On, Wednesday, June 29, 2011, I received an email from you.
For this, I certainly thank and recommend you.
However, allow me to make our position also very clear as it relates to the identity of the St. Martiner.
It should be very clearly understood, that the St. Martin identity is not a (Dutch and/or French) nationality since there is no sovereign country St. Martin/St. Maarten.
For us, the St. Martin identity is about being part of the St. Martin heritage- or roots of you will.
It is not about Black or White either, nor about being a so-called 'born-here'.
Our grassroots organization has now long past the phase of defining the St. Martin identity.
Therefore, we are not willing to 'turn back the 'hands of the clock' simply because others were 'asleep at the wheel' for a long time, when it really mattered - when the so-called constitution was written.
In other words, we feel no need to debate that issue any longer, since for us, it is a passed station.
Not only have we long since moved on with promoting the cause of St. Martin people - a people whose very existence many officials denied.
On your coveted '10-10-10' , we officially launched our own St. Martin ID-card, which identifies its holders as (native, indigenous) St. Martiners based on their St. Martin heritage.
By doing such, we have now made it possible to create a constituency of the native St. Martiners, or of people of St. Martin heritage.
This is the group which you and most other politicians thusfar have refused to recognize, identity, preserve and protect.
The group that the political establishment on both sides of the island have cowardly betrayed, for political reasons.
What we are prepared to discuss with you or any other politicians, is how now to place this group in the constitution and how to make sure that under no conceivable circumstances they ever again will become victims of atrocities such as slavery and of (silent) genocide by substitution.
In other words Mr. MARLIN, how positive discrimination, affirmative action or whatever other preferential programs can be legislated to this end.
For your information, a very good example and legal precedence for positive discrimination is the so-called (over-abused) '10 year's Tax Holidays' for foreign investors.
In this regard, we recommend you contact the TODAY-newspaper of your very good friend, Mr. Richard GIBSON and read the editorial of Monday, April 14, 2003, 'A MARSHALL PLAN IS NEEDED' - line by line.
If still stand by your intention to invite us for a meeting, after having read and understood this editorial, we would certainly accept your invitation.
If not, no problem, you do what you have to do and rest assured we will certainly do what we have to do.
With respect,
drs. Leopold JAMES
President Grassroots St. Martin nation building movement and
Proud native, indigenous St. Martiner, without the least of apologies.
That one....