From left: Dutch representative in Philipsburg Chris Johnson; Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK Hanke Bruins Slot and State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitization Alexandra van Huffelen during their meeting with the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
PHILIPSBURG--The discussions that Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK Hanke Bruins Slot and State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitisation Alexandra van Huffelen had with residents about the slavery past and its significance for the future do not constitute that St. Maarten has been consulted on the matter.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs made this clear to the two officials during their visit on Tuesday. The theme of the visit was the history of slavery. Van Huffelen and Slot wanted to see and hear for themselves in conversations, the importance and significance of the history of slavery on the islands and for the Netherlands.
Slot and Van Huffelen held discussions with Jacobs, the Council of Ministers and a cross section of the community. The latter was organised by the Department of Culture in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.
“I must say from the onset, it was a bit concerning that St. Maarten did not play a pivotal role or contribute to the report that was presented in 2021, which was commissioned in 2020. We must remember that 2020 to 2021 was the COVID year and so most things that were being done, were being done virtually.
“In any case. St. Maarten’s participation, if any, was minimal, maybe one or two persons, and so we do not feel like visits such as what was organised yesterday [Tuesday – Ed.] can constitute St. Maarten being consulted on this matter,” Jacobs made clear.
“This was very much brought forward to the delegation and understood and that St. Maarten expects to have the opportunity to present its research and its position officially to the Second Chamber and, as such, whatever has been divulged, whether you’ve come to hear the sentiments, to listen and to understand, what you see written on paper, that the delegation cannot constitute what they hear as that they have officially consulted with St. Maarten.
“I think that was made clear. We were very, very blunt in the discussion, I must say, and the consultation with the community was even blunter to say the least.”
Jacobs said the forum with the community was held where the Freedom Run was organised.
“It was held in the ruins opposite the causeway in the Bellevue area before you get to the border, where we had started our run for freedom on sacred ground in Diamond Estate, and I think it was very impactful to be sitting in the dark with lights pinpointed, hearing artists, seeing videos and hearing the voices of community activists on the position of slavery and in fact the audacity of the Dutch government to have the discussion in this manner.
“I think for all who were present … it was very much hard-hitting and, in fact, at points very harsh, but very reality, very much the reality. There was no mincing of words and so the Dutch delegation will leave with an impression of how St. Maarten feels, but I must consider that we reiterated that that does not constitute an official position.
“And our scholars or historians and all those activists together with government should be able to put forth a position which we can stand behind and ensure that when they come to talk about acknowledgement, atonement and reparations, that St. Maarten’s reality is 100% reflected,” stated the Prime Minister.
