One aspect of their status is their nationality.
In those countries the term nationality is very clear.
It is a status, controlled/authorized/supervised by the 'Mother-country'.
In those, still dependent countries, the notion of nationality clearly has a colonial connotation ('Slave/Master')
Oftentimes, those countries also have another type of status; one not controlled/authorized by the mother-country or colonial power; it is one of an indigenous cultural-heritage or identity.
One, that much more is of the country itself and which is an expression of a much deeper identification with the culture, history of the people of that country themselves; it represents the very close ties over many generations with a particular country.
This much deeper expression of the 'self' of a people, in fact has different names in different countries, but in fact mean more or less the same and have more or less the same objectives.
An example is for instance the Belongers Status (For instance introduced in the Constitution of Anguilla in 1990, when it was amended.
This particular status is also found in the constitutions of other British Overseas Territories and in countries like Gibraltar, Turks & Caicos Islands, Hong Kong .
Go to WIKIPEDIA and read for yourselves.
On St. Maarten/St. Martin the grassroots nation building movement, under the presidency of Leopold JAMES has given term native , indigenous St. Martiner a greater significance than ever before, which has some people 'panting for breath', but others, elated that finally they are recognized as a people in their own country.
Miguel 'Patriot' ARRINDELL uses the term St. Martiners of heritage to in fact indicate the same people.
While, there are those 'smart lawyers' on the 'Friendly island', who for their own agenda, are trying to make belief that it is 'unconstitutional'- bla, bla, bla, to identify these people and have them protected by means of the constitution, research will show that elsewhere in countries not independent, these people are indeed protected by constitutional-law.
So, while there those who try to derail our efforts to empower our people, we will just intensify our efforts to the next level.
Much and much more to come.
Again, our aim is to have the native, indigenous St. Martiners included in an amended constitution, just like Anguilla did in 1990 and to have them protected, preserved and given all the (legal) 'tools' necessary to survive any 'onslaught' on their existence as people of heritage in their own land.
Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia