Dear Editor
Small claims court was established to facilitate the recovery of funds owed to individuals in a civil manner and has served the community well. The only drawback is when a defendant does not have an address registered with the census office. In this scenario, the plaintiff usually wins his/her case because the defendant did not receive the summons, but at the same time, it makes it difficult for the plaintiff to collect.
Unlike the government's gerechtsdeurwaarders, regular deurwaarders do not have the authority to request banking information from banks, nor do they have the power to request tax filings or employment information from the tax department.
This leaves the plaintiff at a huge disadvantage, as they would have to pay a serving fee and a garnishment charge upfront, without a guarantee of recouping their funds, and would also incur additional administrative costs.
In the same way, the government wants its money, so the small claim plaintiffs want theirs. When a defendant loses a case in small claims court, they should also lose their right to financial and employment privacy. Also, by rights, they should be fined for not having their correct address registered with the Census Office.
Currently, too many people are getting away with it, as the restrictions imposed on regular deurwaarders seriously undermine their authority. These conditions also deter many people from using the small claims court and may prompt some to collect their money the old-fashioned way.

Francis D. Hodge

Dear Editor,

I generally stay away from weighing in on Sint Maarten issues lately. There is too much going on, and most public commentary is noise. And for two decades, I worked relentlessly for this island, so now that I’m more active regionally, I tend to hold my tongue. To keep the peace when I am at home with my family. This one crosses a line with me,e though.
What was published is sloppy, uninformed, and unfair. A Letter to the Editor that reads like a rushed Facebook post dressed up as “commentary,” built on assumptions, weak logic, and bad writing. The grammar is a mess, the story jumps around, and most importantly, they name and shame a volunteer organization without doing the bare minimum due diligence. No call. No attempt to verify facts. No effort to understand who has responsibility for what on the ground. Just a baseless accusation -no doubt born out of a sense of performative entitlement.
Animal Defenders SXM is one of the most active, consistent, selfless grassroots organizations on this island. I served as a founding board member. I know exactly what it takes to keep that type of work going: constant calls, constant crises, constant shortages, and almost zero structural support from the government. Volunteers carry burdens that should never be left to NGOs in the first place. But they do it anyway. Day after day. They pick up the pieces for problems they didn’t create, in a system that routinely fails animals, and then act surprised when NGOs are stretched thin.
If those tourists were genuinely concerned about animal welfare at Bell’s Lookout, there are obvious places to aim their anger:
The people who irresponsibly dump or keep animals.
The lack of water access and basic oversight at a major tourism site.
Inadequate trash facilities and a feeding culture keep animals in poor conditions.
The government’s ongoing failure to fund, enforce, and provide facilities, while expecting NGOs to mop up the consequences.
Instead, they took the easy route: punch down at volunteers. Entitled, misinformed visitors with a Saviour Syndrome expressing disgust and deciding the solution is to publicly attack an organization that is constantly dealing with difficult cases of animal abuse and neglect across the entire island.
Sint Maarten has enough real problems. We do not need careless hit-pieces demoralizing the few people who consistently show up for animals when the system doesn’t. We also do not need “concerned tourist” commentary that lands like a moral verdict, then disappears on the 1730 PM to Miami. If you want to contribute, contribute in a way that actually improves conditions.
If the signatories want to help: contact ADSXM directly, ask what support is needed, donate, volunteer, or pressure the government to do its job. Publicly blaming volunteers because you were upset during a sightseeing stop is, again, performative, and it does damage. It damages morale. It damages trust. And it makes it harder for decent people to keep doing hard, important work.
People working on this island’s front lines deserve better than that. Especially those people who, through their selfless actions, show empathy and compassion—something our community so desperately needs.

Tadzio Bervoets

Sint Maarten

Dear Mr. Editor,

On behalf of my family, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of the late Mr. Rudy Benjamin. As a community-spirited people, we must return to the basics of truly knowing our neighborhoods and the residents within them.
As a law-abiding citizen, I understand police protocols when a report is received that an individual is carrying a firearm. I also acknowledge that walking with a gun is against the law. However, the question remains whether the situation should first have been assessed and de-escalated before the use of deadly force. I wonder whether the district's Community Police Officer was contacted to help de-escalate the situation. I wish I had been there to speak with Rudy and help de-escalate the encounter.
As one of the co-founders of the St. Peter's Community Council in the early 1990s, alongside Mr. Rolando Tobias and Ms. Valerie Brazier, we once had a strong “Friends of the Community” relationship with the Police Department. Whenever something occurred in the district, communication went both ways between the community and police leadership. We need to reinstate active community policing in our districts.

The police must know the district, the young men on the block, and the residents who grew up together in these neighborhoods. It feels as though we are moving away from caring for one another and extending a helping hand within our community. Mr. Rudy Benjamin was a human being who did not have to lose his life in his own district. It is a very sad day for the community.
In closing, we must learn from the past and reconnect with our people. We cannot forget where we came from and the ties we share as one community. Let the justice system conduct its investigation, and I pray for a fair and transparent outcome for the family and friends of the late Rudy Benjamin. May his soul rest in peace.

Kind regards,
Maurice Lake

PHILIPSBURG:--- Yesterday, while visiting the scenic Bells Lookout Point, we were met with a deeply upsetting sight that left tourists and onlookers heartbroken. A large pig and several young chickens were found in distressing conditions at the top of the mountain.
The pig appeared unwell, lying motionless even when stimulated, and no water was available for the animals. Despite signs instructing visitors not to feed the animals, concerned tourists, including myself, stepped in to provide water and food. The pig drank the water eagerly, a clear sign of its dehydration. Tragically, one of the chicks was found dead near the pig, and the remaining birds were also without water or proper care.
This situation is unacceptable. The top of a dry mountain with no access to water or proper shelter is no place for these animals. It is heartbreaking to see them left in such conditions, relying on tourists for survival. This is not what the island represents, and it is a disservice to both the animals and the visitors who come to enjoy this destination's beauty.
If this is the responsibility of Animal Defenders or any other organization, immediate action is needed. These animals deserve proper placement, care, and access to basic necessities like water and food. Leaving them in this state is not only cruel but also deeply upsetting for the many visitors who witness their suffering.
We urge the responsible parties to take action now. Relocate the pig and the chickens to a safe and suitable environment where they can receive the care they need. It doesn’t take much to fix this situation, but it does take someone to step up and do the right thing.
To the organizations and individuals responsible: please act swiftly. The animals atop Bells Lookout Point deserve better, and so do the tourists who visit this beautiful island expecting compassion and care for all its inhabitants.
Let’s come together to ensure these animals are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Sincerely,
Concerned Tourists and Lifetime SXM Travelers