"OPPORTUNITY YOU DESERVE IN 2014"
WE ARE MOST GREAT FULL THAT ONCE AGAIN SINT MAARTEN HAS BEEN SPARED ANY MAJOR NATURAL OR MAN MADE DISSASTERS OVER THE PAST YEAR 2013. WE MUST KEEP IN OUR FOCUS FOR THE NEW YEAR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS FOR NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THE SICK, THE YOUNG , THE ELDERLY, THE PHISICALLY CHALLENGED, THE LESS FORTUNATE AMONG US. ALL OF THEM AND OUR PEOPLE GENERAL DESERVE THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE. ALL DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A BEST QUALITY OF LIFE RIGHT HERE ON OUR BEAUTIFULL ISLAND SINT MAARTEN.
OUR PRAYERS GOES OUT TO ALL WHO HAVE HAD TO COPE WITH THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE ON ISLAND OR OFFSHORE WHILE WE WISH YOU MUCH STRENGHT AND PEACE FOR THE NEW YEAR 2014. ABOVE ALL WE MUST BE GREATFUL AND THANK FUL FOR FAITH AND COURAGE THAT THE ALMIGHTY GOD HAS PROVIDED US ALL TO HELP CARRY THE LOAD, ESPCIALLY WHEN IT MAY SEEM THAT YOU ARE ALONE.
THE NEW YEAR WILL BE FULL WITH ANTICIPATION OF WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR CITIZENS. WE STILL HAVE MANY SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH REGARD TO THE DIRECTION OUR YOUNG NATION IS HEADING INTO SINCE ACHIEVING OUR NEW CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS ON OCTOBER 201O. THIS YEAR WILL THE LAST TERM OF THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF COUNTRY SINT MAARTEN. I LEAVE IT UP TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS NATION TO REVIEW THE PAST THREE YEARS OF PARLIAMENT, WHICH WAS BUILT FROM THE BASIS IN ALL ASPECTS OF ITS EXISTANCE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO VISIT PARLIAMENTS WEBSITE AS U PONDER THE FACTS, FICTION, AND FUTURE OF THIS NEW INSTITUTION OF GOVERNANCE AND OF GOVERNMENT.
AS WE MOVE AHEAD IN 2014, HOW ARE WE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR CONTRIBUTION, NOR MATTER HOW SMALL, TO THIS NATION SPREADS LIKE INKT UNTIL IT COVERS US WITH THE MANTEL OF CARE, JUSTICE AND TRUE PROSPERITY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS ISLAND. PROSPERITY SHOULD NOT BE MEASURED SOLELY BY MATERIAL WEALTH. RATHER IT IS MEASURED IN THE MANNER IN THE OPPORTUNITIES WE CREATE FOR THOSE CITIZENS WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE IN OUR NATION, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO GROW AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
NO ONE CAN TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE, UNLESS YOU LET THIS HAPPEN.
MANY ARE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CHOICES AND MAKE CHOICES IN LIFE. AS A CITIZEN YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY BEING INVOLVED AND SHAPE THIS ISLAND AND MOVE IT INTO A DIRECTION WHICH WILL MAKE US MORE RESILIENT, SAFER, AND MORALLY STRONGER.
A NEW YEAR ALLWAYS USHERS NEW HOPE. NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES WITH AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF ST. MAARTEN. IN THIS PROCESS WE MUST CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT, ACTIVE AND CRITICAL OF THE MANNER IN HOW WE ALLOCATE OUR SCARCE HUMAN AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
MY SINCEREST WISH IS THAT THE NEW YEAR WILL BRING MORE ATTENTION TO FINDING WAYS AND MEANS OF IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AS WE FORGE AHEAD. TO NAME A FEW;
§ INVEST AND BRING LONGER LASTING SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES FACED BY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
§ EASING THE TAX BURDEN ON OUR CITIZENS.
§ MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES,IMPROVED NEIGHBORHOODS
§ INCREASING GOVERNMENT REVENUES, NOT THROUGH TAXES BUT WITH A DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY AND INCREASED DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING OUR COUNTRY FORWARD FROM GOOD TO GREAT, I AM TRULY BLESSED AND GREATFUL TO ONCE AGAIN BEEN GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADRESS YOU AS THE PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT OF OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. IT IS MY DEEPEST BELIEF AND INSPIRED BY MY FAITH IN GOD THAT THERE IS ALLWAYS A FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR ISLAND. HOW BRIGHT THIS MAY BE, IS IN OUR HANDS AND HEARTS. YOURS AND MINE. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, THROUGH PREPARATION, PRIDE AND PERSEVERANCE.
IN THIS NEW YEAR, I WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW FROM YOUR STRENGHT AND FROM YOUR SUPPORT, TO PASSIONATELY CONTINUE TO WORK IN YOUR INTEREST, THE INTEREST OF THIS ISLAND AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE FUTURE GENERATION OF SINT MAARTENERS.
THANK YOU,
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL NEW YEAR 2014.