DEAR CITIZENS AND FRIENDS OF SINT MAARTEN,HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!
WE ARE GREATFUL AND BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME A NEW YEAR AGAIN BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
I HOPE THAT YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES HAD A SAFE TURN FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW YEAR 2011.
IF 2009 WAS A 'TESTING' YEAR' AS I STATED IN A PREVIOUS MESSAGE, THEN THE PAST YEAR 2010 CONCLUDED LEAVING BOTH OUR PEOPLE AND OUR GOVERNMENTS LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW ERA FILLED WITH HOPE, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL OUR PEOPLE.
THE MANY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AND CHALLENGES CONTINEOUS TO AFFECT OUR LIVES IN MANY WAYS. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW OUR COMMITMENTS TO EACH OTHER.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE OUR FAITH IN MANKIND, A CHANCE TO RECOMMITT TO INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLAND SINT MAARTEN WHAT IT IS DESTINED TO BE;
A GREAT NATION BUILT AND LOVED BY A GREAT PEOPLE.
I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS THIS FOLLOWING QUOTE: "MATURITY DOES NOT COME WITH AGE; IT COMES WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY".
AS A NEW 'COUNTRY' BARELY 2 MONTHS YOUNG, WE MUST ALL DO OUR SHARE NO MATTER HOW SMALL TO MAKE THIS NEW ENDEAVOR A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. OUR SAFETY, OUR PROSPERITY, OUR PROGRESS AND SURVIVAL AS A NEW NATION DEPENDS ON OUR INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS COUR COLLECTIVE STEADFASTNESS TO ENSURE THAT INDEED OUR BEST YEARS ARE AHEAD OF US.
I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU. HAVE A SAFE, HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
GOD BLESS AND PROTECT SINT MAARTEN AND ITS PEOPLE.
DRS. GRACITA R. ARRINDELL, PRESIDENT PARLIAMENT OF SINT MAARTEN
