PM, Wescot-Williams
congratulate Obama
PHILIPSBURG--Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage has congratulated US Senator Barack Obama on behalf of the people of the Netherlands Antilles on his election to the highest function in the United States of America (USA).
Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams also reacted to Obama’s election during Wednesday’s press briefing, congratulating him and saying that the lesson that we can overcome with purpose and passion has been personified in the person of the 44th president-elect of the USA.
“You have been called to serve as a world leader in a time that mankind is faced with important challenges,” wrote the Prime Minister, the Central Government Information Service RVD stated in press release.
De Jongh-Elhage said she was convinced Obama was capable of leading not only his country, but also the international community in a new direction to the benefit of mankind. “The fact that you, during your presidential campaign, were able to inspire millions in your country and the world proves the power of unity you exude,” she said.
She continued: “You have given hope to the world again. By solemnly promising to serve the people, you have become the symbol of true leadership and thus an example for us as colleague leaders to follow. As part of the Dutch Kingdom the Netherlands Antilles is convinced that your presence in the White House will guarantee the good relationship that has existed for many years between our countries.”
She concluded: “May the Almighty bless you in the important function of the 44th president of the USA.”
Wescot-Williams said it had not been the nail-biting ulcer-inducing race some pundits had predicted, but a race that would go down in the annals as one that had changed the political face of the USA forever. Amidst the “daunting tasks” facing Obama, she said she hoped his initial attention and focus would encompass the Caribbean region.
“My congratulations and those of the government of St. Maarten go out to the citizens of the USA. You must be proud of your country and yourselves for this tremendous showing of hope and for grasping the civic duty of voting for your president with such an intensity and focus as displayed on November 4.
“That display of duty has restored confidence in the democratic process and regardless of political affiliation or choice, you have a right to be proud and savour this moment as an American people,” Wescot-Williams said.
“At moments like these we are compelled to pause and reflect on our own development politically and otherwise as citizens of the universe. We compare our small tiny island nation with the much larger and much more developed and advanced, but nevertheless more diverse and multi-cultural nation of the US and realise that our diversity can and should be made to work to our advantage.
“A focal point of the constitutional change we envisaged at the start of the journey eight years ago was the position of St. Maarten in the Caribbean region. Caught up in Kingdom relations we have lost much of that focus along the way, too much.
“The opportunity presents itself again, as this region will undoubtedly seize the opportunity of a new US presidency to strengthen ties and renew allegiances with the USA, and in doing so we must realise that in our unity too there is strength. We, St. Maarten, need to get aboard. The times truly are changing and the prospects are exciting. The challenges are enormous, but the will to overcome is greater.”
