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Antilliaans Dagblad Dinsdag 16 januari 2018 13
Sint Maarten

hield vrijdagavond een ‘We Shall Overcome’ and implementation of concrete
Gouverneur Eugene
Holiday van Sint Maarten
national programs to realize our
broader societal objectives.
Reflecting on the last few
nieuwjaarsreceptie in months I trust that we will learn
Captain Hodge Warf in from our good and not so good
Philipsburg. Zijn rede experiences; and that we will
stond voor het grootste continue to build and improve
deel in het teken van on the progress we have made
orkaan Irma begin sep- thus far. In doing so it will be
imperative that we apply ‘best
tember 2017, wat deze practices’ in the governance of
teweegbracht en de our recovery through an innova-
nasleep ervan, die waar- tive national social economic
schijnlijk nog lange tijd program. A program - grounded
in effective fiscal, responsible
zal duren. Het Antilliaans business, balanced social, and
Dagblad publiceert, zoveel sustainable environmental
mogelijk, integraal zijn policies - all aimed at rebuilding
toespraak. our economic base and resto-
ring Sint Maarten’s position as
a premier tourist destination
Door Eugene B. Holiday and regional commercial cen-
onight, we gather at a ter. To achieve that our policies
pivotal moment in our must support a number of
T nation’s history. At one of national priorities. In that re-
the most difficult periods in the gard I wish to, among others,
lives of our people. Hurricane emphasize:
Irma and her aftermath have set a. that we must stand hand in
our country back in no small De toespraak van Eugene Holiday (links) stond voor het grootste deel in het teken van orkaan Irma. hand to rebuild our airport and
way. In doing so it left you and Deze foto werd genomen tijdens het bezoek van koning Willem-Alexander. FOTO DEFENSIE primary gateway to recovery;
I, all of us, with a most daun- b. that we must stand hand in
ting and urgent challenge; the such as, the members of the plan to meet this challenge? reach out to each other to work hand to secure the reinvest-
challenge to rebuild many years disaster management team and The answer will vary from with each other. For unity ladies ments needed for the reopening
of development. As such we their support staff, medical person to person, from family and gentlemen is the key to and upgrading of our hotel
stand at the start of 2018, ha- professionals, law enforcement to family and from organization tapping into the promise that properties, large and small;
ving lived through the strongest officers, firefighters, technici- to organization. There will be we shall overcome. c. that we must stand hand in
hurricane on record looking for ans, volunteers of NGOs, busin- differences in views and approa- Guided by our common hand to restore, renew and
answers. As we face that chal- ess-owners and their employ- ches between and within the purpose let us as a people of St. revitalize Philipsburg, our natio-
lenge I encourage you to tap ees, and military and police public and private sectors. The- Maarten rally to convert our n’s capital and commercial
into the immense power and officers from our Kingdom re will be those who believe that shared challenges into shared center; and
promise of one of my favorite partners, The Netherlands, their plans or approaches are opportunities. At this pivotal d. that we must walk hand in
gospel songs: ‘We shall overco- Aruba and Curaçao. To all who the only way and there will be period in our history I encoura- hand with and in support of our
me’. I encourage you to do so contributed and continue to do those who believe that there is ge you, as individuals, corpora- brothers on the northern side to
because I am confident that we, so I say thank you for your no role, place or opportunity for tions, public organizations and secure the overall recovery of
like generation of Sint Maarte- invaluable service to the people them. There are those who will government, to stand up for the our shared island.
ners before us, will find ans- of Sint Maarten. on a daily basis continue to give broader societal objectives of To achieve this, we will need
wers in the promise of the Having closed off 2017 we their all-in pursuit of rebuilding our people. Let us therefore: everyone to join in to rebuild
words: we shall overcome. are all aware, however, that we our island, while there are and a. act to create more and better our nation’s infrastructure one
Looking back there can be no face an uphill climb as we move will be those among us who jobs to sustain our people; day at a time. Today, tomorrow
doubt that we have made great ahead. For many of our people have lost confidence and as a b. move to construct stronger, and each day thereafter we
strides in responding to the the traditional merry and happy result are losing hope. more resilient homes and struc- must, and I trust that we will,
devastation caused by Hurrica- Christmas and new year holida- Whatever your answer or tures to protect us from harm; continue to take steps to secure
ne Irma to our island. As a ys have been everything but plan, I hereby remind you that and the full recovery of our island.
result, our daily life throughout that. Instead we see our family, we are in this together. Toge- c. invest in cleaning up our As we face this challenge we
the island has in large part been friends and neighbors who have ther with a shared responsibility environment to protect our can do so with the knowledge
restored. And each day we see been displaced, who live in and a common purpose: the health and viability as a nation. and resolve that we have been
signs of improvement and pro- damaged homes, and/or who rebuilding of Sint Maarten. To do this we must stand down difficult paths before and
mise. This thanks to the hard have lost or face losing their This ladies and gentlemen together in mutual respect we overcame. I therefore believe
work and dedication of many jobs. This while the cost of dictates that we need each other honoring each other’s rights in the promise that: ‘We shall
persons and organizations so- living has increased. Meanwhile now more than ever to chart our and sustaining each other in overcome’ stronger together
me present and represented many businesses as well as path and pursue our shared our individual and collective again. This by walking hand in
here tonight. Persons who, government have seen their aspirations. Let us therefore, obligations. We must conduct hand at home and by constructi-
having suffered damage to their revenues and liquidity dwindle. anchored in our common pur- social and political discourse ve cooperation with Kingdom
property themselves, came out Recovering the lost ground, pose to rebuild Sint Maarten, with civility, with decorum and and international partners. And
and continue to come out under ladies and gentlemen, is there- resolve to not breakdown but to with respect for the rule of law. for that I am, as always, coun-
difficult circumstances to make fore an urgent matter. The build each other and thus build For that will foster the harmony ting on my trust in the bound-
progress possible. Persons, question therefore is how do we our country up. And in so doing necessary for the development less strength and resilience of
‘We the People of Sint Maar-
ten’.
In closing, as the New Year
2018 begins, let us thank God
for bringing us thus far and ask
him for his continued guidance.
And at the same time let us
individually and collectively
recommit to do our part to
realize our common purpose
and rebuild Sint Maarten. This
is your duty, my duty, our sha-
red obligation. In my role as
your Governor I hereby reaf-
firm my pledge to continue to
work with government and
other stakeholders to serve the
De gouverneur noemde het een gemeenschappelijke verantwoordelijkheid en gemeenschappelijk doel om Sint Maarten weder op te bou- people of St. Maarten, so that
wen. FOTO’S BEA MOEDT we will overcome.