Ralph Cantave: Time to build a St. Maarten where every child can stand with confidence

GREAT BAY--Local author and social commentator Ralph Cantave delivered an address during the solemn public meeting of Parliament on Constitution Day 2025, urging citizens to rediscover the soul of St. Maarten and commit to the collective task of nation building.

Opening with a question that set the tone for his presentation, Cantave asked, “Have you ever wondered which generation experienced the best of St. Maarten?” He traced the island’s journey from its unspoiled beginnings to its complex modern reality, describing a history that began with purity, was interrupted by colonization, and evolved through centuries of endurance, labor, and transformation.

“There was a generation that was blessed to enjoy a pure, unspoiled land before it became exploited,” he said, adding that the arrival of colonizers on the island’s shores brought “munition and power to pillage the natural resources.”

Cantave reflected on the generations that followed, describing how they lived “not knowing freedom,” and later celebrated its arrival through expressions such as the ponum dance, symbolizing the spirit of a newly freed people. “This newly freed people toiled the ground with jollifications while establishing the Soul of St. Maarten,” he said.

He spoke of the migration waves that saw families leave the island aboard the Antillia or ALM flights “to nations near and far,” driven by the hope that “this sweet, precious land and those left behind would be taken care of.” That generation of hard labor and sacrifice, he noted, gave birth to one that “met the dollar,” benefiting from tourism’s foreign exchange while facing rising costs of living, food insecurity, and energy challenges.

Cantave lamented that over time, “the soul of our nation became distressed, burdened.” He reminded listeners that St. Maarten once valued community, shared responsibility, and care for both its environment and its elders. “We forgot that we are our brother’s keeper, and each child is a child of the village,” he said. “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.”

In a clear call to action, he warned against despair or surrender. “Should we give up hope, and sell what remains of this, precious land? Absolutely not!” he declared. He observed that in the past 15 years, St. Maarten’s value has grown in “allure, opportunities and development,” but emphasized that the current generation “was not prepared to steward and lead the course of St. Maarten.” Instead of lamenting failures, Cantave urged his audience to “be motivated by the future we can build.”

He introduced a symbolic framework for nation building, stating: “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 emphasized that the task now is to “embrace the mindset of nation building and secure a future that’s not only resilient but prosperous.” He called for investment in a stable foundation “where every child can stand with confidence and hope.”

“This status is fairly new, but our soul is mature,” he said, referring to the country’s constitutional status. “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.”

He envisioned a St. Maarten where starting a family or a business is ideal, with equitable access to education, healthcare, and housing. “My belief is absolute because I know we can do it,” Cantave declared. “We have the steel. We have the bricks. We have the concrete and the land.”

Paying tribute to those who contributed to shaping the nation, Cantave honored the late Louis Duzanson and Reynold Groeneveldt, as well as living contributors such as Joane Dovale-Meit, Gaston Bell, and Dr. Nilda Arduin. He also acknowledged public servants, community leaders, business owners, non-profit organizations, and taxpayers “who continue to give and want to see a difference.”

Concluding his address, Cantave left the audience with a challenge that echoed his opening question:

“What will you do to guarantee that the next generation experiences the best of St. Maarten?”

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