Philipsburg: --- The A C Wathey Legislative Hall was full to its capacity yesterday with all smiling faces as some 67 persons received their declaration of the Dutch Nationality yesterday. The ceremony which is the first to be held on St. Maarten is now mandatory by Dutch laws and is conducted in the Netherlands also on Kingdom Day (December 15).
Prior to distributing the declarations Lt. Governor of the island territory of St. Maarten addressed the gathering where he explained them some of the new requirements to obtain the Dutch nationality as of October 1 2008. Also attending the ceremony was Julian Lynch.
Richards said that in most cases yesterday is the most important days in their lives. He also commended the group who placed great efforts in achieving their Dutch nationality. He said Kingdom Day is full of symbolism as it was on this day in 1954 that the islands of the Netherlands Antilles obtained their autonomy within the Dutch Kingdom. It is also on this day that the STATUUT', Kingdom Charter was signed.
Richards said St. Maarten and all other islands within the Kingdom and Aruba has to perform this ceremony for those persons who are acquiring their Dutch Nationality. Another compulsory procedure is that all persons who has acquired their Dutch citizenship must swear an allegiance to St. Maarten as part of the Kingdom, which will be implemented as of March 2009. He said to accommodate these new procedures an amendment was made to the naturalization act,[RIJKSWET OP HET NEDERLANDERSCHAP
The island Lt. Governor called on the recipients of the Dutch Nationality to get more involved within the community and the Kingdom of the Netherlands while fully appreciating their obligations of all Dutch citizens.
He said the ceremony should be seen as a culmination of the integration process, which that have been part of for so long while it serves to have the recipients to personally receiving their Royal Decree of their Dutch Nationality.
The state representative said that he wishes to draw attention of the significance and implications of the Dutch nationality as he welcomed them into the community.
He said the history of Dutch nationality focuses on the emergence of a sense of national sentiment in, particularly the territory of the Netherlands. History tells that consciousness of national identity manifested itself through taxation, military service, political and social rights, but most importantly through citizenship. Furthermore, Dutch nationality was forged through conflict which helped the people of Holland develop a unifying idea of the Netherlander.
The new Dutch nationals are obliged to do the following
• PAY YOUR TAXES WILLINGLY OR PROMPTLY
• BE LOYAL TO ST. MAARTEN AND THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
• TAKE CARE AND CONSERVE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
• ASSIST OUR ISLAND FOR ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
• KEEP OUR SURROUNDINGS CLEAN
• REMAIN OR BECOME A PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUAL
• OBEY THE LAWS AND MAINTAIN PEACE AND ORDER IN THE COMMUNITY
• PRESERVE THE ISLAND'S CULTURE AND IDENTITY
• PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN FORMING PUBLIC OPINION ON MATTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
• VOTE WISELY AND CHOOSE CANDIDATES WHO CAN SERVE THE PEOPLE AND OUR COUNTRY
• RESPECT OF THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS 
Richards reminded the group that since October 1, 2007, a compulsory naturalization test was introduced, after which one is expected to submit a request for naturalization, once one passed this test.
Bear in mind that the naturalization test in the Netherlands Antilles is focused primarily on testing one's knowledge of the community and the governmental structure, as well knowledge of the Dutch or English language.
He cautioned that in hope that those receiving their declaration would not let themselves or the community down in the future.
Of the 67 persons that have attained their Dutch Nationality comprised of 29 males and 38 women. They that received their citizens are 22 born on St. Maarten, 21 coming from Suriname, 11 from the Dominican Republic, 10 from Haiti, 4 from India, 4 from the Republic of Dominica, 2 from China while the others hail from Antigua, Jamaica, St. Kitts, Jordan, St. Lucia, Grenada British Guiana and Guyana.
There 24 people between the age bracket of 1960 and 1980, 11 between 1940 and 1960, 20 between 1980 and 2000 while there are two born after the year 2000.
