“This is our flag, our colors and our St. Maarten that we should love and cherish”
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined in with various dignitaries and the general public in commemorating Flag Day 2014. During her remarks Prime Minister Wescot-Williams stressed the importance the National Flag has in the National Identity and the role it plays in focusing the National Psyche on what it means to be a part of St. Maarten; “In 1985 our flag as we know it today was adopted by the Government and the people of St. Maarten. Through this establishment of the National Flag we acknowledged our flag as the national symbol, with the colors Red, White and Blue signifying us as a people. Red for the courage and determination of our people, white for peace and blue for our sky and our sea. These colors have now come to identify our national identity. The symbols of our flag and coat of arms were also established back then, establishing the National psyche for St. Maarten. Since that occasion we have year after year come to recognize and promote our flag and the symbols represented therein as representing who we are as a people, all of the people of St. Maarten. And so it is not only Government’s responsibility to encourage observance of this auspicious occasion in terms of respect and reverence for our flag but it is also the responsibility of each individual to recognize that these colors and symbols come with significant meaning regarding to our national identity. I would like to draw a parallel with the on-going world cup where you see so many flags of different countries fly, similarly our flag represents our team and our theme; this St. Maarten team that we must support win, draw our loose. This is our flag, our colors and our St. Maarten that we should love and cherish. Therefore I would like to salute those persons that were involved in the coming into being of our flag and the unity that that proclaims. This makes up who we are as a people; this is St. Maarten, our island to love and cherish and to hand over to the new generation. Happy Flag Day and God Bless St. Maarten and Her People,” concluded Prime Minister Wescot-Williams