Presently, there are at least two specific suggestions to help the Haitian people as a result of the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.
These have the potential to impact our "Friendly Island" positively or negatively. They are:
1. A proposal from the French authorities to send some 5,000 (yes five thousand) more Haitians to the "Friendly Island."
Clearly, that is the easy way out for the French, because it does not impact mainland France itself and it certainly does not care that even at this very moment, more than any other island in the region, or even elsewhere in the world, the "Friendly Island" is bursting at its seams, its infrastructure stressed to breaking point, its people already a numerical minority, on the edge of being wiped out of existence.
In addition, all costs for housing and taking care of other needs of these extra immigrants will be at the expense of the Collectivity of Saint Martin and at the end of the day at the expense of the people of Saint Martin.
2. Our http://ipetition.stmartinnation.org, which as a far more comprehensive approach (a "Marshall Plan" for Haitians) aimed at contributing towards a sustainable, long-term solution for Haiti and its people in Haiti, without adding more burdens to the region and its people.
Since adding even more immigrants to our already very dire and explosive mix will have very far-reaching consequences, not only for (French) Saint Martin, but also for (Dutch) St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius and the rest of the Caribbean region, it is time to allow the public to give its feelings on this subject via your respective radio and TV programs in order to bring balance and reasoning to this discussion.
Taking into account the rights of free expression of all people, it is important that radio and TV talk show hosts respect this right, even if they might not always agree or disagree with the opinions of those wishing to make use of this right.
With respect,
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia
