Dear Editor,

I am writing because I am concerned. We have been visiting St. Maarten, often twice a year, for 27 years. I am concerned about two issues. One is the apparent increase in crime and the other is the treatment, or lack of care, for animals.

Every day I read The Daily Herald and love the paper, but I am dismayed at all of the crime. Man returning home from work attack and shot by three men; jewellery stores robbed with apparent planning since they came with blow torches, cut alarm wires, and took recording evidence; home break ins; tourists hang chains ripped from their necks while walking in town, this is not good for St. Maarten!

The economy worldwide is not good and crimes like these are not good for the tourism indistry that St. Maarten depends on so very much. Visitors staying here for days or weeks will stop visiting town, stop going to beaches, stop shopping, if they are afraid. I sincerely hope that the wonderfully friendly people of St. Maarten who we have known for years and look forward to visiting each year will work together with the police to help ease the crime, and welcome all visitors to the "Friendly Island" which will also be a safe island!

With regard to the animals, I am pleased to see so many more dogs with owners and was extremely pleased to read about the efforts to establish a shelter. Along with this, there needs to be a real effort to spay and neuter stray cats and dogs, and to insure that privately held animals are in good caring homes. I was very distressed to see horses, just after the turn to Columbier/Pic Paradise area, which looked starved, and were in thick mud with no grass for grazing and little to no shade. At least they were fenced in so as not to be roaming on the road. It was distressing to read about cows and other animals being hit and killed by cars.

I love this island and I love the people here. I hope I can look forward to returning and hearing more good news about crime control and decrease, as well as more care and concern for all of the animals. These are issues that will be of benefit to all - residents, visitors, tourists, businesses, living beings whether human or animal - making life on this wonderful island better through an improved perception and an improved economy.

Thank you for your attention to my concerns for an island I continue to love!

Linda Steenrod