‘Prove us wrong, if you can...until then we assume we are right'.
Dear Sarah and William,
According to reports in the local media, you have told the Dutch Government to know the ‘will of the people' to be for NOTHING else, but your coveted ‘Country Status' for St. Maarten.
Wattating.....
Like most people, we doubt you are right on that one.
In addition, Sarah and William, do you really, even remotely, believe that statement yourselves ?
I guess frankly speaking, not too many people would agree with you that ‘Country status, or nothing else' represents their ‘will'.
Therefore, we ‘invite' you, Sarah and William..... or better yet, challenge you to prove us wrong when we state that the majority of people are sick and tired of you ignoring the real problems they have to cope with on a daily basis and are absolutely not interested in you achieving ‘Country status' for your own political purposes.
Worse yet....
We surmise, that the majority of people, even many of your own DP and NA supporters, no longer have any confidence and faith that their future is in good hands with you in Government based among others on alleged rampant corruption and nepotism .
Even as it stands now, the level of confidence is all but non-existent, let alone in a new future constitutional arrangement, where you would have still more power and even be in charge of justice.
Mama mia.....
Therefore, we hereby publicly state that, should the real and current ‘will ‘ of the people be given a chance, that the majority of law-abiding citizens at the moment, would go for exactly what you are trying to deny them, which is to become the new ‘S' of the 'BES'-Islands.
Not that, necessarily because they love the Dutch.
No, it is because there is a powerful desire to ‘pull up the hand brakes' on the downward direction this island is spiraling into, on its adventurous journey towards ‘Country Status', whatever that might mean for the PEOPLE of this island.
A ‘BES-like' status would be a perfect opportunity to say ‘Pas op de plaats', and to ‘RESET' our relationship within the Kingdom.
In that transitional phase, we would be able as well as, to do some very serious ‘soul-searching' and research of what we really want as a people, before we ‘tie down' future generations with consequences of actions taken without deep reflection.
A ‘BES-like' moment in our history, would create a logical 'transitional' phase needed among others, to educate the public in terms of steps to take in the ‘journey' towards eventual self determination.
One of those steps, should be a fundamental change in the mentality of many of our people from pure materialism towards contributing towards ‘country above self'.
After all, such a deep sense of patriotism is the strongest ‘driving force' , ‘soul' and 'binding element' behind any successful nation building, constitutional or even any developmental process, as opposed to selfishness, greed, lust for power, lack of national agenda etc..
Meanwhile, Sarah and William, until you prove us wrong, when we assert that the majority of law-abiding citizens would like to join the other ‘BES' islands, if allowed to have their say, we will continue to move forward on the assumption that they would and we will start promoting that concept within the Kingdom.
The moment you prove our assumption wrong, we will immediately concede and cease this route.
In ending and for the record as well, your personal or political opinion on the matter are no objective ‘tool' to prove us wrong.
There is only ONE test that can do that in any democracy....the FREE expression of the PEOPLE by means of a referendum, a ratification of the outcome of the Final Accord of 2006 or an independent, professional poll.
Nothing else will ‘cut it'.
So, St. Maarten , go ‘BESS', in preparation of the next phases of our Right of self determination, based on the legitimate choice of the People of the land.
It should be noted that we are absolutely NOT in favor of any 'BES-structure' for St. Maarten as an 'end-game' having any permanent character; we would totally be opposed to that scenario.
Fact of the matter is that we urgently need a 'time-out' in the constitutional process, so that the PEOPLE can evaluate the situation and decide 'Quo vadis' St. Maarten.
Leopold JAMES
Copies
Dutch Government
Parliament N.A.