Dear Editor,
I would like to express my feelings about the following issue before Carnival goes in full swing. The native St. Martin people are characteristically friendly. In addition, that was/is the cornerstone of our tourism product. Add the warm weather, the island's pristine tropical beaches – definitely a tourist paradise.
But some people have a stereotyped view of us, believing that we are docile, lazy, and unintelligent. Comrades, I take exception to that. As a result, I am inclined to believe that most foreigners do not like St. Martin people, but they like St. Martin for economic reasons.
Comrades, we have been getting unjustified blows for who we are. To add insult to injury, some native St. Martiners believe there are some foreigners and some children, who were born here from non-native parents, who love St. Martin more than some native St. Martiners.
Be that as it may, I would not preach that sermon. But only in St. Martin that school of thought is endemic – nowhere else. Comrades, let Jehovah be the judge. Stop making irresponsible assumptions. Foreigners get offended when we declare, “I from here, I am a born St. Martiner.” Hey, that is how we stake our claim to our native land.
St. Martin people are unique. One day I was walking around the town, and some American tourists stopped to ask me some questions about the island. I gave them the right directions and they were ecstatic. When they asked me if was from the island, I told them yes. Hear them, “Hey, everybody, we have met an islander at last!” One of them asked me, “Sir, where are all the other local St. Martin people?”
May I repeat: “St. Martin people are unique.” We do not harass visitors. lt is therefore incumbent on me to defend the native St. Martiners and squash the drivel that is out there.
King Beau Beau's “Have news will travel” final verse will punctuate my point, “Oh, how sweet St. Martin. Every day sun shining. Oceans great for swimming; beaches white as snow. We are the friendliest bunch of people in the Caribbean. Not a single thief to break into your store. We try to be nice to everybody that comes here. But those criminals get in here, because we were slack so they pack, but they won't come back.”
Somebody, sing the chorus for them.
Julien F. Petty
