Philipsburg:--- Several persons including former senator and veteran politician Marcel Gumbs and St. Maarten's leading businessman Imran Macsood Amjad were among the persons that were presented with a St. Maarten Cultural Identification Card from the St. Maarten Nation Building Foundation (the grass-root movement). The presentation was made during a small ceremony at the UTS training center on Monday. The St. Maarten Cultural Identification card is the only identification card that is presented to persons who are native St. Maarteners or persons that have been selected by SNBF for their contribution to St. Maarten over the years they have lived on the island. The recipient of the cards on Monday were part of the group of persons that received their cards on St. Maarten's Day (11/11/11) but somehow did not manage to attend the ceremony held at the Bellevue Border.President of the St. Maarten Nation Building Foundation Leopold James told the gathering that the event on St. Maarten Day was a symbolic ceremony which symbolizes the unity and oneness of the island's people. James said there are persons who made the cultural identification cards controversial but the SNBF introduced the cards in an effort to embrace nation building. "These cards are used to identify, preserve, and protect the ancestral St. Maarteners, while ensuring that St. Maarteners are first in their country based on the principle that states that charity starts at home." The SNBF President further explained that since the cards embrace nation building they also focused on the inclusion of other people who have made a significant contribution to St. Maarten/St. Martin. He made clear that while they believe and promote that St. Maarteners must be recognized first they also recognize that nation building is not a static process, rather it's a dynamic and ongoing process. The SNBF promotes self preservation and their aim is to include other people but they will not include any and everyone. Including everyone will not do justice to the island's ancestors James stressed. He said nation building and who is a St. Maartener was not discussed by others, especially politicians who championed the constitutional changes and since the SNBF began speaking out and creating awareness they have been considered as the rude boys. The SNBF has decided to define who is a St. Maartener since they have now drawn the line. "The intention is not to argue with anyone, but we will define ourselves as St. Maarteners." James made reference to the book, 1963 A Landmark Year, written by historian and writer Daniella Jeffry. James said after reading that book he realized who exactly is a St. Maartener. He admitted that the task is not easy but the SNBF has done some research on the topic.
Keynote speaker Daniella Jeffry said that the book 1963 A Landmark Year has nothing to do with the introduction of the cultural identification cards. The former politician, teacher, and current writer said while she was studying abroad her father used to send her newspaper clippings which she used to write a book to define her island. She said she wrote that book in 1984 when some major changes took place on the French side of the island. Jeffry said during the défiscalisation process other nations began to invade the island and were pushing the St. Maarteners aside. "At the time she said the only documents she had about her island were the newspaper clippings and it was the only thing she had that reminded her about her homeland. A Landmark Year, she said was published in the Newsday.
The author said she is currently working on the second edition of A Landmark Year which should be released soon. Jeffry she could not reproduce the first edition so she had to do another book which she believes must be in the hands of everyone, especially those that were presented with the St. Maarten Cultural Identification Cards. Jeffry said that St. Maarteners embraced everyone that visited St. Maarten. "Nationality was never an issue on St. Maarten, everyone was accepted here. Our people have a quality and they do not even know who they are," Jeffry said.
The persons presented with their cards on Monday are: Marcel Gumbs, Beryl Lake, Felicita Lewis, Leon Marlin, William Andre Patrick, Imrad Macsood Amjad and Drs. Mark Williams. Other persons that were also nominated and accepted are: Father Cornelius Charles, Christopher Emanuel, Augustine Lake (Dj Air-supply) and Mary Gumbs Mente.
Click here to view more photos of the SNBF Identification Card Ceremony.
