Letters to the Editor

In their today’s editorial The Daily Herald writes that the handling of the Bosman Law in The Hague, illustrates that participation in the upcoming European Parliament elections on May 22 may prove important for the Dutch Caribbean.  Forms for such were presented to St. Maarten’s Parliament President Gracita Arrindell recently …

In a comment in the Daily Herald is written: The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament in The Hague today is handling the Bosman Law to regulate the admittance of nationals from St. Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba to the Netherlands. The three autonomous countries within the kingdom are dead set …

In their editorial today, the Daily herald fears that the coming weeks and months could prove pivotal regarding the future of the Dutch Kingdom, starting with the handling of the so-called “Bosman Law” by the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament in The Hague (see Saturday edition). This proposal to …

The Daily Herald published the following opinion. With the agreed-on five-year evaluation of the new constitutional relations within the Dutch Kingdom per 10-10-10 due in 2015, particularly politicians on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have started discussing what may be the final outcome of this exercise. The topic also …

This opinion is written in The Daily Herald. The call by the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament to assist St. Maarten with expertise in the area of youth delinquency and detention (see Saturday paper) is interesting. One of the arguments used by certain politicians in The Hague who keep …

Open letter to the Saba Island Council. The ‘Unspoiled Queen’ is rapidly loosing the word ‘Unspoiled’. Why ? Most citizens of Saba do not want their paradise been taken over by druggies, drunks and other a-social people, by terrorizing the island with their blasting music,  screaming motorbikes racing through small …

Published in The Daily Herald: Dear Editor, “Put them in a row boat and push them off into the Caribbean Sea.” Bruce Zagers of Saba, earlier this month, remembered the advice that I had given him two years ago about how to deal with all those Dutch civil servants who …

Ever since Máxima proclaimed, in 2007, that there is no such thing as a Dutch identity, politicians, scientists and opinion leaders have been pondering the Dutch identity conundrum. What does it entail? The answer can be captured in one word: hollancination, or the use of the regional name ‘Holland’ as …

The Daily Herald published as opinion, that perhaps Dutch Second Chamber Member André Bosman (VVD) is in the Christmas spirit (see Tuesday paper), because his latest statement sounds a lot less antagonistic than usual. He now says his law proposal to regulate the admittance of people from the islands as …

The Daily Herald published the following Letter to the Editor: Dear Editor, Thank you in advance for placing my complaint in your widely read newspaper; this is concerning cable TV on Saba. I left here on vacation, and I have been back now for the past five months, and still …

In their Editorial, The Daily Herald writes today the following. The Dutch Government recognises the right of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba to hold referenda on the constitutional future, but sees it as separate from the planned five-year evaluation of the renewed relations within the Kingdom that went into effect …

The Daily Herald writes in an opinion that some may have been surprised to read in Wednesday’s paper that an agreement had been signed for the Saba, Statia Cable System (SSCS). After all, the government in Philipsburg originally had objected to plans of the National Service Caribbean Netherlands RCN to …

  Letter removed on request of the author.

Hilbert Haar, Editor-in-Chief @ Today writes in his editorial: Two Members of Parliament asked this week for my opinion about reparation – financial compensation for the sufferings Caribbean ancestors had to endure during the slavery era. I do not consider myself a Dutchman, even though I have a Dutch passport. …

A comment in the Daily Herald states that Dutch Second Chamber Member Andre Bosman is sticking to his guns regarding the draft law to regulate the admittance of persons coming from Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten as residents in the Netherlands (see related article). While he showed courage to come …

In an editorial the paper Today writes that, now it turns out that Verene Shepherd, a Jamaican Professor in Social History, has spoken on behalf of the United Nations while she has no right to do so. She is a volunteer who does not get paid by the UN and …

The following comment was published in The Daily Herald. The fibre optic cable from St. Eustatius and Saba to St. Maarten (see related article) is another example of an issue that led to much friction with The Hague, but apparently was resolved in the end. The prospect of a lawsuit …

Saba youth are at times negatively portrayed due to the frequency of course load postponements or even drop-out rates and cultural adjustment challenges faced when pursuing higher-education opportunities abroad. The trend appears to be most pronounced in the Netherlands where anecdotal accounts speak of students choosing less-demanding subjects after realizing …

In its editorial, the Daily Herald writes today, that many were surprised to read in Monday’s paper that Finance Minister Martin Hassink is seeking a way to exempt products sent directly to St. Eustatius and Saba from the five per cent turnover tax (ToT). After all, up to now government …

A commentary in the Daily Herald: St. Maarten going independent was mentioned again several times in Parliament during Thursday’s debate (see The Daily Herald of last Friday) on the instruction by the Kingdom Council of Ministers to Governor Eugene Holiday for an integrity investigation into the local government and its …

Dear Editor, This is an open letter to the Management of the police force on Saba.  I request urgent and effective actions from this Management to stop police officers terrorizing the Saban community. In most civilized communities the parents teach their children that “the Police is your friend. Be kind …

Dear Editor, I am compelled to speak out on the recent events on the island of Saba. Last week, a man was arrested in his home for what appeared to be a hit-and-run accident. Based on the many accounts, the man in question hit a car; the police were called …

It appears St. Maarten is in a constitutional dispute with the Netherlands concerning the instruction for an integrity investigation via the governor (see Saturday paper). This is a comment in The Daily Herald. The Wescot-Williams cabinet will not cooperate with such pending an advice from the Council of State. The …

Dear Editor, Please allow me a little space in your esteemed newspaper to respond to Governor Berkel’s zero tolerance article of 25th of September, 2013. Honourable Governor, I acknowledge your enthusiasm in trying to combat the accelerating increase of vandalism and loitering on our peaceful island. However, I must state …

Comments Concept Law Electricity and Drinkingwater BES By:          Koos Sneek Former commissioner of Energy & Water, Statia Date:     September 19th 2013 Recently a consultation has been initiated by the ministry of economic affairs on the introduction of a regulatory law for electricity and drinking water for the BES islands. In …

Dear Editor, I am writing you about a problem with the government and employment on the island of Saba. There are several areas where the problems are severe. One of the main obligations of our elected officials should be keeping the island’s economy intact and prospering. It is as important …

Dutch voters are not worried about the impact of the economic crisis, rising unemployment and climate change. They are furious. according to VU University research. The research shows voters are ‘very, very angry’ about events, newspaper Trouw, which commissioned the research, said. Some 60% think the country needs a strong …

SLOPPY BOOKKEEPING at SONA has quite rightly reflected upon the role of current Kingdom Representative, Wilbert Stolte. Between 2008 and 2011, whilst Stolte was its treasurer, the accounts by all accounts were ‘messy’. But it was not until after Stolte was promoted to Dutch representative in the BES public entities …

Sloppy bookkeeping at SONA has quite rightly reflected upon the role of current Kingdom Representative, Wilbert Stolte. Between 2008 and 2011, whilst Stolte was its treasurer, the accounts by all accounts were “messy.” But it was not until after Stolte was promoted to Dutch representative in the BES public entities …

The following opinion has been written in the Daily Herald. The Permanent Committee for Kingdom Affairs and Inter- Parliamentary Relations will discuss the so-called “Bosman Law” today, Monday. It’s actually a pity that the elected representatives again have to spend time and energy on the umpteenth attempt by the Netherlands …

John Clease with long legs, London city suit and bowler hat cuts a comic figure in his Monty Python sketch of a civil servant at the Ministry of Silly Walks. Less comical and infinitely more critical is the issue of safety in the wake of NuStar’s latest oil spills on …

We have known for quite some time that life is not fair (mind you: we’re not complaining, just stating a fact) and now we have confirmation from the Central Bureau for Statistics in the Netherlands. The bureau published figures from last year showing that rich people live longer than poor …

Dear Editor, First of all, Saba Cable TV is and has been not working properly for the past years and yet as much as we complain nothing is done about it. I would like to know if the owner of the company has taken notice that there are over 115 …

The text of the interview of HP/de Tijd with Helmin Wiels was published on Today.com, November 9, 2012 Mr. Helmin Wiels is the winner of the recent elections in Curaccao. He got a podium in the Netherlands when HP/De Tijd magazine interviewed him in 2010. The story gave a candid …

Granted, the reaction of politicians in The Hague to the election result in Curaçao is a bit premature. One of the Second Chamber members even intends to submit a motion calling for a referendum on the island. The reality is that while pro-independence “Pueblo Soberano” (PS) became the largest party, …