Dear Editor,
Once again, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has opened his mouth only to spew contempt for the very people he is supposed to serve. His latest diatribe, accusing St. Maarteners of having a "crab mentality," is not a call for unity; it is a calculated insult from a leader who seems to hold his own populace in utter disdain. This is the same man who has previously characterized the country's inhabitants as beggars who don't understand that everything has a cost. How much more disrespect must we endure from the highest office in the land?
Let’s be perfectly clear. The Prime Minister’s frustration is not born of a noble desire for national progress. It is the anger of a man who demands blind obedience and cannot tolerate public scrutiny. When the people ask for transparency regarding the controversial Central Bank appointment, he doesn't see a functioning democracy; he sees crabs in a bucket trying to pull him down.
We must ask: who exactly is he accusing of having this "crab mentality"? Is he pointing his finger at his own coalition Member of Parliament, Sjamira Roseburg, for voicing her concerns? Is he labeling his partners in the Party for Progress (PFP) and even his own Minister of TEATT as 'crabs' for daring to question the process? It seems the Prime Minister’s definition of a "crab" is anyone who refuses to rubber-stamp his agenda without question. His "call for unity" is nothing more than a demand for silence.
The people of St. Maarten are not crabs. We are citizens who demand and deserve accountability from our leaders. Healthy skepticism is not sabotage; it is the lifeblood of a democracy. To frame legitimate questions about governance as a cultural sickness is a manipulative tactic designed to shut down debate and shame critics into submission.
Frankly, it is time to send this Prime Minister packing. He is a leader who divides rather than unites, who insults rather than inspires. With each public statement, he digs his own political grave, slowly but surely. The people of St. Maarten should not forget his contempt. When the next election comes, we must remember the man who called us beggars and crabs, and we must hold him accountable at the ballot box.
Sincerely,
A Fed-Up Citizen