Ask any local if St Maarten is ready for status apartus, and chances are, the answer will be no.
Ask them if St Maarten should receive status apartus, and the answer is overwhelmingly Yes.
I tried to argue the obvious contradiction, but it appears that although locals are very aware of how corrupt the island government is, they believe that the corruption in the Netherlands, is far more sinister, and deeper than anything that can be found in St Maarten.
The more locals that I asked the question to, the more I realized that St Maarteners are quite politically savvy, many are just so used to, and content with the old ways.
They see rule by the Dutch, as just a way for the Dutch to get their hands on more money.
I guess I will have to wait for the feedback from the Nederlanders in St Maarten and everywhere else.
Is the Netherlands as/more corrupt than St Maarten?
You can answer at our Facebook page: Sint Maarten (with the American flag) or St Maarten Politics , also on Facebook

It's been several months since the release of The National Geographic issue, which shows not only is St Maarten doing horribly in their poll, it is considered to be one of the worst tourist attractions, AND the numbers have been steadily getting worse.
Barbara Cannegieter blogged about, concerned citizens all over the web are responding to the poll numbers, well
everyone that is except the political parties begging for your vote.
Why has there been no mention about what a lousy job the St Maarten leaders are doing?
Where is William Marlins response? Sarah W. Williams response?
Since Tourism is the only industry they seem to want to pursue, you would think, that they would be a bit concerned when a national publication calls them out on the terrible job that they are doing.

Petition drives are being organized online and on the street.
St Maarteners deserve not to be ignored, by the government, and politicians one they are in office.

What they are pulling right now is a "Tiger Woods".
They think by ignoring the problems, questions and concerns by citizens, the controversy will go away.

No Sarah, and William!
Ignore your voters, and THEY will go away.


Information about: Concerned Citizens of St Maarten Petition Drives will be available online by Friday.