Dear Editor,
Good morning St. Maarten. I am once again approaching you about an issue I still believe is very important to all of us as a people in which I am challenging all of us to see if we are just people that only complain without seeking a solution for whatever problem or disagreement that we are faced with, or if we are serious about results. I am hereby referring to our 2019 number plates that have been changed from the slogan or trademark of the friendly island which defines all of our people, to 50 years of Carnival which defines some of our people.
I am in no way or form trying to stop Carnival here in St. Maarten, which according to the Minister of Culture is a cultural event and to some the biggest economic contributor to our government coffers. As born-again believers, it is our opinion that the conduct displayed during this festivity is not conducive to our young people and also to the people who profess to be Christians, which is a believer in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The 2019 number plates are finally here on the island and they will be starting to be distributed on Monday, God's willing. Those persons that have met me on the streets and have called me since this issue came out I would like to thank, but moreover challenge, because if we would like to see a solution to the sudden change of our number plate slogan, which was done without even consulting us as the shareholders or owners of this country St. Maarten, then I believe that we should all be united with this cause. This is about protecting our voice in this country so that future general decisions would not be taken without prior consultation with us, the people of St. Maarten.
On Sunday upcoming at 4:30 pm the government in collaboration with the Christian Council of Churches, the St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation and the Seven Day Adventist Church will be holding its 14th Annual National Day of Prayer and the entire population is invited to attend. This is in no way meant to force anyone to be present at this event but I am just informing you that if we as a people cannot even come together in prayer to thank God for His grace and mercy, especially for sparing our lives after the two devastating hurricanes, namely Irma and Maria that we experienced in 2017, then how are we supposed to be able to see positive results from our government when they realize that we are just all talk and no action.
In closing, I am saying to all of us and especially to the leaders and members of all the 200 registered churches here on our island to come out in numbers to send a clear message that we are truly united because we all serve one God Who never fails but always has the last word.
The ball is now in your court. Do you want to see a change made to the 2019 slogan that is on your number plate? Then you be that change and come out on Sunday, January 13, at the new Government Building at 4:30 pm to show government that we are UNITED. God bless St. Maarten and see you on Sunday, God's willing.
Jeffrey Richardson
