Dear Editor,
The mind-set of our people is still that everything coming from the other side of the Pond is needed, just and must be seen as an opportunity to change and do things better; that mind-set does not have room for questioning with what we are showered with. The few times, some of these decisions were questioned it was seen as a disservice to the people.
This attitude of our representatives gave The Hague the space to be complacent and, therefore, failed to scrutinize the matter as requested. Understandable, when there is no resistance of any form one takes things for granted and then starts to believe that everything is possible.
It is a whole new ball game when the Governor openly, and in an undermining way, speaks out in favour of this levelled instruction. What leads to the degree of absurdity and evidently bordered to pure ignorance, is when he also speaks out against the lodge objection while his signature is on that document.
In his published memo he emphasized that he concurred with the instruction because it is necessary for the integrity, transparency, efficiency and effective management.
What is unacceptable is the fact that he came to the hearing and made it his mission to share that memo to those present, and he also made sure to give a copy to the members conducting the hearing. It is unbecoming of the chairman of the Island Council and Executive Council, in a subtitle manner in the interest of The Hague to try to influence the result of the lodged objection against The Hague to present the members conducting the hearing with that memo.
When we pause and digest the memo of this colonial representative, then it is clear where his interest and loyalty lies. The only conclusion that can be drawn on the basis of this memo is that he gave himself an assessment of incompetence. If one at any time wondered why he signed the objection and still cooperated as a member of the Steering Group, look no further, his memo is the answer.
The question that comes to mind is why he did not tie his resignation to the memo. The Island Council voted in favour of a motion of no confidence in him, and now the bridge with the Executive Council is burned definitely by stabbing the two commissioners in the executive council in the back.
This as a new low for the Lt. Governor, who publicly has stated that “in everything he had done, he always worked in the best interest of the people of Statia.” He is so comfortable with higher supervision that this is the second form of instruction being place under his watch; conveniently delaying the execution of decisions of the Executive Council, and now the distributing of memos with the intent to change the message coming from the Executive Council. In other words, his shame box mash up! The message he is sending is, he is not competent and yearns for the mental slavery from across the Pond.
As children who played the game “In the river or on the bank” know that it is impossible to be “In the river and on the bank” at the same time. Commissioners, help him to take off the chain from around his neck before it is too late.
Derrick Simmons
President of the United People Coalition of St. Eustatius
