Philipsburg:--- Senator George Pantophlet is calling on authorities that handles the naturalization process to stop telling children or young adults that were born on St. Maarten to foreign parents that they are not from here. Senator Pantophlet said in a press release that there are a number of young people who have contacted him for assistance since they are stuck between a rock and a hard place based on the current naturalization process. The Member of Parliament said there us an epidemic of massive proportions brewing in St. Maarten and if it is not dealt with then there will be some serious social problems. Pantophlet said he is contacted frequently by mostly young adults who needs help regulating their status. He gave at least three examples such as case one regards an18 year old that was born on St. Maarten, attended pre-school, primary and secondary schools on the island. This person he said has graduated and has a valid residence permit.Pantophlet said that according to one of the articles in the law to obtain a Dutch passport they can do so through option. But they have one problem they cannot prove where they were residing during one of their 18 years. At that time they were three years old. Because of this they have to go through the Naturalization process. The senator this situation has caused the person in question to become extremely frustrated and angry. As for case two he said it relates to a 19 year old who attended pre-school, primary and secondary schools on St Maarten and that person also has a valid residency permit. But the problem in this case is that neither can they prove where they were living during 1 of their 19 years. A pre-school where they attended was destroyed by fire. The owner has since moved to the Netherlands.
In case three, the person was born on St. Maarten 19 years old (of foreign parents) attended pre-school, primary and secondary school however, this person is having problems renewing their residence permit.
The senator said that there are many persons on the island living in similar situations. He said these youngsters finds themselves between a rock and a hard place.
He said many instances probably blame can be placed on their parents. However, that does not mean the youngsters have to suffer the consequences. He asked where are their rights? Most importantly he also wants to make clear that these young people are not going anywhere and they will plainly tell anyone that while their parents might not be from here they however, was born on St. Maarten. The senator said those persons who received a residence permit for the first time still has to wait for five years providing the laws on naturalization does not change before they can apply for the Dutch nationality.
The senator said he believes those applying the law should take each situation into consideration and not just an across the board decision for everyone. He said according to him the guidelines in the process should be used to help people and not hurt them. The senator also felt that St. Maarten has enough social problems and this situation is surely not helping the island. Furthermore the Dutch nationality remains under the Netherlands and he believes that it is time a closer look is taken at the criteria. St Maarten he said has become a country an integrated country where everyone feels they are part of it. He concluded by saying that the time has come to stop telling the children who were born here they are not from here.