"You who are ridiculing this move join me and say to the women of St. Maarten that it is about you first so that they can live a healthy lifestyle"
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams invited politicians, especially those in Parliament, to stop criticizing her U 2 Can Move Health Campaign, where the PM encourages especially women to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to join in in her call encouraging women to take better care of themselves. "I want to make a call to especially the politicians who criticize my Zumba activities: it is not about Zumba, it is about encouraging and empowering especially women, and this is where I would want the politicians to join my call, in motivating women to take care of themselves first and to look after their health. Zumba is part of the U 2 Can Move Campaign, a campaign that is so important considering the statics of hypertension and diabetes on our island, statistics of amputees on our island. And then to have some politicians who use the fact that I am saying to especially women and mothers to look after your health as if that is the worst thing imaginable. I am not a medical doctor but I know a few basic things: diet and excersice make a difference and it is about the realization that we need to keep moving, that we need to stay active.
So rather than making fun of the fact that I believe that exercise and diet can also include Zumba, I encourage Politicians and Parliamentarians who are ridiculing this move to join me and say to the women of St. Maarten that it is about you first so that you can meet your responsibilities within the community. That is what I would like to see happen. Women too often try to be everything for everybody except to herself. We encourage and support women to ensure that as far it is in their power that they act healthy and remain fit," concluded the PM.
The Prime Minister has stated previously that the Zumba sessions and other events are a part of a larger fitness campaign where she encourages Civil Servants and the community in general to take their health and fitness seriously. "There is much we can do for ourselves as individuals and as a country as far as good health is concerned. Information, diet and exercise are the basic ABC’s to good health and are valuable in any situation. I want to encourage our health institutions, practitioners and NGO’s in this field to focus on educating our community on aspects of health and I call on all, especially our women, to take responsibility for their health, regular check-ups, and to heed warning signs such as aches and pains," the Prime Minister said.