate legislation, which will allow others to be their best.
After all, no one has more power and authority to determine the level of quality of life for all than Government.
A people can not be better than its Government.
In ending.
May the gentleman whose very meaningful life was senselessly cut short, rest in peace and may God give strength to his family to carry on.
Leopold JAMES

Sounds very much like he was in politics. Hear the officials who paid their respect. who knows what kind of life this man really live. Do we really know his background. They come here and play like they are saints. When their own country don't want them or they can't go back to their country. Don't play stupied saint Martiners.

The past is the past. We are in the future. I don't know him but if he did bad things he moved on. Stop criticizing him because he tried to make a living. Would you like if u did sumn bad in the past and u are now trying to better ur life and someone comes and tries to bring you down? NO!

i am wondering if the politicians arent tired of going to ppl funerals, esp. ppl they don't know, never heard of, briefly met.. just because they died of senseless crimes.
when will they get up and say " u know what i dont have any more black suits to wear and can't afford anymore, so lets buck up and see how we can actually handle this situation instead of only syhowing our respects"

In this case not sure what to believe was it a murder or revenge killing. Police need to investigate this is very suspicious murder that a business man is shoot several times to robber a baby clothing store where he or she can go to a jewelery store ..... ummm was he in drugs or any other illegal activity, look into all areas. Something don't sound right. Don't know just saying!

I hear your cry. But there's one serious consideration missing: the role of fathers in our community. There are simply too many mothers raising kids alone. Where are the fathers? Even when the fathers brag about how many children they have, the often do not contribute to the welfare of those children. With contributing I don't only mean financially, I mean mentoring these kids; visiting them; spending quality time with them; letting them know that even if the parents are not together, they do have a father looking out for them. I am a father -- separated from my wife; today the relationship between my kids are as strong as ever. This is only possible because I wanted and still want to be part of their lives. Men -- fathers -- brothers, let's do what's right: be there for our children.

WHY DO YOU PPL ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK FOR NEGATIVITIES!! HOW DO U KNOW HIS COUNTRY DON'T WANT HIM BACK??? ALLLLL OVER THE WORLD WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS ST MAARTEN IS NO EXCEPTION. STOP TRYING TO PAINT THIS MAN BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM YOU ARE PAINTING AND a**UMING... AND WHAT DO YOU CALL A PERSON WHO LIVED MORE THAN 25 YEARS ON THE ISLAND??? HE IS ALSO A ST MAARTENER , ALTHOUGH BEEN A LOCAL MEAN NADA! DON'T YOU SEE HOW THE GOV TREAT A FOREIGNER??? WAY BETTER THAN THEIR OWN. BECAUSE THE FOREIGNER PAY AND GOV NEED MONEY. :-)

what's next ? what can we do? what must we do? i hope those bastard go to jail for life,
no one is afraid of going to jail cause they know they will be out sooner than they think.

I was left alone with 2 kids (8 & 4) because their father died quiet suddenly (within a day or a few hours). Even so I made my children then to realize it is only me and nobody else. No friends or family has nothing to say about your further upbringing. Who contributes? I alone, no family or government or friends. I made sure that my kids were taken care of. Had a live-in made and was living off very little after paying my rent, maid, GEBE. Eat sometimes rice alone or lotsa of eggs or sardines to survive. But thank god I did it. Today I can look back at a good upbringing of my children. Both attended university. No family, friends or whoever gave me a**istance. I moved abroad and took them with me. So government here cannot say either they paid for their education. Not even SVB then gave me nothing for my children eventhough I requested it . Mind you I am a St.Maarten born resident and Dutch since birth. No, I did it with gods help on my own with children who understood what it is like to loose a parent at such an early age. They were afraid they might loose me too, so whatever I said, it was listened too. And while still in my house bedtime was 9pm at the latest. They knew hardtimes growing up but they also knew what is not yours do not grudge for it because you do not know how that person got it. If I couldn't buy whatever for them, they simple understood that, but did not turn to get it elsewhere. I thought them to do cleaning jobs for others to get money (work for money) and do not steal it, nomatter how tempting the situation might be. While (my grown kids now) studying at several universities all over Europe, they were either working doing cleaning jobs or working in restaurants for extra money while studying. I always told them what you have in your brains noone can take that away from you. It did pay off looking at their educational background and without a father in their lives. Now I hope to do the same for my grandchildren. Being in their lives also.