Dear Editor,
Recently the government has made a series of appalling decisions which we, the people of St. Maarten, simply should not accept. In fact, it is our civic duty to comment on these decisions.
Last week, the Island Council agreed to rent space in the Caribbean Palm Building. They will pay US$96,000 per month for seven years, or a total of over US$8,000,000.
Shortly before that, the island councillors unanimously agreed to pay themselves NAf.700,000 (about US$390,000) per month for the salaries of the members of parliament, ministers and prime minister.
So these 15 parliamentarians and ministers are going to cost the taxpayers at least US$5,800,000 per year just in rent and salaries. And this while we also have a Government Administration Building that sits empty and unused and costs over US$250,000 per month in rent.
Ask yourself these questions:
Why did the successive governments, DP and NA, wait until less than two months before 10-10-10 to do a rushed deal to find a parliament building?
Why did government agree to a rent that is as much as 50 per cent higher than the market rent for office space?
What kind of furniture, computers and other equipment costs US$2,000,000 to serve 15 parliamentarians? Or US$133,333 per person?
Why choose this location? Convenient to them with their free parking, but not convenient for the public to come to them?
How much more tax will each of us have to pay so that these 15 parliamentarians can work in luxury?
It is clear that these politicians, red, white or green, are only looking after their own interests and are simply unconcerned about those of the people. While most businesses on the island are down 20 to 30 per cent and people are losing their jobs or leaving the island, the government sadly spends more money only to benefit themselves and their cronies. Everyone else will have to pay more taxes after 10-10-10. After two years of recession, neither this nor the previous government has come up with any solutions to help the economy.
Now that they want your votes it is time to ask your favourite politician – what are you going to do about crime, about education, about the economy, about the environment? And let's get real answers and solutions, not the usual platitudes and promises that are forgotten after the election.
It is time to take a stand and let the government know that we will not take this anymore. We will no longer be abused, nor turn a blind eye to blatant corruption. It is time to say that this will not stand. It is time to say that we want an end to "sweetheart" deals that benefit friends and relatives of the politicians. It is time to put an end to the transfer of wealth from the pockets of the people into the hands of the elite few who already have. It is time to elect politicians who will sincerely put the interests of the people before their own wealth and power. It is time for us to seek out the honest and hardworking politicians.
A Concerned Taxpayer
