From the conceptualization of our cultural St.Martin ID-card, it has been the intention, was to attach a number of privileges/benefits to its card-holders.
In this context, it must be made very clear that this card definitely is not a 'popularity' -card, for the proverbial John's, Dick's and Harry's.
Our card is about St.Maarten/St.Martin and its people primarily.
In other words.
Our cultural St.Martin IC-card, is intended to build the St.Martin nation, by offering native, indigenous St. Martiners (St. Martiners of heritage) and St. Martiners-at-heart, where possible, special privileges/preferential services on the island.
While, we have already identified a number of areas, where this card eventually can be applied, we would also want to incorporate your ideas towards such a package of benefits for the cultural St.Martin ID-card holders.
To this end, we kindly request those of you who are interested, to add some of your own ideas to ours.
Clearly, such an ID card will give all card-bearing St. Martiners, the opportunity to enjoy the 'St.Martin dream' and to feel proud of being a St. Martiner.
Meanwhile, I hereby make a special appeal, for the record.
You St. Martiners, now holding all kinds of offices in Government, be it President, be it, Vice-president, Councilors, Ministers, Parliamentarians and others, let it be known, that having a cultural St.Martin ID-card of such magnitude will not only benefit your own family-members - it will eventually benefit yourself personally, once you do no longer hold public office, which will be a reality sooner or later.
In that regards, you are advised, not to join the group of former public office-holders, who now regret, not to have put policies and benefits in place for all St.Martiners, including themselves and their family-members.
Now, many of them, are walking around like 'has beens', without any sense of honor, vision and now painfully realize and feel what it means to be 'second-class' citizen in their own country.
It is up to you therefore, while in the prime of your life, to make your contribution towards the identification, preservation, and protection of your own St. Martin people by contributing towards the value of the cultural St.Martin ID-card.
In ending fellow St Martiners, we look forward to your creative ideas towards the empowering of the cultural St.Martin ID-card holders.
Drs. Leopold JAMES
President SNBF/ Association L' Esprit de Concordia
