Dear Editor,

I thank you in advance for giving me some space in your newspaper to bring some things that are happening here in St. Maarten to light. For instance, we, as local here with young children, are looking for work and can't get a job. We have applied for financial assistance since March 31, 2009, and haven't received an answer up to now.

Then, when you look, you see foreigners getting financial assistance from our government for years and we, as locals who paid taxes, can't even get assistance from our government to which we are paying our taxes. I, as a young St. Maartener, feel something has to be done about this situation. It's frustrating us, because they should not to say we aren't looking for work.

It's just that anybody isn't hiring anyone. All they are doing is just putting advertisement in the newspaper that they are looking for someone to work in order to renew someone's residence paper. It's all a big sham I say.

And for the issue concerning Olzina N.V., I find government must not give them the permit concerning that building for the fact that they are the biggest slave drivers here on the island. They do not respect anyone, even government. Too many illegal activities are going on there and no one wants to look into it. I praise those politicians who stood up to them. There should be some more loyal St. Maarteners out there, or else they are going to sell out St. Maarten.

We must stand up and speak up, for now is the time.

Concerning the issue with currency, St. Maarten, I think and know that the whole island will stand by me with this one, should stick with our Antillean Guilder, for it has been running well with it and to bring in a new currency will only bring disaster to our friendly island.

Think my people, and think wisely or we will doom our friendly island or at least what remains of it.

Frustrated St. Maartener