Saturday, March 29, 2014
ST. MARTIN - BETHLEHEM OR CALVARAY FOR IMMIGRANTS?
Has St. Martin been a Bethlehe, a place of bread, or a Calvary, a place of the skull for those who have come from outside?
People have been coming to St. Martin in ever increasing numbers from at least the mid 1960's, a period of at least fifty years.
Even today in what everybody calls hard economic times, people still flock to this island. Why? And particularly, whenever St. Martiners complain about foreigners, they get as our old people used to say: "more vex than you".
These people include both rich and poor, who have planted roots on this island. Should we believe that that these thousands of people have given everything they had and St. Martiners have only been theones to profit from their labor? Don't even try to tell me that, if that was so, they would have left, nt even tourists would continue to come.
There are tourists who come to the "Friendly Island", spend their vacation and leave without ever having come in contact with a native st martiner.
Am I to believe that thse thousands of people have given their all to St. martin and St. Martiners have only profited from their work or their invesment? I am afraid that I will have to say that everybody has profited.
However, what we have today is more people that this island can handle, among whom many who do not care or who do not want to see what is going on.
No one can really say say that that things are going well on St. Martin, whether on the French or the Dutch side. And if people on the capitalistic Dutch side are suffering, imagine what those on the French socialist side are suffering.
Along with being swamped by outsiders, whether they want to hear it or not, we have lost the economic control of the island. Both sides are controlled by outsiders.
And those businesses do not employe St Martiners, they employ people from their native countries or they employ immigrants who accept salaries and conditions that natives will not.
Sot at this moment in thim I have to say that Saint Martin is definitely Bethlehem to those who are not from St. Martin.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
FRENCH/EUROPEAN FOOD STANDARDS
Is it possible to apply norms and standards based on continental Europe to a tiny island like Saint Martin? It would depend on what the standards and norms apply to.
The most import thing to people anywhere in the world is that they need food to remain alive. Food has to be clean and nutritious in order to be eaten so yes, we do need standards.
Once upon a time St. Martin produced enough food to feed the people living on the island, or at least most of them. Some things like rice and potatoes, which do not grow on the island had to be imported. We even exported cattle to other islands at one time.
Then came the tourist boom and an influx of people. So many people that this amll, drought-prone island could no longer handle it. It also became easier to work in the tourist industry than to work in an agricultural industry in which lack of rain could kill the crop and in which city water cost too much to pay for and hope to make a living from agriculture.
So our food has to be imported now. And now our problems have started. France wants us to import from them, with all that that entails, the distance, the unreliability of transportation and higher prices.
But what about the few things that still grow here in the wild and that are imported from the other islands in the area? Europe has a winter whcih we do not have, and Europe does not grow coconuts, papaya, bananas, mangoes, kenips, guavas, sugar apple, soursop, pommes surettes, and a host of others. What is the standard of the mangoes that grow in my yard? The gooseberries that grow in my sister's yard? The bay grapes that grow in the neighbor's yard?
How do I make the sweets, drinks and tarts that we are accustomed to, our guavaberry drink for Christmas?
How can the standards of France or Europe be applied in this case? The very flour that we use and have used for centuries has been imported from the United States which is so much nearer to us than is Europe.
Should we be forced to use foodstuffs from Eurpoe which always cost more than food from the U.S? Should we not be able to legislate what we accept and what we do not accept?
The most import thing to people anywhere in the world is that they need food to remain alive. Food has to be clean and nutritious in order to be eaten so yes, we do need standards.
Once upon a time St. Martin produced enough food to feed the people living on the island, or at least most of them. Some things like rice and potatoes, which do not grow on the island had to be imported. We even exported cattle to other islands at one time.
Then came the tourist boom and an influx of people. So many people that this amll, drought-prone island could no longer handle it. It also became easier to work in the tourist industry than to work in an agricultural industry in which lack of rain could kill the crop and in which city water cost too much to pay for and hope to make a living from agriculture.
So our food has to be imported now. And now our problems have started. France wants us to import from them, with all that that entails, the distance, the unreliability of transportation and higher prices.
But what about the few things that still grow here in the wild and that are imported from the other islands in the area? Europe has a winter whcih we do not have, and Europe does not grow coconuts, papaya, bananas, mangoes, kenips, guavas, sugar apple, soursop, pommes surettes, and a host of others. What is the standard of the mangoes that grow in my yard? The gooseberries that grow in my sister's yard? The bay grapes that grow in the neighbor's yard?
How do I make the sweets, drinks and tarts that we are accustomed to, our guavaberry drink for Christmas?
How can the standards of France or Europe be applied in this case? The very flour that we use and have used for centuries has been imported from the United States which is so much nearer to us than is Europe.
Should we be forced to use foodstuffs from Eurpoe which always cost more than food from the U.S? Should we not be able to legislate what we accept and what we do not accept?
Thursday, March 20, 2014
FOREIGN NATIONAL ANTHEMS
There is nothing fundamentaly wrong with people singing in any language in support of a person or persons or group. However, there is something askew with people from St. Martin singing the national anthem of a country which most of them cannot find on a map and which none of them have a clue as to what they are singing to support one person from that country. I am from theis island and I have a problem with that. Why could they not have sung a folk song from that country?
One person from the Ukraine married to a Dutchman is not representative of what is happening in the Ukraine. That group could not have stood and spontaneously sing the Ukraine national anthem in support of anything. Would this group have been able to spontaneously sing the Wilhelmus? And where are they from, since it has gone around the world that the people in the Ukraine "cannot believe they are receiving from the other side of the world, especially from a Caribbean island as small as St. Martin." What sort of support has St. Martin given them? Some friends of one Ukrainian citizen sang what they didn't know.
Again, I say and I maintain, there is nothing wrong with an outpouring of love and sympathy for someone leading to song, however it should have been done with another song. People and children living on this island should not been taught to sing a national anthem which means nothing to them or to the rest of us on the island, but which could have unseen repercussions and ramifications down the line.
Actions ave consequences. St. Martin is also in a state of turmoil at the moment. Things are not going well on the "Friendly Island" and anyone who says differently is either blind or lying. Many exceptional results have been triggered by what may seem to be inconsequential actions.
We should be careful of how this island is projected especially by those who come from abroad. They have another place to go to. St. Martin is all we have.
One person from the Ukraine married to a Dutchman is not representative of what is happening in the Ukraine. That group could not have stood and spontaneously sing the Ukraine national anthem in support of anything. Would this group have been able to spontaneously sing the Wilhelmus? And where are they from, since it has gone around the world that the people in the Ukraine "cannot believe they are receiving from the other side of the world, especially from a Caribbean island as small as St. Martin." What sort of support has St. Martin given them? Some friends of one Ukrainian citizen sang what they didn't know.
Again, I say and I maintain, there is nothing wrong with an outpouring of love and sympathy for someone leading to song, however it should have been done with another song. People and children living on this island should not been taught to sing a national anthem which means nothing to them or to the rest of us on the island, but which could have unseen repercussions and ramifications down the line.
Actions ave consequences. St. Martin is also in a state of turmoil at the moment. Things are not going well on the "Friendly Island" and anyone who says differently is either blind or lying. Many exceptional results have been triggered by what may seem to be inconsequential actions.
We should be careful of how this island is projected especially by those who come from abroad. They have another place to go to. St. Martin is all we have.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
SCHOOL COMPLAINTS
It really seems as if there is not a single institution on the French side that can be praised at the moment.
Having said that, the collectivity is now responsible for everything, things that used to be shared by the commune, the department and the region, everything except the state's responsibilities, and those cause problems because the state seems to have reneged on certain things that they should be taking care of.
Today's subject is schools or educatio, whether primary, secondary or continuing education. We have no institute of higher education on the island as yet.
Most of the teachers who work here are not from the island. This means in amny cases that misunderstandings are rife, be they linguistic, cultural or whatever. Even the teachers who think they speak English speak it with such a heavy accent that our children do not understand .
Then there are the many foreign students, the numbers of whom increase each year. How many more years can we be expected to continue to build schools for outsiders at the expense of things that our own people need?
Women come here and make a career of having children so that they can collect family assistance. Many of these monetary allowances leave the island to the benefit of the native countries of those who collect them.
Then as said before, most of the teachers come from off-island. Many of them are here for the bonuses paid by the government to them for coming to live in the tropics. Many of them do not want to leave afterward. Tere is a freedom here that they do not enjoy in any other part of the French Republic.
French education, rather its tuision, is free, but everything necessary to benefit from it must be paid for, much of it again which is paid in the form of allowances. There is also a totally legal system of distance education, covering everything from kindergarten to university supervised by the National Education Ministry and which delivers legitimate certificates. Homeschooling is possible through this method too.
Having said all that, here on St. Martin we have countless hours and days of absence of teachers at all levels, whether for training or sick leave or whatever, and those who find it impossible to get back on time to start school on the set date after vacations.
In any case, not a month goes by without something concerning education causing a problem. How do we handle this problem?
Having said that, the collectivity is now responsible for everything, things that used to be shared by the commune, the department and the region, everything except the state's responsibilities, and those cause problems because the state seems to have reneged on certain things that they should be taking care of.
Today's subject is schools or educatio, whether primary, secondary or continuing education. We have no institute of higher education on the island as yet.
Most of the teachers who work here are not from the island. This means in amny cases that misunderstandings are rife, be they linguistic, cultural or whatever. Even the teachers who think they speak English speak it with such a heavy accent that our children do not understand .
Then there are the many foreign students, the numbers of whom increase each year. How many more years can we be expected to continue to build schools for outsiders at the expense of things that our own people need?
Women come here and make a career of having children so that they can collect family assistance. Many of these monetary allowances leave the island to the benefit of the native countries of those who collect them.
Then as said before, most of the teachers come from off-island. Many of them are here for the bonuses paid by the government to them for coming to live in the tropics. Many of them do not want to leave afterward. Tere is a freedom here that they do not enjoy in any other part of the French Republic.
French education, rather its tuision, is free, but everything necessary to benefit from it must be paid for, much of it again which is paid in the form of allowances. There is also a totally legal system of distance education, covering everything from kindergarten to university supervised by the National Education Ministry and which delivers legitimate certificates. Homeschooling is possible through this method too.
Having said all that, here on St. Martin we have countless hours and days of absence of teachers at all levels, whether for training or sick leave or whatever, and those who find it impossible to get back on time to start school on the set date after vacations.
In any case, not a month goes by without something concerning education causing a problem. How do we handle this problem?
Saturday, March 15, 2014
THE DEPENDENT COMMUNE
Having posted about the Organic law already I would now like to compare the Commune with the Collectivity. This post will focus on the commune and why it is dependent.
It is the smallest of the territorial organizations, and forms part of a department, which forms part of a region. Saint Martin was formerly a commune of Guadeloupe, which is the department of Guadeloupe, which is the Region of Guadeloupe.
Being a commune of Guadeloupe meant in effect that we were considered a part of Guadeloupe, unable to call the island Saint Martin without adding Guadeloupe after. Just as Basse Terre Guadeloupe was Guadeloupe so Saint Martin was Guadeloupe.
The commune could vote on its budget and the level of local taxes, it could create or suppress communal employment, approve communal loans and subsidies, determine the tarrif of communal services and parking on public roads, local city parking and construct kindergarden and primary schools.
The department stands between the commune and the region and is administered by a General Council. They are responsible for social action, child protection, social intergration of persons in difficulty, allowances, aid to the handicapped and aged, sanitary prevention removal of household garbage. Garbage collection ( departmental or national roads of local interest, school transportation by motor vehicle, maritime ports, both fishing and commercial. Education (materil management refectories of junio high schools, recrutement and management of technical personnel, workers and other services. Culture: department archives, departmental lending libraries, museums and certain other buildings. Local development (aid to associations, to communes.) Housing: Management of the solidarity fund for housing and the energy fund aid.
The Region is the highest territorial administrative entity before the national government. It is responsible for Culture, learning, professional training, continuing education, higher education and secondary education Regional express transportation, Health, Economic Develompent, Territorial improvement and planning.
We had two general councilors and one Regional Councilor in councils that had over 40 members. What could we get when it came to a vote? If we even proposed something they thought was a good idea it would be simply taken over and used in Guadeloupe.
According to the above, it is apparent that until 2007 we belonged to Guadeloupe and there was very little we could without Guadeloupe's blessing, approval and money which came through them.
It is the smallest of the territorial organizations, and forms part of a department, which forms part of a region. Saint Martin was formerly a commune of Guadeloupe, which is the department of Guadeloupe, which is the Region of Guadeloupe.
Being a commune of Guadeloupe meant in effect that we were considered a part of Guadeloupe, unable to call the island Saint Martin without adding Guadeloupe after. Just as Basse Terre Guadeloupe was Guadeloupe so Saint Martin was Guadeloupe.
The commune could vote on its budget and the level of local taxes, it could create or suppress communal employment, approve communal loans and subsidies, determine the tarrif of communal services and parking on public roads, local city parking and construct kindergarden and primary schools.
The department stands between the commune and the region and is administered by a General Council. They are responsible for social action, child protection, social intergration of persons in difficulty, allowances, aid to the handicapped and aged, sanitary prevention removal of household garbage. Garbage collection ( departmental or national roads of local interest, school transportation by motor vehicle, maritime ports, both fishing and commercial. Education (materil management refectories of junio high schools, recrutement and management of technical personnel, workers and other services. Culture: department archives, departmental lending libraries, museums and certain other buildings. Local development (aid to associations, to communes.) Housing: Management of the solidarity fund for housing and the energy fund aid.
The Region is the highest territorial administrative entity before the national government. It is responsible for Culture, learning, professional training, continuing education, higher education and secondary education Regional express transportation, Health, Economic Develompent, Territorial improvement and planning.
We had two general councilors and one Regional Councilor in councils that had over 40 members. What could we get when it came to a vote? If we even proposed something they thought was a good idea it would be simply taken over and used in Guadeloupe.
According to the above, it is apparent that until 2007 we belonged to Guadeloupe and there was very little we could without Guadeloupe's blessing, approval and money which came through them.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
DISLOYALTY IN THE RANKS
Disloyalty is a word that does not sound English in my ears, but of all its synonyms it is the closest to what I mean and a lot softer than what I do not mean. In other words, it is a lack of loyalty.
In this case, among the ranks of our incumbent administration.
As everyone is aware, the president of the territorial council which took office in 2012 was removed, for the second time since we became a collectivity in 2007 and leading me to think that France might have something to gain in doing that.
So in a rerun of our first collectivity elections, this leaves with a replacement and removing once again the head of the elected list. Coincidence?
There is however one major difference this time. The first time the party leader was ever present, so much so that the opposition saw it as a problem. This time however, we have a completely opposite scenario.
This time we have the ex president going on radio and criticizing the incumbent president. Yet one would think that the one chosen to serve in his absence would be one of his closest collaborators.
Who is being disloyal to whom and why? More important, how far will this go, where will it end and what will be the outcome? The administration still has until 2017 to go, so at a little less than half way through its term of office how much longer will it be able to maintain its credibility?
Except for the CAF, the country is in the throes of an economic depression, and if the the former president and his incumbent collegue no longer communicate, what is the story behind the story? And most important, how will this impact the country? So much work needs to be done, how much of it will get done?
The organic law is now being worked on, something which was not considered a priority, what will be the quality of the work done on that?
It is said that example comes from above, and in our case, above means France, since France, in this case, the national government, is the only thing above the collectivity. What example are we being shown by France, and is it not time that we show France how things should be done, or at the very least, how WE want things to be done on this island?
Let those who have ears to hear hear, and those who have eyes to see, see.
In this case, among the ranks of our incumbent administration.
As everyone is aware, the president of the territorial council which took office in 2012 was removed, for the second time since we became a collectivity in 2007 and leading me to think that France might have something to gain in doing that.
So in a rerun of our first collectivity elections, this leaves with a replacement and removing once again the head of the elected list. Coincidence?
There is however one major difference this time. The first time the party leader was ever present, so much so that the opposition saw it as a problem. This time however, we have a completely opposite scenario.
This time we have the ex president going on radio and criticizing the incumbent president. Yet one would think that the one chosen to serve in his absence would be one of his closest collaborators.
Who is being disloyal to whom and why? More important, how far will this go, where will it end and what will be the outcome? The administration still has until 2017 to go, so at a little less than half way through its term of office how much longer will it be able to maintain its credibility?
Except for the CAF, the country is in the throes of an economic depression, and if the the former president and his incumbent collegue no longer communicate, what is the story behind the story? And most important, how will this impact the country? So much work needs to be done, how much of it will get done?
The organic law is now being worked on, something which was not considered a priority, what will be the quality of the work done on that?
It is said that example comes from above, and in our case, above means France, since France, in this case, the national government, is the only thing above the collectivity. What example are we being shown by France, and is it not time that we show France how things should be done, or at the very least, how WE want things to be done on this island?
Let those who have ears to hear hear, and those who have eyes to see, see.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
THE BIG BAD ORGANIC LAW
Our present government has gone fom saying that the Organic Law was not a priority and would not be touched to saying it must now be done in two months. It would seem as if people a being given the impression that we have been given a "second chance" to change or modify the organic law. New Caledonia has modified its organic law at least seventeen (yes, 17) times since it went into effect.
I do not want to believe that the people I voted for in the last elections could allow crap like this to be propagated. Nor do I want to believe that those that I did not vote for could believe it. No wonder France seems to be determined to chop off the head of the group that gets elected. Having done it twice, as they say, look for "jamais deux sans trois". It would seem as if the once the head is gone all you end up with a caretaker government.
People, an Organic Law is a MALLEABLE DOCUMENT! Meaning open for modification as often as necessary. Something you ask for today may no longer apply five years down the line!
Minister Lurel knows in his heart that the left will suffer in the upcoming elections, and if a reshuffle of the national government is carried out the risks are high that he may no longer be Minister of Overseas Territories, and therefore will not be able to crow that he was the one who gave Saint Martin a "second chance" to modify its organic law.
Neither the Senator, the Deputy nor the Minister can ask for a modification of the organic law. Do you not think that if the Senator could do that it would not have been doene? IT HAS TO COME FROM THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMEN?T OF THE COLLECTIVITY!
That said, as much as possible should be done to have it modified now, especially since it may not be looked at again for several years.
Girls who make children before their eighteenth birthday become of legal age by virtue of that birth. Saint Martin may have acquired article 74 before enough people were ready for it, but guess what??
Tough! We have it, we delivered our baby, we are now of legal age!
Get up off your duff and do what you have to do. If you don't there can only be two reasons why you won't: Either you do not KNOW what to do and not humble enough to find out, or you very well know and do not WANT to put in the work that is necessary, because it is a lot of work.
TAKE YOUR PICK!
I do not want to believe that the people I voted for in the last elections could allow crap like this to be propagated. Nor do I want to believe that those that I did not vote for could believe it. No wonder France seems to be determined to chop off the head of the group that gets elected. Having done it twice, as they say, look for "jamais deux sans trois". It would seem as if the once the head is gone all you end up with a caretaker government.
People, an Organic Law is a MALLEABLE DOCUMENT! Meaning open for modification as often as necessary. Something you ask for today may no longer apply five years down the line!
Minister Lurel knows in his heart that the left will suffer in the upcoming elections, and if a reshuffle of the national government is carried out the risks are high that he may no longer be Minister of Overseas Territories, and therefore will not be able to crow that he was the one who gave Saint Martin a "second chance" to modify its organic law.
Neither the Senator, the Deputy nor the Minister can ask for a modification of the organic law. Do you not think that if the Senator could do that it would not have been doene? IT HAS TO COME FROM THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMEN?T OF THE COLLECTIVITY!
That said, as much as possible should be done to have it modified now, especially since it may not be looked at again for several years.
Girls who make children before their eighteenth birthday become of legal age by virtue of that birth. Saint Martin may have acquired article 74 before enough people were ready for it, but guess what??
Tough! We have it, we delivered our baby, we are now of legal age!
Get up off your duff and do what you have to do. If you don't there can only be two reasons why you won't: Either you do not KNOW what to do and not humble enough to find out, or you very well know and do not WANT to put in the work that is necessary, because it is a lot of work.
TAKE YOUR PICK!
Friday, March 7, 2014
WHAT TO BELIEVE ABOUT SAINT MARTIN?
This post is going to be partially a rant, and I really don't know how long it will be.
It would seem as if France is setting us up to fail. However, when I look at certain areas of society I see people like Romero Hyman and the Tae Kwon Do champions that he has produced, I see Calvin Bryan and the athletic champions that he has trained, bot of these teachers/coaches/trainers are St. Martiners and adult who have taught/trained young people from St. Martin.
My only conclusion can be that St. Martin and its people are capable of greatness. What is wrong with our polititians ? Are they truly afraid or have they been paid out?????
Why is it that the lists presented to us at election time are such that if you remove the head you are left with only a caretaker government? And why is it that France so Scrupulously removed both heads of the two collectivity elections????
It would seem as if anybody can be either senator or deputy because they are only one among hundreds, which is a lost case, do you REALLY expect to be heard in either the Senate or the Assembly? Don't fool yourselves, FRANCE wants this collectivity to fail so that they can come in and run it THE WAY THEY WANT IT RUN!
As I have said already, I am too old to do anything except talk, but if the State is not shown exactly what we want (which we have to know too) they will take us over.
It would seem as if France is setting us up to fail. However, when I look at certain areas of society I see people like Romero Hyman and the Tae Kwon Do champions that he has produced, I see Calvin Bryan and the athletic champions that he has trained, bot of these teachers/coaches/trainers are St. Martiners and adult who have taught/trained young people from St. Martin.
My only conclusion can be that St. Martin and its people are capable of greatness. What is wrong with our polititians ? Are they truly afraid or have they been paid out?????
Why is it that the lists presented to us at election time are such that if you remove the head you are left with only a caretaker government? And why is it that France so Scrupulously removed both heads of the two collectivity elections????
It would seem as if anybody can be either senator or deputy because they are only one among hundreds, which is a lost case, do you REALLY expect to be heard in either the Senate or the Assembly? Don't fool yourselves, FRANCE wants this collectivity to fail so that they can come in and run it THE WAY THEY WANT IT RUN!
As I have said already, I am too old to do anything except talk, but if the State is not shown exactly what we want (which we have to know too) they will take us over.
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