Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Dear Editor,
There was a call by the leaders of the largest political parties in Parliament for independence. As could be expected, very little was carried on the subject in the local press, but be that as it may for us as a budding nation we have finally garnered enough courage to say we stand ready to do it for ourselves. However, this is but a small step, we would HOPE that all factions in Parliament would come together and approve a referendum in the coming year, where the people can give their blessings to the desire to make use of our right to self-determination, and put an end to the many colonial dictates insults and disrespect.
People choose for varying political systems depending on how they see their own development and their ability to govern themselves rather than be governed by anyone else. In St. Maarten’s case, it would seem much more pressing seeing that we are still in the clutches of a colonial master who internationally claims not to have colonies, but continually and unjustly meddles in the affairs of our island. While they emphasize not being willing to put up one cent of their taxpayers’ money in our aide, they leave no stone unturned to dictate how and where we should spend ours.
If you have been around as long as I have you surely has heard it all coming out of The Hague that at one point our independence would be sent by mail, or we would be sold on eBay and if we want it just give them a call. Unfortunately, no one took their number, but now we have seen the light our leader have gotten an epiphany and are now willing to cut our losses, brush off our collective pants and move on.
For years we have been the envy of economies in the region that marvel at what we are doing on this little rock, yet all of them without exception have achieved true freedom for their people from the yolk of colonialism. Our sister island St. Eustatius has recently made use of their right to self-determination to seek redress in the United Nations for their treatment at the hands of the colonial masters in a status they did not vote for or asked for.
We know by now the Dutch won’t ever live up to any promises; history is full of examples, most recent the so-called debt relief enabling us to start on a new page which later turned into “sorry too late.†Then came the uncouth and disrespectful neo-racist police chief who knew everything after being on the island for two days; adjudging our police force to be corrupt and would change St. Maarten supposedly to the expectation of the Hague – a set of politicians we never voted for, who want us to believe they would leave their own and come do for us for they like us so much. Notwithstanding the fact that they are doing their “darndest†to put us out of their country.
It is time we stand up for our people and country it is a fight worth fighting, and one we cannot lose for the principle of might being right is not an obstacle to a people in march to true freedom. Messrs. Heyliger and Marlin, your move was brilliant let us take the next step. Lead on my brothers.
Elton Jones
