Clearly, and with due respect to the current generation of politicians, generally speaking, it must be concluded, that they have, all but exhausted the potentials required to deal with the new and challenging complexities the people are faced with.
Since it is an accepted philosophy that any country whose leaders have no vision, the people will perish, the time for change has come to prepare a new generation of leaders for our island.
In the curriculum of the training program, specific attention is expected to be given to areas like developing a strong sense of St. Martin nationhood, which should be at the very basis of any development including constitutional development of this island.
In addition, developing a (new) political culture, in which respect for the rules of good governance, transparency, moral and ethical values will have a top-priority.
It should also be emphasized that, the new generation of proud, professional St. Martin leaders will have to lay a strong foundation, necessary for an eventual unification of both sides of the island, without compromising any existing advantages.
The new generation, should also be strong regional, hemispheric and global thinkers and should be able to transform the island's ‘natural' geopolitical and strategic location and its many other social assets, to a powerful multi-functional hub within the region, to the benefit of the ENTIRE Caribbean region (a United Caribbean States ?) .
In order to negotiate and to contribute towards this goal, our new generation of leaders will have to evolve towards an extremely powerful level of creative, 'out-of-the box' thinking in which there is no room for accepting a NO for any goal important for the island.
The SNBF/ Association hereby welcomes and looks forward to the input of all serious, local professionals of native St. Martin heritage, as well as those who are willing to become part of the new St. Martin, in which love, respect and commitment to the cause of St. Martin will be determining criteria and not necessarily place of birth.
Because the importance of a future united island for the business-world, forward-thinking business people are also welcome to brainstorm along with us.
Considering the political and constitutional relationship both sides have with their European mother-countries, developing a very constructive relation with the governments of these countries, will also be extremely important and highly welcome.
Persons, interested in getting involved in this historical challenge are welcome to contact drs. Leopold JAMES, president of the SNBF and the Association L' E Sprit de Concordia.
Telephone; 54 43512 or 06 90 485855
E-mail; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia