Mercelina: Kingdom must evolve to remain relevant for next generation

THE HAGUE--“If the Kingdom is to remain relevant for the next generation, it must become more flexible, more equitable, and more aligned with the realities of Caribbean societies.”

That was the central message delivered by the Honorable Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, during the 36th InterExpo Kingdom Relations Congress, held under the theme “Fifteen Years After 10/10/10,” where he presented on “15 years of Constitutional Autonomy.”

Speaking before Kingdom officials, scholars and regional leaders, Prime Minister Mercelina urged participants to look beyond the last fifteen years and instead examine 170 years of constitutional interventions, restructuring and negotiation that shaped the Kingdom of the Netherlands and, critically, St. Maarten’s present-day reality.

“The real question we must ask ourselves is not what the past fifteen years have done to St. Maarten and our Kingdom partners, but rather: how has our long and complex history shaped these past fifteen years of autonomy within the Kingdom?” Prime Minister Mercelina asked in the opening of his address.

He connected this broad constitutional history to his own family story, stating, “For me, this timeline speaks of the story of my great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father, and myself each living through a different stage of our island’s constitutional journey.”

The Prime Minister then walked the audience through the major constitutional developments beginning in 1828, including the administrative merger with Suriname, the abolition of slavery in 1863, the creation of the Netherlands Antilles in 1951, the establishment of the Kingdom Charter in 1954, Suriname’s independence in 1975, Aruba’s status aparte in 1986, and the referenda of 1994 and 2000 that culminated in St. Maarten’s attainment of country status in 2010.

He emphasized the reality that followed the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, underscoring that St. Maarten was and remains a constituent state rather than a fully autonomous country, and that this is the constitutional reality in which the island operates today.

Noting that only five generations of St. Maarteners have lived through these seismic shifts in governance, the Prime Minister turned to the period after 10-10-10 and spoke candidly about the political mindset that emerged. “We became hypnotized by the idea of independence. From the moment we achieved country status, we were carried away on an emotional journey, constantly trying to prove to our Mother Land that we could stand on our own.”

He added that this fixation came at a significant cost. “We were so focused on proving ourselves that we forgot something essential, to build constructive and sustainable alliances with other Caribbean countries within and outside the Kingdom.”

Drawing on recent experiences such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic disruptions, Prime Minister Mercelina stressed how vulnerable small island states are when isolated. These shocks, he said, revealed that independence pursued in isolation is neither viable nor responsible. The major pillars of any society, such as health care and education, must be strengthened to support any viable path for St. Maarten to pursue full autonomy and, ultimately, independence.

“Sint Maarten must literally look across our own border and at our own horizon. We must embrace our closest neighbors — French Saint Martin, Anguilla, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Barths, Montserrat — who face the same challenges we do.”

He further stated that nation-building requires adequate financing: “We must be honest: nation-building is expensive.” He pointed to the inherent costliness of the constitutional structure inherited after 10-10-10, noting that small countries carry disproportionately heavy administrative and institutional burdens.

From that reality, the Prime Minister pivoted toward the future of Kingdom cooperation, calling for a model that reflects contemporary Caribbean realities. He emphasized the need for more direct relationships between countries, a Kingdom structure grounded in respect for differences rather than forced similarities, and a shift toward treating each country as a co-owner of the Kingdom rather than merely a stakeholder. He also called for closer collaboration and shared responsibilities in areas such as defense, healthcare and education, and proposed the establishment of a Kingdom Political Dialogue Platform.

Later in the afternoon, Prime Minister Mercelina participated in a high level panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Ernst Hirsch Ballin, alongside former Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Deputy Prime Minister of Curaçao Charles Cooper. During the discussion, he reiterated that constitutional evolution is a living process. “The constitutional structure we inherited is not sacred; it is adjustable.”

“A modern Kingdom must be based on equality, trust and mutual respect, and the recognition that each country brings strengths shaped by its own history.”

Closing his remarks, Prime Minister Mercelina reaffirmed his commitment to the people of St. Maarten, stating, “Our autonomy means nothing unless it improves the lives of our people.

Responsible autonomy, supported by strong institutions, regional partnerships, and a modernized Kingdom framework, is the only path forward. I think that this will require high-level discussions with the incoming Government of the Netherlands on a new positive agenda for the Kingdom. Moreover, I will seek the support of the Council of Ministers and Parliament of Sint Maarten to formally invite the Netherlands, Aruba and Curacao for a Kingdom summit to walk the talk”.

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