Philipsburg:--- The faction leaders who attended the special meeting of Parliament on Monday to celebrate constitution day had mixed messages for those that attended the ceremony. Attending the special meeting were the Governor of St. Maarten Drs. Eugene Holiday, Acting Governor Reynold Groneveldt, Ombudsman Nilda Arduin Lynch, the Dutch representatives, members of the Council of Ministers, and Members of the Councils of State.Independent Member of Parliament Frans Richardson said this first year anniversary should be used as a moment of reflection for them to analyze their achievements and or shortcomings. Richardson said often times the shortcomings on St. Maarten were blamed on not having the tools to accomplish the job that they set out to do when the island was part of the Antilles. Richardson further explained that the past year is not all it should have been since there are many people in the community that either feel they are left out or were abandoned by government. Many people Richardson said has openly said that there has been no difference in their livelihood today compared to a year ago. Richardson said politicians should now ask themselves how they are going to move forward while involving the people. He said the letters to the editors and comments on the blogs has led him to believe that the people feel alienated from the concept of being a country. He said government cannot think about sustainable development without thinking about the environment while more emphasis must be placed on the indigenous St. Maarteners.
He said on this first year anniversary, St. Maarten is faced with many social ills within society. Richardson quoted articles 44 and 67 of the country's constitution as he made his point on the negligence of the people.
Leader of the National Alliance and Member of Parliament William Marlin chided parliament for not following the rules of order and good governance. Marlin said St. Maarten is celebrating its first year as a country and to date there is no minutes of the meetings that were held this past year. He further explained that when requests for meetings are submitted the rules or order is not respected. Marlin also called on Government to make sure that 10/10 is declared a national holiday so that the people who voted for a change of status can celebrate. Marlin said the constitutional change did not come overnight and the process itself was not easy. The National Alliance leader said politicians promised the people that they would be better off with the constitutional change and these people he said were looking for that change in their personal lives and that did not come. He said while many people would say they are not better off, he felt that those sentiments should not discourage them from moving forward. Marlin said that the pensioners cannot celebrate because of their benefits that were cut. As for the postal workers who are now protesting, he said that would not have happened if government had their priorities right. Marlin said he believes that the matter at hand regarding the postal workers will be resolved. He also chided government for removing the names of handicapped persons from the social aid lists because this is not what they expected to happen when St. Maarten achieved it status.
Members of the Democratic Party faction in Parliament were notably absent as well as Independent Member Patrick Illidge.However, Minister Franklin Meyers in his address said that every politician said the road ahead was not going to be easy and today they are reaping the success of that. Meyers said there is no success without struggle while there is no fame without sacrifices. The Economic Affairs Minister said that it took St. Maarten ten years before she could have achieved country status and if people think that those in government could fix all the problems they have in one year then they are not serious about governing their country. He called on his critics to put their hands on the deck since they all said prior to achieving country status that all hands needed to be on deck for the development of their new country. Meyers said while each and every person is different in some way or another its time they put their differences aside and look at their similarities and what they have in common which is the people of St. Maarten. "My message to you today is everybody has to place their hands on the deck if we are to make St. Maarten the place we want it to be since failure is not an option. Only together we can succeed."
Also addressing the nation were Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, faction leader of the United Peoples Party Roman La Ville, Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto and the Chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell.
Click here to view photos of Constitution Day celebration.
