Well known Saban politician, civil servant, social and cultural activist Mr. Dave Levenstone will be celebrating 30 years of dedicated and loyal service to the Government of the Netherlands Antilles and to the Government of Saba on Monday, February 2nd 2009.
Mr. Levenstone said that he can recall that on February 2nd 1979 he was appointed by the Central Government to serve as Head of Culture on Saba. I worked for the Central Government from February 2nd 1979 until June 30th 1995 a total of 16 years, I have dedicated to the Government of the Netherlands Antilles and 14 years to the Government of Saba.
Mr. Levenstone said that time really flies away very fast. It seems to me that just yesterday that the then Administrator of Saba Mr. George Larmonie had called me into his office.
My 30 years has been very worthwhile and I am forever thankful to all of those that I have worked with over the years. It has not been an easy undertaking at times, but I thank God for granting me the strenght and privilege to have been able to serve the people of the Netherlands Antilles and Saba to the best of my ability. There has been many challenges throughout those 30 years.
During my 30 years I have worked within several areas within Government. From Culture, Public Works, the Police Force of the Netherlands Antilles, the Post Office, Parliamentary Assistant, Executive Assistant to the Commissioners and Chief Protocol Officer. I have also had the honor and privilege to have served the island of Saba on numerous committees, boards etc. I served on all of these with the island of Saba being my main interest.
I have also served the island politically also although never being elected, I have played a major role in politics on this island and throughout the Netherlands Antilles. I think that if one has to ask who is Dave Levenstone on any of the islands you would be surprised, I think and know that after the name of Will Johnson the other name you hear about politically is Dave Levenstone.
I think and know that I have made my input into the day to day affairs of this island in one way or the other. I may not have been able to please everyone during these 30 years, but where I could I have tried to help. I have never accepted the word "NO" from anyone.
In celebrating this 30 years my advice to the younger civil servants is to try and educate themselves and prepare themselves for all of the challenges. I have over the years built up a vast amount of experience because of reading and doing research on the issues.
In celebrating my 30th anniversary I am also very proud of the fact that I have tried my utmost best not to have to request any sort of favors from any politician. That to me is my biggest achievement, that not one politician can look me in the eyes and say that they have done me any favors or granted me anything that was not usual.
As I stand winning down my tenure with government I look forward in going into some other directions that would also benefit the island and its people. For me 30 years is sufficient to have served the government and the community, and I look forward that within short I can soon bid farewell from Government.
Levenstone went on to state that as he celebrate his 30 years he has come to realize that being a civil servant in the days when he became one, there was much more unity within the civil service apparatus. Civil servants were more motivated at the time and everyone was always willing to go that extra mile to get the job done. With the many changes within Government the situation has changed dramatically. Today civil servants are being looked down at by the elected representatives of the people. Our leaders are very fast to throw all the blame on the civil servants when things are not going good, forgetting that the civil servants are having to work without any straight forward policies. Ad-hoc decisions and witch hunting has become the order of the day by the present Executive Council of Saba and this has to stop immediately Levenstone said.
Levenstone said that he is calling on the present Executive Council of Saba to pay more attention to the good side of the civil servants and stop throwing the game blame at them. At a time like this the civil servants needs to be hearing motivational encouragement. Our civil servants and our own people has built this island and today we see this present Executive Council more or less picking on our own local civil servants. We have built this island from scratch and our own should be once again carrying the torch. Our Executive Council has to show more cooperation and respect towards the civil servants and stop bringing them down, with negative talk.
As proud Sabans we were once told that no roads could be built here, and they were built. We were once told that we could not have an airport and it was built by our own. That is why I call on the Government of Saba to gave the local civil servants the opportunity to continue building on the future. We can do it Dave said on Sunday afternoon.
I have enjoyed every moment of my 30 years and if I had to do it all over once again I would do it "My Way" again. I would like to thank each and everyone that I have worked with over the past 30 years. Many of them may have passed on and is no longer with us, but I remember them sincerely and also thank them. I would also like to thank my mentors in the political world of which my deceased grandfather Mr. Matthew Levenstone and my good friend Will Johnson. During my 30 years, myself and Mr. Johnson has been at loggerhead at times, but we have also done battle together on numerous occasions, we may have won some and lost a few.
Levenstone said that he will be soon releasing a small booklet on his 30 years within government service. I have done my part believe it or not. I do not want any historians to write my history for me when I am no longer here, I will write it myself.