Ralph Cantave.
PHILIPSBURG--Recipient of the 2015 President of Parliament Award Ralph Cantave on Monday called on the nation to invest in building a generation of leaders equipped with the mindset and tools to guide St. Maarten forward.
He made the remarks during the solemn Public meeting of Parliament, commemorating the 15th anniversary of the attainment of Country Status of St. Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Constitution Day).
Cantave said “our generation” was not prepared to steward and lead the course of St. Maarten, and indicated “rather than lament our failures, and setbacks, be motivated by the future we can build.”
He said “It is time we ensure that the present and coming generations are taught to lead with knowledge, wisdom and humility. To be producers and not consumers. To serve their country and fellow citizens with love and compassion. Let us build an environment that makes starting a family and a business ideal with quality access to education, healthcare and housing. My belief is absolute because I know we can do it. We have the steel. We have the bricks. We have the concrete and the land.”
Cantave used the platform to reflect on the island’s history, societal challenges, and its path forward. He issued a stirring call for national introspection and action, invoking the spirit of generations past and the potential of those yet to come. “Have you ever wondered which generation experienced the best of St. Maarten? There was a generation that was blessed to enjoy a pure, unspoiled land before it became exploited,” Cantave said, recounting the arrival of colonisers and the loss of natural freedom. He traced the evolution of the island through oppression, liberation, migration, and economic transformation – ultimately pointing to what he described as a present-day erosion of national values and community cohesion. “We forgot that we are our brother’s keeper, and each child is a child of the village. We forgot that the natural environment deserves protection, and the generations before us ought to be cared for. We forgot that we matter and we are not for sale,” Cantave stated. “Several generations of St. Maarten children have grown up or are growing up unable to see the value of their country. Untaught of their rightful place in it.”
Despite these concerns, Cantave voiced hope and conviction in the nation’s ability to reclaim its identity and chart a brighter future. He called for a collective mindset shift toward sustainable nation building, using construction metaphors to highlight the country’s internal strengths.
“Steel, bricks, concrete and land. Why? Because the aforementioned are our best assets. The steel that is our spine, the bricks being our skills and capacity, the concrete which is our faith. Our land, being our very minds.”
Cantave also took a moment to recognise individuals who contributed significantly to the country’s development, including the late Louis Duzanson and Reynold Groeneveldt, and public figures such as Joane Dovale-Meit, Gaston Bell, and Dr. Nilda Arduin. “They are but a mere fraction… notwithstanding the public servants, community leaders, business owners, Non-Profit Organizations, and taxpayers who continue to give and want to see a difference,” he said.
Cantave concluded his speech with a call to action: “So I end by asking, what will you do to guarantee that the next generation experiences the best of St. Maarten?”
