The Airport Decision Exposes a Deeper Truth: Saint Martin Needs Self-Determination
Dear Editor:
I had to take a while to gather my thoughts because, as with anything I communicate, I try to be fair, objective, critical, analytical, and balanced in my thought process and presentation.
For years now, I’ve believed in three convictions:
Whatever you allow, you cannot criticize, and what you avoid you cannot change.
Whatever you permit, you are responsible for.
People who don't challenge their leaders have no right to complain about how they lead.
So, with that said, this opinion piece is my attempt to stay true to these convictions by providing some thoughts for consideration regarding this airport dilemma and its implications, both implicit and explicit.
This week’s recent controversy surrounding the airport’s now-retracted decision to suspend issuing access cards, which directly hinders employment for Northern-born Saint Martiners, is not surprising or shocking in the least. After reading many of the political responses and social commentaries, even though the statement was retracted, it still reflects a troubling thought process that is indicative of a deeper issue. This mindset is indicative of a deeper issue that has long been an undercurrent in Saint Martin’s social fabric. Although the border between the North and South is invisible, invisible things often manifest visibly in different ways.
Once again, we find ourselves confronted by an issue similar in nature to the Oyster Pond saga of 2016 or the PPRN impasse of 2019. This is an issue that, in principle, is not “our” issue, but our officials on both sides are keeping their proverbial heads in the sand by not acknowledging the pink elephant in the room: although we are “free” physically, mentally we are still shackled and subjected to the imperialistic after-effects of inheriting the French and Dutch legal codes that continue to undergird the fabric of our culture.
This is not an issue to take lightly or tap dance around. It strikes at the very unity we claim to celebrate every November 11th, when we proudly declare that we are “one people with a shared history and culture.” Yet decisions like this, denying Northerners access to employment in the South, directly contradict that declaration. Such contradictions erode trust and leave our people feeling deceived.
With reference to this current debacle, in the article by The People’s Tribune, several references were made to “Sint Maarten’s current labor and immigration laws” (Tribune Editorial Staff, 2025). Along those lines, there have been several comments across social media echoing the sentiments of, “Well, since the French side doesn’t allow us to work there, why should we allow them to work on the Dutch side?”
Before I respond to that, let me start by paraphrasing the words of an ancient Jewish rabbi: “Division weakens a structure to the point where it will eventually collapse.” The application here is clear: any attempt to divide us, even under the guise of “ensuring compliance with all applicable labor and immigration laws,” will ultimately result in a fractured, weakened nation. This is unfortunate because our strength has always been in our unity, and nothing sustainable can be built on a weakened foundation.
So, to come back to the current sentiment regarding the enforcement of labor laws, here is my question: where did we derive our current labor laws from? Did they come from a mutual understanding between the North and South about what it means for our lives to be integrated with each other? Or did they come from governments over 4,000 miles away, enforcing and imposing legal codes on us that were, at the time, in their best interests, which we just happened to adopt? I am pretty sure the answer lies somewhere in the latter option, which reveals that this thought process is the result of a narrative that wasn’t ours to begin with.
Here’s the thing: even if that is the “law,” (1) it is an unjust law by all accounts because it unfairly alienates persons from both sides, and (2) the circumstances that made those laws necessary are no longer present, so why are we making extraordinary efforts to enforce them?
Ordinances on both the North and South sides that affect the lives of all Saint Martiners need to either be implemented, revised, or abolished in order to create mutually beneficial arrangements that allow all Saint Martiners to equally benefit from their unhindered participation in their country’s development. Instead of enforcing current laws that actively impede that contribution, we must pursue collective reform. Our lives are so intertwined that what affects the South inevitably affects the North, and vice versa. To enforce laws that divide us is not only absurd, it borders on insanity.
I suspect, however, that perhaps the real issue could be that the ones charged with initiating change are more comfortable maintaining the status quo and therefore see nothing wrong with it? They tread easily, absolving and distancing themselves, quickly backpedaling because they clearly don’t want to rock the boat unnecessarily. Until we have leaders who collectively, on both the North and South sides, are genuinely concerned about the next generation rather than the next election, we will always have leaders who enjoy a false sense of authority and make decisions based on convenience and compromise, not conviction and clarity.
But we, too, must take responsibility. We have not been holding ourselves accountable for our electoral decisions, nor have we been holding our leadership accountable for the decisions they were supposed to make. Based on the current state of affairs, the effects of those decisions, or lack thereof, are showing up now.
At this juncture, decisions that affect all of Saint Martin regarding major issues such as immigration, fiscal management and responsibility, agriculture, education, economic development and sustainability, social welfare, justice, and many others must be made. At some point, all this talk about “solidarity” and “unity” will have to be demonstrated. The discussion we need to have collectively, in order to facilitate that, is the discussion on forging an independent Saint Martin.
If you know me, then you know that I am not some Johnny-come-lately when it comes to the subject of independence. I have always been an advocate for a united, independent Saint Martin; North and South in true solidarity.
The precedent for this is the United Nations General Assembly (1960), which affirms that “all peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development” (Article 2), and that “inadequacy of political, economic, social or educational preparedness should never serve as a pretext for delaying independence” (Article 3).
A Newsday editorial excerpt found in The Independence Papers Vol. 1 makes the following statement:
“St. Martin must begin the march down the long road towards self-determination. There is no other way. Only through self-determination will St. Martin be able to control her destiny. Only through self-determination will St. Martin’s destiny be placed in the hands of her people. St. Martin’s destiny must be placed in the hands of Saint Martiners” (Sekou, 1990). The Independence Papers was published in 1990, which probably places the article somewhere around or before that year.
So now, my question to us is this: how long shall we subject ourselves to this kind of mental instability? How long will we allow the dictates of a foreign legal system to determine how Saint Martiners live, move, and operate in their country? How long will we hold off on starting the process to finally make it official?
Choosing to become an independent Saint Martin has more to do with exercising that inalienable right to self-determination and complete freedom, as per the 1960 UN Declaration, than anything else. Choosing independence is about accepting responsibility and accountability for our actions. More importantly, independence is about Saint Martiners being able to make our own decisions, in our interests, such as who can work where. Independence is not anti-Dutch, anti-French, or anti-anyone for that matter. Independence is pro-Saint Martin and pro-Saint Martiner.
I must take a moment to say here that while I am all for independence, I am not naïve enough to think that this will become a reality anytime soon. Attaining political independence must be done in a responsible, methodical, and strategic way, accompanied by viable 10-, 20-, and 50-year plans for socioeconomic development. These must form part of the discussions and negotiations leading up to political independence.
I understand that many are apprehensive and even fearful of the notion of an independent Saint Martin, and with good reason. Since 10-10-10, we’ve had several elections, and more than half of those, I would venture to say, were completely unnecessary. So, if you’re not a proponent of independence, I understand. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Everyone will not be comfortable exercising that right or witnessing others exercising it.
To those who are uncomfortable, I say this: every society, independent or not, has had its share of trials and tribulations. Saint Martin is no different, and those trials will exist here too, whether Saint Martin is independent or not. This is normal. However, what we cannot and must not allow are scare tactics, innuendos, or interference, from those outside or within, that impede us from exercising the right to set laws and ordinances to govern ourselves based on our shared history, values, and interests.
We have kicked this can as far down the road as we can. Now it is time to decide. The good thing is, most of you are for independence because, at the end of the day, regardless of what imperialistic identification you carry, we all share the same demonym: Saint Martiner. That is how we should all be identified, not as Dutch or French. The sad thing is, you just don’t know it yet because of the unnecessary smokescreens and fearmongering that have surrounded the topic of independence for decades.
This week marks the 100th birthday of Saint Martin freedom fighter and political activist, the late Jose H. Lake Sr. It is fitting to quote his now immortal words: “One day Saint Martiners will be called upon to go independent.” That “day” is now upon us, and if we’re completely honest, it has been for a long time. “Day” here is not used as a literal 24-hour period, but figuratively to refer to a point in time where enough is enough. Have we gotten to that point yet? What more do we need to see, hear, or experience? Are we ready to do what is necessary to prevent statements like this from being made, or are we content with the direct and indirect “legal” division of us as a nation based on precedents that aren’t even ours to begin with? Are we ready to put safeguards in place that benefit the Saint Martiner, or are we content with the rhetoric that comes from “across the pond” that consistently suggests that we are not like them? When will enough actually be enough? If this most recent incident doesn’t spur that sentiment, then what will? If country leaders on both the North and South sides don’t see this as a clarion call to begin discussing what it would take to finally have one nation, then I ask again: what will?
This is critical to grasp because children born after 10-10-10 will soon be 15 years old. Look how quickly that time flew by. What have we passed on to them in terms of knowledge and understanding of their island, their identity and culture, developing healthy self-esteem, and fostering positive relationships? What systems and structures have we put in place for them yesterday that they can benefit from tomorrow? In three years, they’ll be eligible to vote, and we are still beating around this same bush from almost 40 years ago. Don’t allow another 15 years to go by before these necessary conversations are had, and urgent decisions are made.
Don’t tell me this can’t be done either. I know we are better and far more intelligent than this. I know we have the intellectual capacity and capability to handle this, but at this point, it is less about competency and more about political will on both the North and South sides. You don’t need the permission of France or the Netherlands for that. What is needed is the political will to act in the best interests of all Saint Martiners, North and South. With all the brilliant minds both on the island and abroad, I am sure we can form functional workgroups to develop bilateral agreements that serve all of Saint Martin as a whole until we finally make the push toward the birth of the actual nation called Saint Martin.
This, of course, will require certain levels of commitment and willpower to execute. People must be generationally focused, not election-driven. Some decisions will be unpopular and may even cost elected officials votes on both sides, but they must be made. Pursuing change may be uncomfortable for a while, but it is far better than settling for the status quo.
If you are concerned about whether a decision has the best interests of the Saint Martin people at heart, here’s a tip: look for people with no political ambition or lobbyist agenda, but who are objective, strategic, professional, and possess good character. They make excellent advisors and thought leaders to have around when you need second and third opinions. They are out there. If you truly mean well for the country, I challenge you to find them. Don’t lose another generation because the concern for re-election is greater than preserving a generation.
I love my island. Amidst the current chaos, crisis, confusion, and uncertainty, my love for this island runs deep, and being away from it does not make me love it any less. That love compels me to speak, even when the message is uncomfortable. I cannot shy away from speaking up and acknowledging the parts that need addressing. Acknowledging the problem is the first step to solving it.
Let us not continue to mask the issues before us, allowing Saint Martin to remain divided under 18th-century imperialism disguised in 21st-century forms. We are better than this, Saint Martin, and it’s time we realized that and acted on it!
I remain hopeful that we will come to the realization that as long as we are divided, we will never stand strong, on our own, as we are supposed to. Let us not continue to allow outside influences to dictate how we unite or how we display our unity. We alone can determine that. The call for oneness has never been clearer. We are one people on one island forging one destiny with one border around us, not between us. And one day, we will get it. Until independence becomes reality, I will always advocate for it. Together we can because I BELIEVE IN WE!
Signed,
Darren Wilson
An advocate for a united, independent Saint Martin
References
Sekou, L. M. (Ed.). (1990). The independence papers: Readings on a new political status for St. Martin/St. Maarten (Vol. 1). House of Nehesi Publishers.
Tribune Editorial Staff. (2025, September 2). PJIAE ends access card issuance for French St. Martin nationals without work permits. The People’s Tribune. https://www.thepeoplestribunesxm.com/articles/pjiae-ends-access-card-issuance-for-french-st-martin-nationals-without-work-permits
United Nations General Assembly. (1960, December 14). Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples (Resolution 1514 [XV], Articles 2–3). United Nations. https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/unga/1960/en/7290