Fifteen Years in Our Own Boat Are We Still Steering Together?

October 10th, 2010 a date etched into the history of St. Maarten. A moment of pride, of hope, of anticipation. They handed us a boat and told us to sail. Since then, we’ve crossed calm seas and rough waters. We’ve seen bright days full of promises and darker ones clouded with doubt. But here we are 15 years later still sailing.

Along the journey, our boat has had many captains, each with their own destination, their own vision, their own crew, their own compass. Some brought us forward others spun us in circles. Some patched holes others drilled new ones. Today, when we look across our island, we see things that make us proud progress, resilience, innovation. But we also see things that make us frustrated such as stagnation, disunity and forgotten promises.

And that’s what troubles me. I am living on an island where I am deeply rooted a place I carry in my heart no matter where I go. I love this land with every fiber of my being. But lately, I find myself asking a hard question:

Is this the environment I want to raise my child in? It hurts to even ask that. Because leaving is not the desire, staying with pride is. But when the government we depend on drifts off course, when decisions feel disconnected from the real needs of the people, doubt creeps in.

We’ve seen our leaders travel to IPKO, sitting at tables in the Netherlands, standing united and fighting for our home. In those moments, we feel hopeful. We see teamwork. We see conviction. We see vision.

But the moment they return to our shores, it’s as if someone flips a switch and suddenly, it’s back to the same old reality. The unity dissolves. The championing stops. The bashing resumes. The fighting begins again.

How can we sail forward if the ones holding the wheel keep rowing in opposite directions?

Fifteen years later, the bigger question is no longer what autonomy gave us, but what we have done with it. A boat without unity cannot cross an ocean. A people without direction will drift endlessly.

Because the truth is: we are not just bystanders. We are all part of this journey.

• We all have a role to play in this society.

• We all have an example to set in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces.

• We all must understand that tomorrow is not promised and één gulden kan je maar één keer gebruiken.

So as we reflect on 10/10/10 not just as a date, but as a responsibility let us remember:

• We are no longer passengers. We are the crew.

• We are no longer waiting for direction. We must demand it.

• This island is not just land. It is legacy for us and for our children.

The boat is still ours. The sea is still wide. The journey is far from over. But maybe, just maybe it’s time to stop changing captains and start fixing the mindset. Because true leadership is not just about steering the boat.

It’s about remembering who’s on board.

Roy Q. Marlin

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