SXMElections.com

Dear Editor,

I believe that all of these people including myself who voice their opinion do it with a purpose. My purpose is for the betterment of life on St. Maarten. If life gets better it will be better for me also. Simple as that.

Over the years too many of us would say how it should not be and go to lengths to explain why it should not be. This is also the case with the counterpart issue. Laws are written because someone realizes that something is not going well and in that spirit is motivated to correct it and puts a law together with that intention.

Also someone gets an idea how to better an existing situation and again in that spirit writes a law which goes through the procedures and is finally approved and ratified. Just like those people, who have the gift of saying a whole lot, making it sound beautiful, and did not say a thing, so is language. Words with different meanings, which can be interpreted differently and put into a different context.

The same thing can be done with the law. That is why the spirit of the law is maintained. In making the law, technicalities, existing laws, conflicting laws etc. are taken into consideration and will be dealt with. So if the intention is to educate and empower the nationals of the country, why couldn't those people who took time to analyze why the counterpart policy won't work have taken that same time to see how to make it work in the best possible way to get nationals in those positions.

Not only those people but the entire parliament should come aboard and show solidarity for St. Maarten. Earn your pay!! Isn't that the case in our neighbouring islands? What is it going to take for people to realize what is going on, on both sides of Saint Martin? We are not ostriches people, deal with the reality. See the handwriting.

Permit me to say this to MP Christopher Emmanuel. First check among the quotes of President Carter what he said about loyalty when he lost the election to President Reagan. And then familiarize yourself with the Dutch language if you intend to make politics a career.

In the Kingdom only on St. Maarten is English an official language. If it is not regulated that all partners are obliged to supply the delegates of the other countries with the English version of whatever has to be discussed, it will be difficult for you to properly represent the people of St. Maarten.

Besides that, if you are not in an official setting you cannot oblige anyone to speak the language you understand. What will happen if that person claims like you that he does not speak English? Did only English-speaking people vote for you? Eventhough you are right to exact the English version of the budget, that is about the only place you would be able to do that. Do not limit yourself. An ignorant person once asked me in his language while ordering breakfast: "How do you say 'ham and eggs' in English?"

Russell A. Simmons