By Claude Chacho Peterson
We have taken note of your letter sent to Prime Minister Jacobs in regard to the alarming situation at the Princess Juliana International Airport and the stoppage of the fifth tranche of liquidity support (Naf 39 million) due to this serious matter at PJIA.
We have been proactively informing the population for months and weeks on so many of the very same concerns we see listed in your letter. We have repeatedly sounded the alarm. Although we expected the consequences faced today by the government, which has been a reoccurring modus operandi for this Jacobs Cabinet and the UP/NA coalition, we are extremely disappointed, ashamed, angry and outright fed-up.
We realize that the Kingdom Government wants to assist SXM Government and the People with financing to survive this Pandemic, but the Kingdom Council of Ministers, via your office, cannot continue to enable the Jacobs government, which has clearly demonstrated that:
- they do not live up to agreements they sign;
- they do not honor their word;
- they are not sincere and honest in their dealings with you;
- they are being manipulated and led by the ‘Outside Handlers’.
As a former MP from July 2018-November 2019, we witnessed, experienced and fought the forces of the Outside Handlers not only within the coalition but within the Leona Cabinet. These very Outside Handlers are the ones who ultimately undermined the stability of the Coalition and forced the implosion of the then UD party. Those forces took control of the majority in Parliament. It is with that knowledge that those who fought these corrupt forces on Leona, invoked article 59 of the SXM constitution to dissolve parliament which was now being manipulated.
Yet, State Secretary Knops, we trust that you realize that those forces are stronger than ever and resulted in the present coalition between two parties who traditionally have been major opponents to each other. Today, they are joined by Anti-Dutch sentiments, personal and political vendettas against the Dutch, and of course, the continued fleecing of government-owned companies and government.
The Outside Handlers are very much in control of the Jacobs Cabinet and they wield significant power in the Parliament. From the content of your most recent letter and having read all your public letters sent to the SXM government since the beginning of 2020, it is clear to us that you are fully aware of what we described above.
It is clear that you realize the PM lacks credibility at this point and should not be trusted. We concur. Please note that the Prime Minister is the leader of the NA with 5 in a coalition of 9 seats and they hold 5 of the 7 Ministries in the Council of Ministers versus UP party with 4 seats and 2 Ministries.
While these stats should have empowered this PM, it has long become very evident to us that she is not in control of this government and does not have the strength of character or leadership skills to stand up against the political meddling to lead SXM in this time of crisis.
While we would prefer not to have to point out her misleading, lies and lack of transparency during the worst period in our history when the future of this island is most in doubt and our people are falling in despair, we cannot stand aside and allow this level of incompetence to go unchecked.
Since March 2020, we have seen the PM led by this Coalition repeatedly, unnecessarily and intentionally frustrate the Covid recovery process and the much-needed financial support provided by the Netherlands. These delays have come at a high cost to the people and businesses in the private sector who need it the most.
While each time they say the words and write the letters to appease your conditions, it should be evident to you that many of those promises to live up to conditions have not been done in practice. For example, the 25% salary cut for political authorities which is still not implemented.
Instead, both the Council of Ministers (CoM) and Coalition have been deceptive each time just to get the money. It should be very evident to you by now that these games will not stop. We believe that this Jacobs Cabinet will not stop the games as long as the Dutch keep rewarding what can only be described as a lack of integrity and good governance.
That being said, we believe it is time for you to implore the Kingdom Council of Ministers to impose direct Higher Supervision on this Government until the economy can be restored and the island does not need Dutch liquidity for its basic survival.
This will ensure that the population, in particular the private sector, is not made to suffer unduly. As you know the NGO’s have had to assist thousands with food baskets and unemployment remains a growing concern.
You have indicated that you will send on the decision on the fifth tranche to be made in the May 21 Kingdom Council of Ministers with the advice that the money be suspended until the Jacobs Cabinet deals with the Good Governance issues at the airport. While we applaud this move and we have no doubt the PM will do whatever she can to convince you she is now serious about handling the issues and deserve the money, please note that once they receive these funds they will go right back to the same sabotage of the airport and other issues which are vital for the recovery of SXM.
The Outside Handlers, CoM and the Coalition believe the Dutch will play hardball but will always bail them out no matter what they do to avoid civil servants and subsidized entities from going unpaid. We must say that history seems to back up that belief.
If higher supervision is not an option the Kingdom Council of Ministers will consider, we believe it is imperative at this point that the Kingdom Council of Ministers allow the Jacobs Cabinet to face the realities of the present financial situation without Dutch liquidity to bail them out. Only then will they be held accountable for their actions.
It is time that they realize this is serious business and these types of futile games will not be enabled and tolerated by the Kingdom Council of Ministers. The longer these games are played, the longer the people and businesses in the private sector will be made to suffer.
As far as we are concerned, SXM has Status Aparte and this liquidity support should be seen as a benefit and not a liability. We sincerely trust that you will take our advice in consideration. SXM people deserve an end to these games so they can truly focus on surviving these hard times.
Claude Chacho Peterson, die deze bijdrage afsluit als ‘a fedup and concerned SXMner’, is voormalig Statenlid voor SMCP (SXM Christian Party).
