PM Mercelina calls for co-ownership in the Kingdom, rejects independence path

GREAT BAY--Prime Minister Luc Mercelina on Wednesday pressed his approach for greater ownership within the Kingdom of the Netherlands to elevate the country’s socioeconomic status, stressing that a political state of independence cannot achieve this. Calling it a "second chance " for St. Maarten in the Kingdom, the Prime Minister made clear that he does not believe independence is the answer for St. Maarten. Instead, he envisions an evolution of the relationship with the Netherlands. “I want ownership in the Kingdom, not just to be a stakeholder,” he said, explaining what that evolution should look like.

Mercelina said St. Maarten must be realistic about its capacity and challenges. “If you want to achieve a certain standard of socioeconomic development, we must make strong decisions now,” he said. “For fifteen years we have been an autonomous country, but we have not been able to balance our budget or fund significant capital investments. We want nation building, but that requires finance, and our current financial status does not allow us to do what we envision.”

He outlined two main directions. The first is closer collaboration with other Caribbean islands to reduce isolation and share best practices. The second is what he called Sint Maarten’s “second chance within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.” Mercelina said the Kingdom relationship must be redefined, not on similarities but on differences. “We must accept that we are different people living in different conditions. If we base our relationship on mutual respect for those differences, the dynamic will change completely.”

He added that the Kingdom must also be rooted in respect and equality. “We are not moving in that direction today, and that has made the relationship difficult. But if we adjust our mindset, we can make real progress.”

Mercelina then drew a distinction between being a stakeholder and a co-owner in the Kingdom. “St. Maarten has always been a stakeholder, but I want to be a co-owner. Having only a Dutch passport makes us stakeholders. Ownership means assuming responsibility because it is yours. We have never had that opportunity,” he said.

He illustrated his vision with examples. One was the education system. “The Netherlands has about eight national universities with multiple faculties. Why not establish some of those faculties in St. Maarten, Aruba, and Curaçao? That would benefit the entire Kingdom, not just the islands. A young person from the Netherlands could start a degree here, and a Sint Maartener could begin in Groningen. Both would wake up and say, ‘I am part of this Kingdom.’”

Another example was the military base on the island. “We talk about young people who lack discipline, who are unemployed. Why not make the naval base an educational center for the Kingdom? These young people would have jobs, uniforms, flags representing both Sint Maarten and the Kingdom, and a career. They would earn discipline and stability. That is co-ownership, not stakeholdership.”

Mercelina also proposed a new political dialogue platform within the Kingdom. “We must stop meeting only during conflicts. There should be a permanent platform where partners sit together to shape the future of the Kingdom through ongoing dialogue, not confrontation.”

He said that any new structure should ensure that justice, education, and healthcare reach Kingdom-wide standards. “The King should be able to look at his Kingdom and say that healthcare, education, and justice are of a high standard in every part of it. That is equality,” he said. “If we can achieve that level of cooperation, Sint Maarten has a brilliant future.”

Asked about the next steps, Mercelina said the process will take time and requires a change in mindset. “It must start with the people and be supported by Parliament,” he said. “I will initiate the direction toward this evolution, but it must be carried collectively.”

The Prime Minister clarified that his proposal is not tied to the other Dutch Caribbean islands. “I am the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten. My responsibility is to the people of Sint Maarten. While I respect our shared history with Aruba and Curaçao, Sint Maarten chose autonomy in 10/10/10. That means we must now take responsibility for our own course.”

He added that his goal is not to make a sudden structural change but to begin small, practical steps to align national vision and policy with his broader idea of co-ownership within the Kingdom. “Given the realities we face, independence is not a viable path to improving the lives of our people. My responsibility is to find the best possible arrangement within the circumstances we live in. I believe this is the way forward.”

The Prime Minister also emphasized that St. Maarten’s progress depends on building alliances. “Even the largest countries form alliances. The United States builds alliances in Western Europe, Russia seeks alignment with China. If they need partnerships, how can small countries like ours think we can do it alone? We must move away from that illusion and start forming alliances,” he said.

‍