Dear Editor,
Too often I hear some politicians stressing on the terminology ‘Born here’ and ‘Son of the soil’ mentioning that those who are born here are the ones to decide where the future of Sint Maarten lies. Well, I really need to remind them that approximately 70% of Sint Maarten’s population consists of migrants.
People who, for whatever good reason, have left their dear homelands. They came here in good faith and with their dreams of making a better life for themselves and their future generations. A right that every human being has, once born somewhere on this earth. They came here to Sint Maarten and made it their home. They are contributing how they can to the economy, our culture and the welfare of this Island.
Democratically, it will always be the majority who decides where the future of a country will be. There is no need to point our fingers to migrants, or people who are ‘not-born- here’. I want to remind those who are in that vibe of excluding people, of something that those people can’t even do anything about. Nobody decides to be born in a particular country. You just are born there, where your mother has given birth to you at that moment in time.
I would like to ask those who are emphasizing on being ‘born here’ to just look back one or two generations before them, and ask the question: ‘Don’t I have or had family members who came out of immigrants?’
Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former US president stated: “Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants.” I really believe that this applies to most of us in the world, and especially in the Americas and the Caribbean. Let’s not go into the remote of creed or birthplace or origin, because it will lead us to unnecessary segregation and a lack of understanding.
Unfortunately, these excluding mechanisms are to be found in so many countries, making it difficult for migrants to merge. We often see the phenomenon of ‘living next to each other (segregation) in peace’, respecting the culture of one another.
I’ve once heard a saying: ‘Tell me how you treat the migrants and the animals in your country, and I can tell you how civilized you are.’
I believe that as a politician you‘d better be someone who can connect people of all kinds of cultural backgrounds, bringing them together to work for and love the country they are living in. Sint Maarten has become their and their children’s home, just like Sint Maarten is your home.
If you really want to build up a country, let’s talk a different language. Let’s talk about making history and heritage of our island, our country’s languages, our culture, being one with respect for other cultures and belief systems. Let’s share our good norms and values such as integrity, respect, etc., as fundamental parts of our nation. Let’s not forget that cultural diversity is an asset to our country.
For decades, most Islands in the Caribbean consist of a multicultural societies, which brought forward so much talented people who brought innovation in the cultures and prosperity in the economies of the countries where they live, as well to their home lands. Sint Maarten is no exception.
Let’s embrace those who came here in good faith and are contributing to our society, putting their shoulders under all the work that needs to be done to take Sint Maarten to a next level of its development. You will see, that because migrants are embraced and treated well, they and their descendants will be thankful for being here, and proud to be a part of this society. They will have room for loyalty, and love Sint Maarten as much as you do.
Loekie Morales
