“We Are St. Maarten”: Governor Baly calls for shared ownership of the country’s future

GREAT BAY-- His Excellency Governor Ajamu G. Baly on Friday hosted the 2026 New Year’s Reception and delivered an address centered on vision, unity, and civic responsibility, urging residents to take an active role in shaping the country’s future through informed participation and solution-driven engagement.

Speaking to invited guests and national leadership, Governor Baly said progress in 2026 will require “intentional action from all of us,” and underscored that citizenship carries obligations alongside rights. He stressed that “civic participation is not optional, it is an obligation,” calling on residents to remain informed, engage with government, and contribute to solutions rather than limiting involvement to criticism.

A call to shared ownership and solution building

Governor Baly framed nation-building as a shared responsibility that includes people born on the island, people who came to build a life on the island, and those who maintain ties from abroad with the hope of returning or seeing St. Maarten “return to its glory” as a place where residents experience paradise, not only visitors.

He cautioned against the habit of separating the country from its people, emphasizing that St. Maarten is not an abstract entity. “We are St. Maarten,” he said, linking national improvement to personal responsibility and community standards.

Governor Baly also urged residents to recognize that everyone’s actions affect the wider community, and that public discourse should move toward constructive outcomes. He described criticism as useful, while urging a shift toward constructive criticism that is paired with involvement and practical solutions.

Vision, data-driven policy, and long-term planning

At the center of the address was a call for a clear national direction. Governor Baly said, “The imperative here is vision,” and stressed that policy supporting that vision must be data-driven, while implementation must be deliberate and consistent.

He pointed to the importance of long-term strategic planning that sets objectives for future generations, noting that today’s challenges and benefits reflect decisions made by those who came before. He called on leaders and residents alike to plan now so that children and grandchildren can benefit from the results of present-day work.

Partnerships on the island, in the region, and within the Kingdom

Recognizing St. Maarten’s physical limitations as an island, Governor Baly said those realities should not weaken aspirations for excellence. He encouraged a dual approach: bringing out the best in residents while actively seeking support from allies. This includes collaboration with “our sisters and brothers in the North,” as well as partnerships across the region, within the Kingdom, and with other partners where mutual benefit exists.

Governor Baly warned about the dangers of silence and highlighted the importance of speaking truth to power. He described a world where major powers are “jostling and jockeying for position,” and referenced an African proverb: “When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets hurt.” He characterized small island developing states as the grass, and urged St. Maarten to prepare for an unpredictable future by strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to external shocks.

A major pillar of that resilience, the Governor said, is reducing reliance on imports, particularly fuel, to limit exposure to supply chain disruptions and high costs. He emphasized that the transition to renewable energy and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, with the aim of energy independence, is more urgent than ever given current geopolitical conditions. Governor Baly urged that these steps be taken sooner rather than later, linking them to long-term sustainability and prosperity.

Digital opportunity, the fourth industrial revolution, and fintech

Governor Baly also pointed to technological advancement as a practical pathway for St. Maarten to overcome traditional constraints of limited capacity, space, and natural resources. He noted that earlier industrial revolutions often favored larger nations with more physical resources, while the current era, described as the fourth industrial revolution, is driven largely by digital systems.

He highlighted opportunities for small island developing states to compete through interconnected systems, cloud services, digital transformation of industries and services, big data, and advancements that also support renewable energy, without degrading the natural environment. He also drew attention to the country’s potential in financial technology, stressing that St. Maarten’s status as a small island is not a limitation in an era of AI and digital advancement, and that capitalizing on these opportunities can strengthen prosperity and well-being.

A standard for public service and leadership

Governor Baly closed by calling on leaders, and especially public servants, to model intentional action and servant leadership that places the common good above personal and other interests. He said this is the pathway to building a society capable of real change and shared progress, ending with New Year wishes for residents and families and a blessing for “sweet St. Maarten land.”

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