Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Dear Editor,
I have been watching with interest at the present situation in Africa involving the Ebola virus, and the fact that it was carried to the United States via a simple plane trip. Medical personnel in Spain are protesting that they do have the physical apparatus to contain the virus now that a nurse has fallen victim while treating a patient who returned from Africa.
The authorities in the US have called for calm and maintain that they have the wherewithal to prevent a serious epidemic. Nonetheless it appears that they are on the verge of setting up a screening process for arriving passengers from the infected region.
Some scientists are warning that it is only a matter of time before the virus starts popping up in places all over the world; places less developed and who are extremely vulnerable to a widespread outbreak due to inability to handle or contain the disease. Keeping in mind how quickly chikungunya spread once it started in this region.
Does St. Maarten have a position on this brewing situation? I ask you to pause for a moment and think this through. What would happen if an infected person turned up via our international airport and had to be admitted to our medical centre? It is quite likely that the first people to contract the disease would be unassuming healthcare professionals. I say unassuming because if they guess correctly no help would be forthcoming for the victim, which is again an even worse scenario. More than likely there would be a ripple effect that could culminate in the devastation of our tourist economy in a short time.
In the face of this potential calamity I ask – where is our Minister of Health? Pardon me, I forgot he is the one that turned his back on St. Maarten for reasons only he can understand. Don't fret too much. At least we have his image to look at, leisurely enjoying an apple in groceries throughout the island. If nothing else his image should serve as a reminder to our young people of someone they should not emulate. I am tired of the kid gloves treatment.
Disgusted DP voter
Name withheld at author's request.
