The Hague:--- The St. Maarten delegation headed by leader of government and commissioner of constitutional affairs William Marlin has lots to rejoice over now that they have crossed the final hurdle on Thursday in the Netherlands during the Round Table Conference(RTC) meeting. Moments after the meeting was concluded Marlin said Thursday, September 9th, 2010 marks a historic day in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. But in particular for the people of St. Maarten, as it was concluded and agreed upon at the Round Table Conference, that St. Maarten and Curacao would become countries. For St. Maarten this process started some 10 years and almost three months ago, when the majority of our people voted in the historic referendum to leave the Netherlands Antilles.During Thursday's ceremonies, Marlin said he asked the meeting to observe a moment of silence in memory of the Late Councilman Vance James Jr. who "did not make it to the promised land". Vance was one of the three leaders who rallied the people of St. Maarten during the June 23rd 2000 referendum to "step out" of the Netherlands Antilles and become country.
"Against all odds, we have made it to the finals and passed the test. The immediate reaction 10 years ago, by the Dutch Government and Members of the 2nd Chamber, was that St. Maarten could not become country. But we didn't give up, we never lost faith." Marlin said.
"I have always said that the constitutional future of St. Maarten is bigger than any one politician or political party. And for that reason I have always remained loyal to Team St. Maarten and believed that one day, St. Maarten would become country." Marlin continued.
"Today marks the end of this process to become country and on 10-10-10, one month from today it will be a New Beginning! a new beginning for the people of St. Maarten, We have a new country to build, together." The island's leader said.
Congratulations are in place for all the persons who have given so much of their time, expertise and energy to help Team St. Maarten accomplish this goal on behalf of the people. All the Ministers, State Secretaries, Advisors, Staff of the Secretariat, members of the different Kingdom work groups and all members of the Island Council, past and present, particularly those members of the present Island Council, who have supported the process over the past weeks, to enable us to adopt the Constitution of St. Maarten unanimously and to sign off on all the organic laws, Meetings were held on the day of the passing of the hurricane, on Saturdays and on certain days until late in the morning, even until 3:15 a.m.
During the Round Table Conference, copies of the English version of the Constitution of St. Maarten, bound in leather, were presented to all delegation leaders, members of the different Kingdom workgroups and to Robert Vennix who helped in making the final adaptations to the constitution, making it the most modernized and progressive constitution in the Kingdom.
A copy was also presented o former Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs, Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams, to Mrs. Mavis Brooks Salmon, Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles, who has been appointed the first Vice Chairperson of the Council of Advice for Country St. Maarten and the first Governor for Country St. Maarten, Mr. Eugene Holiday.
Eugene Holiday, Dennis Richardson, Richard Gibson and Joane Dovale Meit deserve special recognition for the exemplary work given to Team St. Maarten.
For now, let us all join in the celebrations as we prepare for 10-10-10, the day St. Maarten will become country.
Tomorrow, God's willing, after our return from the Netherlands I will address the people of St. Maarten live via radio and TV at 5:00 p.m.
