Theme: "Expressing Gratitude to our Forefathers"
Today, we commemorate the 50th year of St. Maarten/St. Martin’s Day. Our nation’s national day, November 11, 2009, represents this year the golden anniversary of this celebration. The theme, "Expressing Gratitude to our Forefathers," reflects and embraces our hope and faith in St. Maarteners.
As a nation during this period, we have considered and accepted our destiny not just for ourselves but also for each other. We commemorate today how we have journeyed in the last 50-years. We commemorate the lives and accomplishments of our forefathers.St. Maarten/St. Martin’s Day is a time to take a step back to
reflect and to ponder on our collective journey as a people.
There have been very difficult moments, during this journey as a nation, but due to our resolve as a people, we have risen above those problems and emerged stronger and wiser in our collective desire to achieve a better future for us all.
Those who have passed on, we remember them and we remind ourselves as a people that we could not have been who we are if it wasn’t for their hard work and dedication.We have a duty not just to them but to ourselves to remember them.
Dutch St. Maarten 50-years later, is at the cross roads of change. Moving out of one constitutional structure, the Netherlands Antilles, which it has known since 1954 or for the past 55-years, into a new status of country, on October 10, 2010.
Our brothers from the North side of the island have already experienced their constitutional change, and this of course will be a continuous process until all aspects are in place.As we pay tribute to all our leaders, and successive governments who have served us for five decades, let us once again remind ourselves that we have survived many challenges and are a determined people to march on confidently.
Our spirit of celebration as a people will not be dampened despite whatever differences exist within our nation. It is testimony of our determination to remember our past, celebrate our present achievements and look to the future with hope. Nothing must deter us from the path to change.
Let peace, progress and prosperity reign for the peoples of North and South.Let us look back over those 50-years to what our nation has achieved, and let us express our gratitude to those who have laid the foundation for our national development – the role played by our forefathers.
Our collective efforts must continue to be focussed on rebuilding a more solid foundation for our beloved island. The foundation of our island nation has cracks. Cracks in sense of social problems – violence in our schools and in society -, crime, unemployment, environmental degradation just to name a few.
Efforts are being made to deal collectively with these problems. Both North and South have a long history of cooperation on a number of current issues with the basis being the Treaty of Concordia that dates back to March 23, 1648 – 361 years.
The Kingdom of Netherlands and the Republic of France, continue to work together to regulate relations between both sides of the island in different spheres. One treaty that has been worked on for more than a decade is the joint control of persons at our international airport which serves both sides of the island.
The implementation of this treaty has been a tedious process, however care is being taken to ensure that it is implemented and executed properly in the fight against
illegal immigration.For the implementation of the Treaty, a Commission has been established with representatives from both sides of the island. A workgroup that will assist with the execution of the treaty has been established by the Commission and several meetings have already taken place between both groups.
Another important area has been the development of an agreement on Police Cooperation. Our forefathers, who authored the Treaty of Concordia over 360-years ago, also took into consideration border crossing crime even at that time.
At the moment practical cooperation agreements exist between the Police Force of the Netherlands Antilles and law enforcement officials on the French side of the island. A concept text for a treaty cementing this police cooperation in fighting border-crossing criminality exist, but needs to be finalized.
These are only two areas of cooperation that exist and which fall under my responsibilities as Chief of Police. There are other areas of cooperation that fall under the
responsibilities of the various respective commissioners and public officials of the North side of the island. Having briefly mentioned two areas of cooperation and the
status thereof, our achievements as a people are not only marked by a day in history, such as today – November 11, 2009. Our achievements as a nation to date should be kept forever in our hearts and minds.
As we mark our nation’s 50th St. Maarten/St. Martin’s Day, let our achievements be our guide for the future as has been done generations before us. Our heritage holds both lessons and guidance.What our forefathers have achieved must serve to inspire us as we show resilience as a people and fortitude to carry on
in building country St. Maarten and the Collectivite St. Martin.
Let us all work together to build bridges and to continue to improve the lives of all St. Maarteners. Let us look positively to the future. We cannot change our past but we can shape our future with the knowledge gained from our many and varied experiences.
As Marcus Garvey once said, "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture are like a tree without roots."
To every citizen of this island nation, this is your island, this is your home and you should be proud of it. Let us move forward together and continue to build a better
St. Maarten/St. Martin for all.
I sincerely wish you a great and Happy 50th St. Maarten/St. Martin’s Day 2009
May God Bless Our Island Nation
Merci Beaucoup
Thank You