Courageous but futile
Dear Editor,
The Prime Minister of Country St. Maarten left the shores for a diplomatic encounter with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the Minister of Kingdom affairs. This is obviously how the editorial might read in the future but as fate has it today it simply factual to say an island territory considered an upstart for trying to determine its own future met with the colonial master to plead for some kind of consideration for their position.
While much was expected by some I cautioned that nothing will be achieved for it is ludicrous to expect a colonial power to respect its property whose people by extension is also considered property. It is now not the time to say I told you so but we should find common ground to a united stand for St. Martin. It is high time we put an end to the constant meddling under the caption of accept or get out our Kingdom. The Dutch are constantly using the islands of the former Antilles to promote their own political machismo in Holland and speak us ill internationally.
No man has a right to usurp the right of people to determine their own future or lead their country in the way they envision. In the fourth decade of decolonization set by the United Nations it is unacceptable and insulting to a people that the colonists are appointing their civil servants to dictate to our elected officials. We must persist in our argument that the so called slotverklaring is not applicable as we never got or enjoyed any debt relief.
We had to start from the bottom and build everything from scratch with or own measly resources. We were forced to present deficit free budgets which we did without a cent from Massa. Their sudden interest in our island is mindboggling considering that they were absent for over a century and in actuality didn’t invest here.
I hope our people and leaders will take me up on the offer to lead a demonstration whenever they try to implement their instruction. It’s our airport and port so let’s deny them landing rights; we don’t want any rude and disrespectful colonists on our shores. If Mr. Marlin has the intestinal fortitude our civil servants should still be forbidden from cooperating. We must show that we can and will remedy our own short comings.
The despicable statements of selling us on E-Bay or sending us our independence by mail and Mr. Rutte’s absurd attempt at humor daring us to give him a call must be dealt with once and for all. The right to self determination is not of the colonists and they can’t decide when we use it or not.
Please. I beg you let’s inform our people what’s truly happening as it concerns attempts by the colonists to take us back 300 years. Examples abound but just look at Bonaire and St. Eustatius they don’t seem to be helping any people but their own by putting them in charge of everything. I fail to see any chance of reconciliation with their attitude of what we say goes or you go. Nothing has ever been gained in the realm of human freedom by pleading and begging. For the sake of international recognition let’s have a referendum affording our people the opportunity to bid the colonists good bye. The time is now; colonialism and Dutch dictatorship must end. The ball is now in the court of PM Marlin and Parliament. Lead and your people will follow for what has long been a just cause.
Elton Jones
