It was interesting to read (see Tuesday newspaper) about work SXM “Ni Français, Ni Étranger” (NINI) Association is doing to assist people on the French side who don’t have a passport or ID card. This hampers them when seeking employment, travel, housing, loans, social aid, a phone in their name and even birth certificates to prove their existence.
Four recently received French documents, while of in total 15 cases handled since the association’s start in 2020 14 have resulted in obtaining nationality. It’s a complicated and tedious process, but at least an organisation to offer help was established.
That appears to be lacking a bit in St. Maarten. Circumstances differ because it concerns a so-called autonomous country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while the northern part of the island falls directly under the government of France.
Nevertheless, the Dutch side too has a considerable number of inhabitants who were never registered, mainly because their parents who often came here from abroad to work had no valid residency papers either. Still, youngsters among this group must be allowed to attend school due to compulsory education and children’s rights.
When they become adults, however, it can create similar problems as on the French side. This leads to undesirable illegality and living “under the radar” with all possible consequences.
Some have argued that anyone born in St. Maarten ought to be acknowledged as resident regardless of background. This prompts the question whether they should then also be able to acquire Dutch citizenship.
Granted, that does present an obstacle, but it’s not enough justification to treat persons “from here self” as second-class strangers.
