This monument - also, called The People’s Monument, located exactly on the border of the French and Dutch Antillean section of the island depicts in essence what is politically taking place in this uniquely cosmopolitan island we call Saint Martin. The historical context of the political development of the people resident on the island is an amazing one. The people living on each section of the island has been politically administrated by the two nations, Holland and France, who had a battle about this size-wise insignificant island territory. Whereas in 1648 the French and Dutch agreed on a treaty, which has never actually been signed by any of the parties here is a situation, 358 years later when the people who, in effect, maintained peaceful coexistence between the nations, have signed a “Final Declaration’ with the Netherlands Kingdom on November 2, 2006 to insure a new constitutional status. Prompted by the outcome of two referendums, serious consideration was given to the recommendation of the so called "Jesurun Report. The framework of the Final Declaration is supported by the following considerations.- that on October 22nd 2005, an Outline Accord was agreed upon between the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and the Island Territories;
- that it was agreed upon in the Outline Accord that the Country the Netherlands Antilles shall cease to exist
that during the starting-Round Table Conference of November 26th 2005, agreements were made with regard to the intended final perspective and the target date for the new political structure;
- that during the starting-Round Table Conference, it was agreed upon that criteria and standards shall be established with which the constitutions, legislation and the government apparatus of the entities within the Kingdom must comply, taking into consideration the provisions of the Charter;
- that the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao and Sint Maarten want to make agreements as regards the specification of the intended final perspective;
- that the agreements which the Netherlands and the island territories of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius made during a mini conference on October 10th and 11th 2006, as regards the constitutional status of the island territories Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius are acknowledged within the Dutch polity;
- that the Netherlands, Curacao and Sint Maarten, endorse the criteria with which the constitutions, legislation and the government apparatus of the new entities within the Kingdom must comply, on which the preparatory committee Round Table Conference has reached agreement, as laid down in the letter of March 7th 2006 from the General Secretary of the Round Table Conferences to the Chairman of the Round Table Conferences.
The historical-cultural importance of our present day condition is noteworthy when we consider our own movement as a people from the seventeen century throughout the twenty-first century. The vibrancy and resilience of the people in the Caribbean, even more so in Saint Martin, has come about as a consequence of the lust for expansion of Europe and its need for cheap and sustainable labor in order to satisfy it.
Ever since, there has been movement of slaves throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. True – this movement has mostly been forced. After the emancipation of the slaves had been proclaimed in the Caribbean and in the Netherlands Antilles (July 1, 1863 for the Dutch section of Saint Martin and for French Saint-Martin in March 23, 1848) the movement had become more intense. Immigration has been the order of the day for all of us at some point in time of our economic development.
We, as a people, have had to fend for ourselves without the benefit of economic, financial or political capabilities. We have had to resort to our creative memory to survive and develop ourselves. The so called support for these efforts were utilized to frustrate rather than truly help, with the aim to keep freed people subjugated within the historical and cultural reference of their control and for their own benefit: I speak of the colonial masters, such as the French, Dutch, English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Saint Martin has had its days of immigration. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century we did seasonal work in the cane fields of Santo Domingo, Haiti, Cuba; more recently It was in the oil refineries of Aruba and Curacao and in the United States of America.
It is ironic, that today Saint Martin’s socio-economic status and as a consequence thereof, its cultural disposition reflect a historical event that is symbolized by the monument at the frontiers.
I perceive this monument as a historical reference with regards to people coming together and being able in the process to create a culture of peaceful co-existence through an innate sense of hospitality. Yes, it is the characteristic of friendliness, respect for each other, hospitality of a people who lived in an officially divided geographical area with less than 40-square miles by two nations who proposed peaceful co-existence and “unity” by way of a document, called: “The Treaty of Concordia”.
Most of you, probably, know the anecdote of how the division of Saint Martin came about. That is exactly what it is… an anecdote: A brief story of an interesting event. The recorded history of the so called division, as it is now represented by the stone monument at the frontiers has come about as a consequence of the waging of war against each other - Holland and France.
The obelisk shaped monument marks the history of the presence and activity of many European countries that have led to the encumbrance of our island’s proper name. Officially, the island is alternately called: Saint Martin (French Saint-Martin or Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, depending on which side of the monument you hail.
The monument at the frontier of both sections of the island draws your attention to the middle of the seventeenth century, away from the sun, the pristine beaches and our vibrant tourist trade. It takes you to the period of explorers, gold mongers, privateers, buccaneers, pirates, exploitation, sugar and slavery, revolt, abolition, emancipation, emigration, Kingdom Statute, tourism, repatriation, and presently the constitutional change – Country Saint Martin.
The Monument stands now as the symbol of the spirit of the simartn people. I believe, I can call it the “Peoples' Monument." It is a relevant signature of the people of Saint Martin who lived here peacefully since the emancipation proclamation of 1848 and 1863. It is ironic that the constitutional move of the simartn people of the South coincides with the simartn people of the North. It stands to reason, though, that it is the consequence of a common experience of a similar political administration. Here's a new beginning - a new beginning demanding a new attitude, a new sense of Self, the simartn self. It is our responsibility. We owe it to our ancestors and to our future generations - our country simartn.
The Emilio Wilson Cultural Park was electric yesterday throughout the afternoon. The candidates and a mass of National Alliance supporters captured the spirit of a true family picnic and expressed it with joy and exuberance. The organization of this event where some 2000 people mostly clad in the "A New Beginning" National Alliance party shirt was remarkable. As you entered the park you encountered hundreds of vehicles decked out with the National Alliance flag. Impressive! Determined! Daunting! Intimidating to the DP feeble offensive, I daresay. 
The atmosphere, filled with music and exuberance, teemed with the energy of an exclamation point. We are taking the government back to the people. Under the leadership of senator William Marlin, "A Man of Vision" who gets the job done, it appears already a fait accompli. 
Yes, National Alliance flexed its muscles yesterday afternoon; and what muscles - the National Alliance's drove of supporters exuded confidence and appeared to have defiantly slapped any attempt of intimidation away. The candidates contributed immensely to the family spirit at the Emilio Wilson Cultural 
Park; they enthusiastically participated in the chair dance with great delight. Taking into consideration the impact of the last ten days the National Alliance generated with its massive following, lead by the Soualiga Drum band on Postulation Day and the many cars, flying the National Alliance white, this chair dance could very well be the prelude to the victory dance, come April 20, 2007. 
It certainly does not bode well for any of the Democratic Parties, respectively under the leadership? of Theo and Sarah. You will notice how Theo has had the DP red color recolored with some black and white in between, to look differently from the traditional DP red. 
Maria seems to be following suite, even though reluctantly, by bill-boarding herself, as if she were a contestant in a beauty pageant. Sarah, on the other hand, is glass-casing herself along the road, some what inconspicuously in the traditional DP red. Now, if the DP government has not been confusing enough, this presentation of the DP only aggravates its situation more - as a wayward party. This evening on the O.J. show, it was again clear how clueless the candidates are about what lies ahead for Saint Martin. 
Ms. Williams, a nice lady she seems to me, and # 8 candidate on the DP list, answered O.J.'s kind question why she postulated herself as a candidate for the DP with "I believe, there needs to be a change, that's why". She wants a change of the DP government - DP is the incumbent government. O.J. with tongue in cheek, quickly moved on. I can appreciate the panick and desperation in the DP camp. This afternoon, I understand why. The formidable flexing of the National Alliance muscle at its Family Picnic at the Emilio Wilson Cultural Park explains their panic, their desperation. I enjoyed the event and I am sure the 2000-odd people also did. Let us continue to work together for Saint Martin. Let us remain focus and take care of business. Unto a New Beginning with the National Alliance!
