PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, October 22, 2013, a delegation of the St. Martin Grassroots people Movement held a very successful meeting with Chief Minister Hughes of Anguilla.
Present on the side of Anguilla were;
Mr. Patrick Hanley, adviser to the Chief-minister and various members of the Anguillan media, who took several pictures.
One of them, Mr. Keith 'Stone' Greaves of the Angillan Government's Department of Information & Broadcasting, invited us to have a special interview on the radio which took place later the day.
Present in the St. Martin grassroots movement's delegation were;
Nadika Stephen
Horace Whit
Jesse Adams
Freddy Richardson
X Rey and,
Leopold James - spokes-person
The delegation was very warmly and respectfully welcomed by the staff of the Ministry of the Chief Minister and later by the Chief Minister himself.
After expressing thanks to the Chief-minister for making this meeting possible, Leopold James explained basic purpose for requesting the meeting.
In short it was to contribute towards protecting, preserving and improving the special, in-alienable, historical and family bonds between the SXM- and the Anguillan people.
Due to demographic and other developments on SXM this bond is becoming blurred and distorted, making it more difficult for Anguilla/Anguillans being able to determine who are the real SXM'ers among those coming from SXM with Dutch and French passports - oftentimes claiming to be SXM'ers and usurping the historical privileges granted in the past to the native SXM'ers.
The grassroots movement intends to bring clarity in this vital relationship between Anguilla and SXM by identifying the real SXM'er with their SXM-ID card, so that Anguilla/Anguillans will be assured of their true SXM heriitage.
The card will also be promoted in Anguilla among those who also have roots in SXM, so that eventually they too can receive the same rights/benefits on SXM as the native, blood-line SXM'ers of heritage.
The Chief-minister completely agrees with this move and pledges total support and cooperation.
He calls it a very historical initiative and pledges to promote the concept at the Caricom level.
Parties also agree, that the concept of the card can also be very useful in creating reciprocity for SXM'ers in other islands/countries in the region, whose people live, work on SXM and send back moneys to their homes.
This could lead to a decrease in the resentment among many SXM'ers that others are profiting from SXM, but that SXM'ers do not have equal opportunities in their countries.
We both agree to hold regular meetings on the matter, which can result in the ID-card holders having similar entry into Anguilla as Anguillan nationals.
