SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – On Monday, October 12, 2026, the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT) Hon. Grisha Heyliger Marten released her Constitution Day 2026 message.
As the 16th anniversary of “10-10-10” is officially being celebrated today, October 11th, I have spent the weekend reflecting on my journey as a citizen of Saint Martin, a Member of Parliament, a Minister, and someone who has experienced both the private sector and the inner workings of government.
Let me make one point clear. I did not vote for the current status of St. Martin in the referendum held approximately twenty-six years ago. I voted for independence.
And as we look at our sister islands like St. Kitts and Nevis, I believe that we should ask ourselves serious questions after sixteen years in our current status:
1.What have we truly achieved as a people in terms of creating our own future based on our own needs, capabilities, and desires?
2.What exactly are we celebrating?
3.What are our next steps as a people and nation in an ever changing and advancing world facing many challenges?
I have now served this nation for six of its sixteen years of being autonomous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I have experienced government from different positions, and what I have witnessed has led me to question whether the system that was created is truly working in the best interest of Sint Maarten.
Before 10-10-10, Sint Maarten operated within the Netherlands Antilles under a different governing arrangement. All islands had monistic systems with a legislative branch, the Island Council, and an executive branch, the Executive Council. This meant that elected representatives could also service in the Executive Branch, as is the case in the rest of the English-speaking Caribbean.
One of the demands of the Dutch Government at the time was that all the islands switch to the so-called dualistic system on 10-10-10 in order to “improve democracy”. Dualism meant that elected representatives would have to chose between serving in the legislative or executive branch.
Despite repeated warnings that this switch would not improve the functioning of Government, and would instead lead to political instability, the dualistic system was forced trough. Former Saba Commissioner Will Johnson is on the record having consistently brought this point forward to the Dutch negotiators at the time, to no avail. And the effects are clear 16 years later: whereas almost all Governments on the islands lasted for a full term prior to 10-10-10, most islands saw frequent government changes since that date.
The switch to dualism also caused additional cost associated with building and maintaining a machinery of government which is not proportionate to St. Martin’s size and needs.
Our present system carries substantial administrative responsibilities, political offices, and associated public expenditure. These costs must be re-examined alongside the resources available to us and the results delivered to our people.
We cannot assume that a larger, more complex administrative structure automatically produces better governance. Nor should we assume that the former Netherlands Antilles arrangement was perfect. What we must do is compare both systems honestly, examining their costs, efficiency, accountability, and ability to deliver.
The question is not whether we should return to the past. The question is whether we have learned enough from it to build a better future for our people.
Sixteen years into our current status, it safe to conclude that the switch to dualism is the main cause of the many changes in government and that our political system is more hindering than helping our progress.
I have not raised these concerns starting today. During my time in Parliament, I actively worked to address them.
As Chairlady of Parliament's electoral reform committee, I worked to advance reforms addressing our electoral system, political parties, parliamentary membership, and the screening of ministers. I believed then, as I do today, that electoral reform must go beyond addressing so-called ship-jumping. It must confront the structural weaknesses contributing to political instability and examine whether our system of government is fit for a nation of our size.
I also advocated for a serious examination of our constitutional future, especially in a regional context. In November 2020, together with MP Solange Duncan, I helped establish the Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Decolonisation. I supported placing the unfinished process of decolonisation firmly on Parliament's agenda and pursuing a meaningful discussion about self-determination and our constitutional relationship within the Kingdom.
These were not initiatives without purpose. They were efforts to address fundamental questions about who we are as a nation, how we govern ourselves, and how we can build a more stable and effective system for future generations.
Yet, despite these efforts, electoral reform lost momentum. My tenure as chair of the electoral reform committee was not renewed, and the work stagnated. The constitutional and decolonisation questions we placed on the agenda also require sustained political commitment, rather than being allowed to fade when priorities change.
The work has been started. The groundwork has been laid. What is needed now is the political will to continue and finish it once and for all.
I therefore call on the current Members of Parliament to revisit these initiatives, resume the work on electoral reform, and give serious attention to our constitutional and governmental structure, including holding a constitutional referendum. Let us examine the costs of political instability, the consequences of frequent government changes, and whether our current system is delivering the continuity, accountability, and efficiency our people deserve.
If we are serious about the future of our nation and being more integrated in the region, we cannot allow the work that has already begun to be lost. We need to build on it, complete it, and give the next generation a system of government that works better for them than the one we have today.
What is the value of having our own government if we cannot independently evaluate whether the decisions we make, the systems we maintain, and the resources we spend are improving the lives of the people we represent? We should be able to take full responsibility for examining what we can influence, addressing inefficiencies, protecting consumers, and pursuing practical solutions with urgency.
When people are struggling to pay for electricity, food, fuel, and other essentials, discussions about autonomy cannot remain abstract. People want to know whether the institutions we have established can improve their lives.
Perhaps the most important lesson of these sixteen years is that autonomy, by itself, is not the destination. It is a responsibility. It requires maturity, stable institutions, effective leadership, accountability, and the willingness to reform systems that are not delivering the results our people deserve and need.
For the first time since we attained our new status, I have made a personal decision not to attend the celebrations. This was not an easy decision, nor was it one I made lightly. It comes from a place of reflection, concern, and a genuine desire and commitment to see our nation do better.
My absence is not an expression of disrespect for our nation, our flag, our people, or the sacrifices made by those who worked towards greater self-government.
Neither is it a declaration that everything achieved since 10-10-10 has been without value. We have made progress in several areas, and the resilience of our people, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, remains something to be proud of.
I look forward to the day that we can celebrate 10-10-10 as our sister islands in the region do: with the confidence that our institutions are working efficiently, our public resources are being used wisely, our political system supports continuity, and our people are experiencing the benefits of the nation we have built.
Until then, I believe sixteen years of autonomy should be more than a celebration. It should be a moment for reflection, taking accountability, and a renewed commitment to reform and progress as a nation in the best interest of the people of Saint Martin.
Minister of TEATT Hon. Grisha Heyliger Marten
