More than ever, people are realizing, that without a St.Martin identity, there is no foundation for anything durable.
Not for any constitutional change, not for any sustainable development, not for safety and security, not for an 'anthem', not for nation building, inclusion, integration and certainly there will be no guarantee for the very survival of St.Martiners as a people ....
Therefore, anything set up, or created on this island, that does not recognize, preserve, protect and take the St. Martin identity to the next level, will not last.
In that sense, it is to be hoped that one day, Government of 'Country St.Maarten', will finally, amend the Constitution to take this into consideration.
Meanwhile, our cultural St.Martin ID-card is contributing towards a paradigm-shift.
So much so, that while its potential for the future has got the attention from many, certain St.Martiners have been conditioned by a particular t.v. talk show host, not to respect its importance.
Worse yet, this t.v.-host labeled the ID-card as 'crap'.
He will very soon want to forget ever having made that statement !
Meantime, the interest for the cultural St.Martin ID-card, is exploding among certain groups of non-native St.Martiners within our community.
Clearly, these people, not only recognize the importance of them also receiving such a card - they COVET this card.
This has a very interesting consequence.
Where as, in principle, the only criterion for St. Martiners to qualify for the ID-cards, thus far is, to prove their roots on this island, back to the Traditional Period (1848-1963), or before, others had to prove being of an 'added value' to this country.
Now, what is happening presently, is that there is a great demand from the different groups of non-native St. Martiners to qualify for our ID-card.
To back up these applications, these candidates, come with a 'load of added value', that impossibly can be denied !
Should this trend take hold, which is expected, such could impact the 'equation' completely.
This is simply because, they would have 'elevated' the entry conditions for others vying for a card.
Yes -even for St. Martiners.
In other words, expecting to automatically qualify for our card, simply and only because one is a St. Martiners of heritage, might be, believe it or not - 'a little, too late'.
For some people, this might sound harsh and arrogant.
It is simply logical and should serve as a 'wake up call', something like 'I told you so'.
High demand for service and goods, always results in higher requirements.
Now for the record again.
For now, those who can prove their St. Martin heritage to this island going back to 1963 or before, have an easier chance of getting their ID-cards, than non-native St. Martiners.
However, considering the very rapid, social dynamics presently playing out on the 'Friendly-island', St.Martiners better not take our cultural St.Martin ID-card for granted, they might sorely regret that one day, after they realize that others have been paying keen attention to its future potential.
Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia
