Ex-minister, activist denounce French, Dutch control over St. Maarten

At the international conference “French and Dutch Colonialism in St. Martin - One Island, One People, One Destiny”, organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), Pamela Gordon-Carty, former Minister of Health for Sint Maarten, condemned the ongoing control of the island by France and the Netherlands.

Carty highlighted that, despite potential harassment and pressure from French and Dutch authorities, all conference participants are committed to continuing the struggle for St. Maarten’s independence, Caliber.Az reports.

"All participants in this conference are prepared to face possible harassment and pressure from the French and Dutch authorities upon their return. But despite this, we all intend to continue our struggle for the independence of St. Maarten," Carty said.

She added that the Dutch government would only be willing to engage in serious negotiations with independence supporters if they adopt a determined stance.

"This conference clearly demonstrates to the colonizers that St. Maarten is serious in its fight for independence," Carty declared. "The support of Azerbaijan and the Baku Initiative Group is extremely important to us. While the Netherlands and France intend to continue ruling our island, the youth of St. Maarten are determined to resist colonial oppression," she asserted.

Echoing Carty's sentiments, young activist Yadiska Van Richele also criticized the neo-colonial policies of France and the Netherlands. Addressing the same conference, Van Richele stated that the metropolitan countries have shown no interest in the development of St. Maarten, particularly in creating new job opportunities for the island's residents.

"Neither France nor the Netherlands are interested in the development of St. Maarten," Van Richele emphasized. "The youth of the island are protesting against the neo-colonial policies of France and the Netherlands. The neo-colonizers in Paris and Amsterdam oppress our country. Thanks to the help of Azerbaijan and the efforts of the Baku Initiative Group, we are able to bring our issues to the attention of the global community," she concluded.

An international conference titled "French and Dutch Colonialism on Saint Martin: One Island, One People, One Destiny" was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baku.

The conference, organized by the Baku Initiative Group, was attended by representatives from the island's public, as well as politicians and public figures from Azerbaijan.

The event also featured leaders of organizations opposed to colonialism, parliamentarians, human rights advocates, NGO leaders, experts on decolonization, and researchers.

The conference focused on the ongoing struggle of the people of Saint Martin to free themselves from French and Dutch colonial rule, efforts to bring this issue to the attention of relevant international bodies, and international legal mechanisms to support their cause.

Saint Martin stands apart from other colonies due to its unique historical and post-colonial characteristics. The island was colonized by both France and the Netherlands, remaining divided between the two countries since 1648.

The French side of the island is known as Saint Martin, while the Dutch side is called Sint Maarten. Both empires imposed their systems of governance, culture, and law on the island, leaving it heavily dependent on their influence.

The colonial legacy continues to affect the island's economic and political spheres, with the strong influence of France and the Netherlands creating barriers for the people of Saint Martin in their struggle to determine their own future.

By Vafa Guliyeva