Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Dear Editor,
On Friday, July 3, 2015, the headlines of this well-read newspaper stated: "Koos Sneek Files Charges Against Clyde van Putten."
Mr. Sneek plays the victim here. The victim of slander, of unsubstantiated accusations. Now playing the role of a victim is a rescue mechanism to protect the person's ego when he fails to reach his important goals. Instead of admitting that he failed in doing what he wanted to do, he plays the role of victim and claims external factors were the reasons he didn't reach his goals. In short: I did not do it, it was them!
And such is the case of Mr. Koos Sneek. We will first publish some facts concerning the abovementioned case for the public's knowledge, from which it can be understood that the accusations are substantiated and that Mr. Sneek is just trying to do what he is best at, give Jack his jacket: confuse people and direct the attention away from his incompetent and despicable actions by inaccurately and arbitrarily accusing others.
On Wednesday, February 1, 2012, Mr. Sneek was appointed commissioner by the DP/Lijfrock-Marsdin coalition. The substantiating articles and pictures were printed on page 13 in THE DAILY HERALD – section Islands.
On February 20th, 2012, just 19 days after his appointment, a letter of intent between the St. Eustatius Housing Foundation and Norako N.V. was signed. Again 19 days after our brand new commissioner was appointed, he signed this letter of intent, not as commissioner but as Managing director of Norako N.V.
In this letter of intent there was the following section: Taking into consideration the following conditions:
a. "Seller will sell and buyer will buy the in Par 1, 2 and 3 mentioned properties for the price of one million three hundred thousand dollars (US $1,300,000.00);
b. All transfer cost (including but not limited to civil notary cost and transfer tax) are for account of the buyer;
c. Buyer will buy properties as is;
d. A sale will only be concluded when buyer will be able to acquire sufficient funding by means of a bank loan to purchase said properties.
e. Buyer will do all in his power to speedily expedite the process necessary to acquire sufficient funding to purchase said properties.
f. This letter of intent will be cancelled and consequently no sale will be concluded in the event buyer is unable to acquire sufficient funding to purchase the properties. In this case Buyer will supply written proof of this to seller.
g. In the event Buyer cancels this letter of intent for any other reason than mentioned par f. Buyer will pay to seller five per cent (5%) of the purchase price as mentioned in par."
Being commissioner of Finance and boasting of his many years living on Statia, married to a Statian, aware of Statia's culture and dire financial straits, one would expect that Mr. Koos Sneek would be the last individual to try to swindle the poorest on the island namely the tenants of the social Housing Foundation out of the last pittance they manage to muster.
A letter of intent is just as it states, an intention that can only be completed and executed should the third party in this case the bank, give its approval to the request for financing.
As a business person and one who is also for years a real estate agent on Statia, Mr. Sneek is certainly aware of the chances of the bank dismissing the request of the Housing Foundation or any other person's living today under the burdensome rules of the Dutch on knowing the plight of Statia's underprivileged, whom the Housing foundation represents.
Mr. Sneek ruthlessly ignores point F: "This letter of intent will be cancelled and consequently no sale will be concluded in the event buyer is unable to acquire sufficient funding to purchase the properties. In this case Buyer will supply written proof of this to seller" and is using point G: "In the event Buyer cancels this letter of intent for any other reason than mentioned par f. Buyer will pay to seller five per cent (5%) of the purchase price as mentioned in par. "
When he is, by knowledge and experience, fully aware that an intent letter is meant to be cancelled should financing fail as is the case with the Housing Foundation!
To inform the general public of this crime against them is now to be deemed a criminal act?
Mr. Van Putten's statement was mentioned not in the island council meeting but in a confidential meeting of the central committee and the law grants island council member's immunity when speaking in council meetings. If Mr. Sneek felt that his colleague council member had gone too far he should have lodged a complaint with the island council's president.
The flashy young lawyer of Mr. Sneek is unfortunately not aware of these facts. And although we understand the need for financial gain, these charges filed only prove how desperate Mr. Sneek is to clear his name of his conscious wrongdoing.
However, when one lacks a conscience, wrongdoing becomes a habit and Mr. Sneek can no longer hide from the public the person he really is. Not even with this lawyer at his side digging the hole of his unsavoury reputation even deeper.
The Primary goals of the subconscious mind of a person are to protect his ego and make him feel good about himself. Whenever something threatens the self-worth (of the individual), his ego's protection mechanism fires to prevent any damage from happening.
Dear Mr. Sneek, this government will continue to stand for the rights and needs of the people of Statia regardless and in spite of all the obstacles you try to place in its way.
Your actions will be used as stepping stones as we continue to climb and fight even harder for our island. Scare tactics are no longer impressive on an enlightened Statia.
Clyde van Putten
