Lt-Governor St. Maarten,
First of all Mr. Governor, please allow for us to commend you for your words of caution as expressed with regards to the recent business-closures on the island.
Your words, although expressed with the diplomacy and protocol as required by the office of Lt.-Governor, have found strong resonance, in particular among the native local population of the island.
As a grassroots- St. Martin/St. Maarten movement, we are 'picking up' worrying threats to a future peaceful relationship between, not only the native population and many within the Indian and Chinese community, but between the native population and other ethnic groups as well.
It is very clear that grave mistakes have been made in the past by the powers that were, by allowing for certain groups of immigrants to control certain sections of our economy as well as our very existence as a native population.
In addition, recent shop- and store closures have brought to the attention of the people, that certain groups of residents/business people can completely dominate and hold the entire island hostage.
This is a most undesirable situation for any society, let alone one whose priority seems to be achieving 'country status'
We are very concerned of the potential for escalation of resentment to the 'next level', because certain people might decide to take the law in their own hands.
To prevent a socio-economic 'meltdown' on the island, we would appreciate having a meeting with you to join with you and others to initiate a process of community/nation healing and building in which among others a formula of 'socio-economic equity' for all stakeholders can be sought after.
It is our firm conviction that, as long as there is, and continues to be a 'socio-economic divide', resulting in an ever widening gap between the 'haves' and the 'haves not', such will provide for a very fertile substrate or breeding-ground for certain forms of crime and for even terrorism within our already very vulnerable and diverse society.
Looking forward hearing from you,
With respect,
--
Leopold James
President SNBF & L'Esprit de Concordia