Great Bay (DCOMM):--- The commemoration of the International Day of Families 2011 focuses on the "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion."
This day is observed on the 15th of May every year as proclaimed by a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution in 1993.
It reflects the importance the international community attaches to families as a means to confront the many challenges facing communities all over the world.
Prime Minister Honourable Sarah Wescot-Williams in reflecting on this day, not only placed the focus on families themselves to build strong families, but also on governments to provide assistance for families and their members where in need such as schooling, employment, care for the young and generally providing a better quality of life for all.
The family constitutes the basic unit of any society. The widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to families so that they can fully assume their responsibilities within the community according to the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on Social Progress and Developments and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women.
Benchmarking is important as our young nation seeks to elevate the level of our society on all fronts. The Millennium Development Goals offer such benchmarking and establish targets according to which we are judged in the area of for example combating poverty.
Over the decades, the structure of families on Sint Maarten has changed, from earlier days when mothers were left in charge of the family, as fathers sought employment elsewhere, from the days of expanded families and close-knit kinship to single-parent households, young mothers and fathers, working and relocated (older) family members.
If this day serves nothing else than raising awareness in families of the importance of their strength for the strength of our community's its purpose would be served.
Family structures can be fortified with the basic ingredients of respect, communication and love. Ingredients that cost little, if anything at all.
And in a special appeal, the Prime Minister concluded: "On this day do something in and with your family that recognizes the importance of the family, and throughout the year work on building stronger families.
"Strong families make strong communities and strong communities make a strong nation. Our nation needs every family, none excluded."
