This time around, in an article in the Daily Herald, of Thursday, October 6, 2011, entitled; Sarah; Defining St. Maartener, change to Constitution not easy'. (see attachment)
On the eve on 'Constitution Day 2011', one year after going into the new constitutional status, the future outlook for St. Martiners, if left up to the Prime-minister and her Government, would be about non-existent.
Although the Prime -minister in the past has said, that among 'matters outstanding' in the constitution, was the defining of the St. Martiner, as was to be expected, that was simple lip-service when she was in the opposition to score cheap points.
Now, that the good lady has become the 'honorable' Prime-minister, she sings a completely different song.
While, more and more St. Martiners are realizing that they have been betrayed, the best thing our 'honorable' P.M. can say to them is, that defining the St. Martiners is not an 'easy matter'.
A reality check, however teaches us that Government's definition of 'easy' depends on whom they are dealing with.
In other words.
As soon as our politicians hear, or are confronted with the term St. Martiner, they panic, get very uneasy, insecure, defensive, annoyed and extremely uncomfortable.
And even, when they seem to have some vague clue, they hasten to quote that the law prohibits Government from protecting the native people of this island.
'We can't break the law to recognize and protect you native St. Martiners' is their favorite response as well as more of that type of rhetoric and, bla, bla, bla....
But, alas.
The moment it pertains to immigrants entering the island illegally and breaking every law of the land, everything changes - drastically.
Oh Lord, we can not deport them, because they live here already, their children are born-here and don't know any other place.....
Response of Sarah and her Government to those transgressions against our laws by illegal immigrants ?
Reward them.
Reward them by 'regulating' their residence- and work permits, followed by granting them permanent residency and amnesty.
Eventually, reward them by offering naturalization, giving them the right to vote and to run for political office.
Never mind, that Government itself is breaking its own laws by rewardiong this type of illegality.
Clearly, by doing this Government itself is violating its own laws, just to please and appease illegal immigrants.
That, the 'honorable' P.M. does not consider a 'not easy' matter.
Of course not.
That is a very easy matter; after all, if gives benefits to non-St. Martiners, even if it is against our own laws !
The number of examples are too many to mention, where Government continues to reward illegality and lawlessness by immigrants, in the process rendering us St. Martiners victims of genocide by substitution.
Clearly, what Sarah and her Government are in fact doing, is a 'throwing St. Martiners under the bus'.
No wonder, that certain illegals have no problem attacking natives like Mr. Theophilus Priest on his own property.
They are emboldened and empowered by our own Government and politicians, who clearly have given up on us and have betrayed us as a people.
Thank God however, that we do not need Government to define us, the St. Martin people.
We have defined ourselves already.
More than that, we have issued our own St. Martin ID-card, for which the interest is growing tremendously.
Not only by St. Martiners on the island and abroad, but also by non-St. Martin residents, who want to be part of our nation and who realize that being accepted by the grassroots St. Martin People's movement, is worth far more than being recognized by a set of politicians, lacking pride and dignity in their own St. Martin heritage.
Clearly, as native, indigenous St. Martin people, we are the only ones to define ourselves as a people and to take the initiative to include others with an added value as part of the bigger picture - the St. Martin nation building - and unification process.
This process has already begun and is irreversible.
It is up to Government of both sides of the island to endorse this bottom up, grassroots movement and to arrive at a consensus on this matter, or not.
Failing to do such, will result in us eventually championing our case with the United Nations or via any members of this body.
So, easy or not 'honorable' Prime-minister, just like you went to the extreme to achieve 'country status', we are prepared to do the same and more.
Respect,
Leopold JAMES
President grassroots St. Martin nation building and unification movement.
