PM: "Having the Right to Vote is not one which should be taken lightly"
PHILIPSBURG:--- "Voting is a right not to be taken lightly", was the message of Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams during her address at the informative evening concerning the possibility of St. Maarten Citizens to vote during the elections for European Parliament held at the University of St. Maarten on Wednesday evening. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of St. Maarten lending its voice to the running of European Parliament at the lecture organized by the University and the Office of the Dutch Representative; "I believe that having the opportunity to vote generally speaking is a right that we should not take lightly. It is a right to vote for representatives directly or indirectly in a country or organization that has some kind of effect in our lives. Specifically for European Elections the connection for St. Maarten has become quite close; the ability for St. Maarten to vote during European elections did not come natural. In fact it is just a couple of years ago that the peculiar status that we enjoy as European Dutch St. Maarteners was challenged and the request was put for us as a former Antillean Resident to be able to vote during elections. This was acknowledged and decided by the court that we should indeed be able to. This is an accomplishment in its own right.
"If we take the relationship with Europe and its countries that relationship has become much closer. It has become much closer because in attaining the status of country as we did per 10-10-10 there is no longer a buffer that used to be there when it came to relationships between St. Maarten and Europe and the rest of the international community for that matter, due to that being Kingdom responsibilities. St. Maarten has been now placed in a position that when we seek to make use of the possibilities that have been made available to us by the European Union as European Dutch St. Maarteners we need to be able to make use and defend ourselves in that context.
"Every relationship brings with it responsibilities, and no where was that as clear as when St. Maarten needed to represent itself during the discussions surrounding the 10th EDF funding. We needed to step up to the plate and defend our interests when it came to the EDF and for us receiving the funding which we required. Europe is looking at a much broader cooperation with those territories and countries that it has a particular relationship with. Currently a lot of effort is being put by the Governments of both sides of St. Maarten to come to joint programs which we would be then be able to get European Funding for. So we are involved in a very dynamic process in our relationship with the European Union.
"We must therefore realize that it is important for us to be part of the voting process for the European Parliament. Your vote will give you a say in the running of Parliament; we have this right and we should utilize that right to voice our opinion and issue our vote. We need to have a say in what we do as it relates to regulations, sanctions what have you that may have an effect on us that are taken by the European Union. The world is becoming smaller and we are fortunate to have our voice to part of the European Parliament and that is why I encourage everyone to vote in the European Elections. Our voice collectively will make a difference as far as the management of the European Commission is concerned," concluded Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister
