As the year ends we at SMN News had yet another difficult choice to make when it comes to selecting the person of the year. Looking back at who has made a significant contribution during their political career to St. Maarten within a very short period of time it was without no doubt that William Victor Marlin, leader of the National Alliance out did all others. He is the oldest politician that is still serving his country as a parliamentarian but he is the one that made sure that the Dutch took St. Maarten serious when negotiating the status change for St. Maarten. William Marlin made sure he secured the date 10/10/10 on September 30th 2009 during the RTC Meetings held there, one which the Dutch had to respect.On June 8th 2009, William Marlin formed a coalition government with island council members Louie Laviest and Theo Heyliger when the Democratic Party Government fell. While being accused of entering office through the back door, William Marlin and his team went to work. One of his main goals was to give the people of St. Maarten what they asked for some ten years ago. A status change as being a country within the Netherlands.
St. Maarten and its people today can proudly say they have achieved what they asked for some ten years ago. While there were others who led the negotiating team for almost ten years they did not manage to get a date let alone a status change for St. Maarten. On several occasions, the people were told that St. Maarten was ready to take on its own affairs but when Marlin took office he discovered that there was much work to be done within a short period of time if he is to secure the change of status the people so badly wanted.
Marlin went into government on June 8th 2009 to October 5th 2010 but before leaving he made sure the final agreement was signed one week before he left office. It was a time when all politicians abandoned ship to campaign so that they can be elected to office come 10/10/10 but William Marlin stayed the course and travelled to Holland to secure the signatures on the final agreements for St. Maarten to become country.
While we have selected William as our person of the year we also have to credit the members of the negotiating team, mainly Joan Dovale Meit, Dennis Richardson, Governor Eugene Holiday, and Richard Gibson.
To William you have displayed courage and leadership skills during the 15 months you led St. Maarten, you truly placed your country before yourself leading up to the September 17 elections because you too could have abandoned the ship you were called to steer. Instead you showed your love and dedication for your country by staying the course despite the cost. Congrats William and may God bless you and your family this New Year. Happy 2011.
