Along with many of the callers, who called in last night Tuesday, March 2, 2010, to the program 'ONLINE' of Mr.Fernando CLARK, we too would like to comment and support you for taking a stance against what is perceived by many as unacceptable disrespect by Mr. Bobby FERRON and many others in the marine-industry on our island.
Also Mr. Commissioner, I hereby wish to thank you for expressing during that same program your appreciation for the work our St. Martin nation building -& unification movement has been doing, under very difficult circumstances by the way, to protect the rights and the very existence as such of the native-indigenous St. Martiners in their own home land.
However Mr. Commissioner, I repeat here what I called in and told you last night as well.
It is time that you as government, and we as the native people of this island as well realize that we are no guests here on this island.
We are the HOSTS, because we are ancestrally rooted and steeped in the history, emancipation of this island, more than any others.
Also, in talking and preparing for the new constitutional status for 'Country' St. Maarten, we should even more realize that we have a great opportunity, especially with a possible delay of the date of '10-10-10' of the implementation of our new Constitution.
That is, that we take care of what island-council lady, Mr.Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS, finally realized and correctly called 'OUTSTANDING ISSUES' in the constitution.
In other words, this possible delay, could well be a 'blessing in disguise' offering us an opportunity to be aware of 'outside' threats to our existence as a people and to formally include in our constitution (Pre-amble) among others; our history, our emancipation-struggles, our oneness as a a native people, our moral values, our moral ancestral and civic rights to remain vibrant and thrive as a native people, regardless how many other people come to live on our island.
We are sure that our lack of this ancestral pride and patriotism, has contributed significantly to many 'others' feeling that they can say what they want to us, do what they want to us and totally disrespect us, our civil-servants, our leaders and even our ancestral history.
Being in the position now to add these and other vital elements to our constitution, will save you as Government having to waste time, going on talk-shows to 'bawl' and 'cry foul' which in the end has limited results and no 'bite' anyhow.
This is the time to ACT and to incorporate vital sections in or constitution.
That, in and of it self, will at least show that we, and our Government respect ourselves and not only want a country called St. Maarten 'in name', but for real and that we are prepared by constitution/law to defend our national interests.
In ending Mr.Commissioner, we hope you realize that continuing to 'scream', but not doing anything effectively, is at best counter-productive and at worst, hypocritical.
If you really mean what you said and say then take it up in our still draft constitution and save your voice.
In ending and as stated before, our willingness, readiness, commitment, social influence, and passion are at your disposal and at the disposal of ALL St. Martin people.
drs. Leopold JAMES,
Native-indigenosu St. Martiner, without apologies.
