PHILIPSBURG:--- In a heartfelt address during a Central Committee meeting today, Member of Parliament Omar Ottley delivered a powerful message about the urgent need to support St. Maarten's young professionals and dismantle the barriers preventing them from succeeding in their own country. Speaking directly to students present in the Tribune, MP Ottley focused on the critical theme of "breaking the glass ceiling" to secure a prosperous future for the island's next generation.
MP Ottley began by highlighting a somber reality faced by many local families. He shared the story of a colleague whose son, a scholarship recipient raised and educated in St. Martin, was unable to find a job on the island. The young man ultimately accepted a promising position abroad, but with a heavy heart. "You know his sentiments? Mommy, I am not coming back. My country has forsaken me," Ottley recounted. "So we lost another professional."
This anecdote served as a poignant example of the "glass ceiling" that holds back talented local individuals. MP Ottley stressed that his concerns were not about politics but about the tangible, real-world consequences of systemic obstacles. "When I speak, it's not about politics. It's about reality," he declared. "And that was a glass ceiling that held this young man back."
Drawing on his own experiences, Ottley revealed his struggles to find employment despite holding a master's degree. This challenge, he explained, pushed him toward a different path. "If I did not turn to entrepreneurship, I would have been one," he stated, referring to those forced to leave the island for work. "Maybe it's being raised differently that pushed me to say, instead of leaving, let me turn towards entrepreneurship."
However, he cautioned that entrepreneurship is not a simple solution, noting that the current profit tax system is a significant deterrent for new business owners. "Even today, entrepreneurship is not attractive because we have a profit tax that takes 40% of what you make," he noted. "So what are we creating for our country? What are we creating for the future?"
His speech was a direct call to action for his fellow legislators and government members. He implored them to recognize the crisis of youth unemployment and professional exodus. "Until we do what we need to do on this floor of Parliament, we cannot secure their future in this country," Ottley warned.
Concluding his address, MP Ottley turned to the students, offering them a message of hope and encouragement. He expressed his aspiration that the current leadership could serve as an example, while inspiring the youth to aim even higher. "I hope that we can exemplify and show you... what you can be," he said. "And a matter of fact, you can be way better than us." The speech underscored the critical importance of creating a supportive environment where St. Martin's youth can not only dream but also achieve their full potential at home.