Publicatie 23

ONE LOVE

INDEPENDENT NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 8, 2010 ISSUE 23

STATIA NEWS

Why is the title of this edition of Statianews ONE LOVE? Because I hear a lot of people say it. Joshua always ends his programs with “one love” as a farewell greeting, and you tend to hear it on Statia, when some unity feeling, like “we are all stuck on these 11 square miles, let’s make the best of it” comes up. This picture was made after the first press conference commissioner Mr. Julian Woodley attended last year. G.I.S. wants to continue with these weekly press conferences, but somehow, due to the fact that our represen‐tatives have to be off island a lot, it doesn’t happen. That is too bad, but not the end of the world, because on Statia, the news is on the street.

Notice the text on Joshua’s t—shirt: A people without knowledge of its past is like a tree without roots. Coincidently it happens to be Black History Month and we on Statia are very fortunate to have two local channels that are broadcas‐ting very interesting documentaries. This One Love edition is made for Valentine’s Day, for Bob Marley’s birthday, for Black history month and for party’s. Enjoy Statianews, Annemieke Kusters

Celebrating Bob Marley’s Birthday Page 2 The tenniscourt at Jeems Page 3 Care Bear Laurens Page 4 A little story retold, Page 4 Haags feestje, Page 5 Marley song on Mr. Mitchells’ mind Page 6 Marley song on Joshua’s mind Page 6 Letter to the editor: More people on Statia, Page 7 Marley song on my mind Page 7 Just do your what? Page 8 Invitatian Page 9 Invitation 0

Julian Woodley, Malvern Dijkshoorn‐Lopes (G.I.S.) and Joshua Spanner.

MEDIA STATIA NEWS

Saturday night, there was a program on Channel 15, the G.I.S. channel, about Bob Marley, made by Dwight Barran. February 6th is Bob Marley’s birthday and it is celebrated throughout the Caribbean, especially here, in the English speaking islands. February is also Black History Month, which is very interesting on our local channels and also on HBO. I was stuck to the television all evening. Not only from the images of Jamaica in 1961, the poverty, the situation in Trenchtown, the upcoming Bob Marley, but also from the images from Africa and the story of how Haile Selassie came to be emperor, the pictures of his father and mother, the war that was going on in Ethiopia, just when in Europe the first World War was going on.

The historical concert “One love”, peace concert at the Na‐tional Stadium in Kingston Jamaica in 1978 was also shown. Bob Marley called the two political rivals Michael Manley (PNP) and Edward Seaga (JLP) on stage and they joined hands with him. “We’re jamming” was the song he was playing.

Feb 8, 2010

CELEBRATING BOB MARLEY‘S BIRTHDAY

1966, Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia visits Jamaica

Before Dwight Barran came to Statia, he was a journalist on St. Maarten. Some of his work of those days were seen around Christmas time on Channel 15. He had an interview with a 100 year old lady on St. Maarten and with other old people from Statia and Saba about how they celebrated Christmas in the old days. Dwight is the kind of interviewer that makes people feel comfortable and this makes them reveal their true self. He had some small interviews on election day, that gave a good impression of the atmosphere on Statia. In the program he made for Bob Marley’s birthday, he had three interviews with Joshua, with Yabbi and with Don Mitchell (Skell). These interviews were very good, the three of them spoke from the heart about Bob Mar‐ley and black history.

Rivaling politicians of Jamaica making peace at the One Love concert in 1978

LOCAL NEWS STATIA NEWS

People in the community are wondering about the tenniscourt that is in the making at the end of Jeemsroad. Mr. Winston Tearr, head of DROB (public works) explained that the waterproblem on the road will be solved, rainwater will be directed to two res‐ervoirs that will serve as cisterns. The water can be used for agricultural purposes. Probably the water will also be used for the toilets by the tenniscourt. There also will be space for cars to park and two tenniscourts. In the back, where the trees are, a place will be created where people can wait for their turn and have a drink. Rob van der Waag, head of the sportsdepartment said that this tenniscourt is not part of the sports‐plan, but something Mr. Hooker wanted to do. Mr. van der Waag is happy with the project because it does serve the purpose of involving the community in sports. He also said that he was happy that the trees are saved and the spot under the trees can serve a purpose, but we must be aware that this place will not turn in to a “hang out” place. Both Mr. Tearr and Mr. van der Waag were not 100 % sure if the tenniscourt will be fenced, and if this place un‐der the trees will be fenced. Mr. Hooker did not want to comment on the plans.

Feb 8, 2010

THE TENNIS COURT AT JEEMS

This part of Jeemsroad currently has rainwaterdrainage problems. These problems will be solved shortly.

This is were the two tenniscourts will be situated

This place in the shadow will be a place to have a drink and a rest after sports.

CARE BEAR LAURENS

PAGE 4 LOCAL NEWS STATIA NEWS

Normally, every afternoon, he would hang out at a certain place with all his friends. This Friday, he came later than usual. He had missed Jacob Miller and Bob Marley who visited St. Maarten for the afternoon. The black plane was theirs, all of the island had been there, traffic jam, people on the

streets, cheering, trying to get a glimpse of the two stars. Joshua had missed them, but he noticed that the attitude towards dread‐locks and Rastafarians changed. No longer were they treated as out‐cast, people on the street looked them in the eye. Apparently, Bob Marley really changed the mindset on the Caribbean islands and not only there. Joshua said that Bob Marley actually has a message for all people. Every year, the income of the legacy of Bob Marley is in‐creasing. Joshua said that last year it was about 47 million dollars.

This is what I heard Joshua tell on the Bob Marley program, of course it’s much better to hear Joshua tell the story, I will retell it in my own way. At the end of the Seventies Joshua lived on St. Maarten and made a living as a builder and an elec‐trician. These were the days when guys with dreads were Persona non Grata in the surrounding is‐lands. Joshua was in trouble in St. Kitts, Tortola, Antigua and Nevis. On all these islands dreads were considered outcast. This particular Friday, Joshua and the guys he worked with saw a black plane landing on Juliana Airport. They had never seen such a plane be‐fore, they were guessing what kind of a plane that would be and who would be in it. When work was done, he went to work on the electricity of a shop of a friend.

Feb 8, 2010

A LITTLE STORY RETOLD

"The Care bears that come out of their 100 yard woods." That is how Joshua described the candida‐tes of PLP’s campaign for the federal elections. Mil‐licent Lijfrock, number one on the list, used Joshua‐s words in PLP’s advancement. Yes, we are "care bears"! We care! Laurens Duiveman, candidate number two, created a discussion just before election campaign ti‐me because of what he wrote in the Daily Herald. I agreed with "their 100 yard woods" Joshua was talking about. Because why write now? Why only at election time? Why not write in the Daily Herald all year through? It seems Laurens wants to do just that now. Laurens keeps on writing, he likes it outside of the 100 yard woods. This week his third letter to the editor was published since after the elections.

I have put both of these letters on www.statianews.com . Take your time, surf to the web and read the way Laurens sees Statia's local events.

Laurens Duiveman, PLP

Jacob Miller and Bob Marley

LOCAL NEWS STATIA NEWS

nights from 8—12. The Original Fruit Tree will be a place where you can have meetings, seminars and it will accommodate movie nights. Let’s hope the Original Fruit Tree will add to the liveliness that seems to be coming up in Oranjestad. Geer and Henny, the couple that also run the can‐tina at the Medical School in Princess started the business together with Eric, husband of the new Dutch teacher Mrs. Anike Vos at the GVP school. The three of them are from Den Haag.

Friday 5 January, Original Fruit Tree reopening The Original Fruit Tree is a very beautiful place, at the Queen Beatrixweg in Oranjestad, built on an‐cient foundations. It is surrounded by a big shady yard, children can run around the entire building. With all the bougainvilla’s around it, the dwelling looks like it jumped out of a Fairy Tale book. The original Fruit Tree will be open every day from 12. At Sunday, it will be snack afternoon until seven o’clock and Wednesday nights will be lady’s

Feb 8, 2010

HAAGS FEESTJE

Kids had a lot of fun at the opening of the Original Fruit Tree. That is always a great joy for the parents. They can have a good time and don’t have to worry about their kids. The Original Fruit Tree is planning to have activities for kids.

MUSIC STATIA NEWS

So Jah seh ‐ yeah! ‐

"Ye are the sheep of my pasture;

So verily, thou shall be very well," yeah!

And down here in the ghetto,

And down here we suffer.

But I'n'I a‐hang on in there

And I'n'I, I naw leggo;

I'n'I a‐hang on in there

and I'n'I, I naw leggo.

For so Jah seh ‐ yeah! ‐

"I'm gone to prepare a place,

That where I am thou shall abide," yeah!

So Jah seh,

"Fear not for mighty dread,

'Cause I'll be there at your side."

And ‐ and down there ‐ down there in the ghetto ‐

And down there we suffer


And I'n'I, I naw leggo.


And I'n'I, I naw leggo;

‐ So Jah seh.

Feb 8, 2010

Inspired by the presentation on the GVP school about Martin Luther King, as shown on Channel 7, CTC tv, this is the song on Joshua’s mind;

Guiltiness (talkin' 'bout guiltiness) Pressed on their conscience. Oh yeah. And they live their lives (they live their lives) On false pretence everyday ‐ each and everyday. Yeah. These are the big fish Who always try to eat down the small fish, just the small fish. I tell you what: they would do anything To materialize their every wish. Oh yeah‐eah‐eah‐eah. Say: Woe to the downpressors: They'll eat the bread of sorrow! Woe to the downpressors: They'll eat the bread of sad tomorrow! Woe to the downpressors: They'll eat the bread of sorrow! Oh, yeah‐eah! Oh, yeah‐eah‐eah‐eah!

MARLEY SONG ON JOSHUA’S MIND

MARLEY SONG ON MR. MITCHELLS’ MIND

One of Mr. Mitchells’ favorite Bob Marley songs is “So

Jah Seh”, inspired by Mr. Mitchells’ own enterpeneur‐

ship. “Be self reliant!” is the message.

So Jah seh,

"Not one of my seeds

Shall sit in the sidewalk

And beg bread."

(No, they can't and you know that they won't!)

So Jah seh,

"Not one of my seeds

Shall sit in the sidewalk

And beg your bread."

(No, they can't and you know that they won't!)

"And verily, verily, I'm saying unto thee, 'I

Inite oneself and love Imanity.'"

'Cause puss and dog they get together:

What's wrong with loving one another?

Puss and dog they get together:

What's wrong with you my brother?

So Jah seh,

"Ye are the sheep of my pasture;

So verily, thou shall be very well."

LETTER TO THE EDITOR STATIA NEWS

I also disagree with the statements about young people and young families. The reason I love it on Statia is because I feel it is safe to bring up my four boys. And I am sure a lot of young families feel that way. There will always be a need for young kids to find entertainment etc. but there are opportunities enough here. My ex‐perience with children is their house could be like Dis‐ney World and an arcade combined and they would still be bored from time to time. I don’t know about pensioners spending all that much money, retired persons require little as they have accu‐mulated pretty much all they need by that time but I agree that it is a nice relaxing vacation destination for them. I could go on and on but I will leave it alone with the following: I often hear this group or that group does nothing for the economy and other such comments but it is simply not true. If you are the local business bene‐fiting from a particular group it must be especially hard to read such a thing. Everybody contributes in some way to the island’s economy and everyone benefits in some way from that contribution. Jessica Berkel

Dear Annemieke, I read the letter that Aad Went wrote to “Statia News”. I have to say that I disagree with almost everything in the letter. To start with: the statement that divers do not do a lot for Statia. Divers come by boat or air. Divers pay the dive shops. Divers take taxis. They eat at restaurants, buy souvenirs, go hiking, sometimes rent cars, enjoy their time here and then leave. My point is dive shops, taxis, restaurants, gift shops, the National Parks, rental car agencies all pay taxes and all have people employed so to say divers do nothing for the island is just not true. Don’t forget that when divers leave after spending all their money here they still have to pay departure tax at whichever port they leave from. That money goes in Government coffers along with all the other taxes I mentioned. The same thing goes for yachts people, they do all those things and more, include for them laundry service, super‐market shopping etc. I know these things because I see a lot of tourists where I work and then I see them up town eating out, I see them shopping and doing everything that I described.

Feb 8, 2010

MORE PEOPLE ON STATIA

Rise up this mornin’, smiled with the risin’ sun, three little birds pitch by my doorstep Singin’ sweet song of melodies pure and true, Say‐Sayin’ (“This is my message to you) : “Don’t worry ‘bout a thing, ‘cause every little thing gonna be all‐right” Annemiek

BOB MARLEY SONG ON MY MIND

OPINION STATIA NEWS

Since the children were not prepared for this event, it didn’t have the effect it could have had if the children had be more outspoken. Maybe having the filmcamera and know‐ing it will be on local television, scared them off. Lena Courtar, from the Stars Foundation, said they had notified the school one month in advance that this seminar would take place. The teachers were notified only one day before the event. Had they have the time to prepare the kids for this, this seminar would have been different. The whole event was like in that movie that was on televi‐sion last week. It was a movie about two guys that are moti‐vational speakers for the “say no to drugs” campaign and at their motivational meetings, they also promote an energy drink. They went from highschool to highschool and all the kids had the same reaction: no reaction at all. This is what happens when a demonstration, or a seminar, or a workshop suddenly is there, out of the blue. Lena Courtar regrets this very much, especially since these ladies she invited had a succesfull gathering for grown ups about healthy relationships Saturday night at the Mansion. Their message kicked in that night. For young people, the age of 15, 16, a motivational speech is not something they swallow like a sweet cookie. The audi‐ence is critical and very quick in their decision not to like the seminar. Anyway, I think motivational speaking happens a lot in church and if a child is happy to be part of a church, feels comfortable and safe within the four walls of the church, it will have the opportunity to build up some self esteem, even if it’s only in church. The child can practice to talk be‐fore a crowd, the child has the opportunity to sing in front of an audience, in the church, there are ways to express yourself. A school is a place where a child should feel safe too, for the kids who don’t have that safety in the church and who also miss it at home, the school must be their safe haven. And of course, school is a safe place, with your classmates and teacher between the four walls of your classroom. School is not a safe place in a tent, unprepared, on local television. Annemiek

I saw the two motivational speakers that came to the GVP school to do a seminar with the students last Friday. They called it: “Just do your boo!”. Unfortunately, “Just do your boo!” did not really kick in, you could hear from the rumor in the tent that the kids did not really pay attention. Any little reaction, even if it was a small remark that had nothing to do with the subject of “Just do your boo!” was welcomed by these ladies to try to make the children react. The ladies were very positive. They did their best to catch the kids to be interested, but the kids were not into “do your boo”. The message was beautiful, but it did not kick in. The children had to make a pledge. They would all have a piece of paper, the motivational speaker read a sentence and first all the girls and then all the boys had to repeat after the motivational speaker. This was about the only time the kids opened their mouth. It was a pledge to stand tall and remind yourself of the fact that you are worth the space you take.” There was no communication. But the lady’s did stay positive, thinking that there must be a few kids, that would appeal to their story and learn something from it. Mr. Hooker said that he want the kids to read this paper at home and think about it.

Feb 8, 2010

JUST DO YOUR WHAT?

INVITATION STATIA NEWS

For more information, please check:

Feb 8, 2010

INVITATION

Publicatie 23

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