SINT MAARTEN — Sint Maarten Institute for Public Policy Studies (SIPPS) announces the successful hosting of its public dialogue on “Commemoration and raising awareness of Dutch-colonial enslavement past on Sint Maarten, its effects, legacy, and continuing impact on the present”. (August 12, 2026, at the PMIA hall, Backstreet, Philipsburg) The dialogue brought together a full house of engaged participants, including the Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, and an online streaming audience of over 1,500 viewers.
Participants emphasized that the harms of Dutch colonial enslavement are not only confined to the past but remain embedded in present-day social, economic, and political inequalities and religious beliefs. The highlight of the evening was the presentations by secondary-school students from the Sint Maarten Academy, Learning Unlimited Preparatory School, MAC Comprehensive Secondary Education, Milton Peters College – HAVO/ VWO, and Sint Maarten Youth Council Association on their perspectives on the Dutch-colonial slavery past on Sint Maarten, contending that little is being done to raise awareness of this “chattel” colonial enslavement and to preserve this heritage history for future generations. Historian and cultural anthropologist, Ms. Beverly Richardson, a resident of Saint Martin, also gave a presentation on Saint Martin’s colonial enslavement experiences.
SIPPS president, Dr. Julio R. Romney, noted that Dutch colonial enslavement produced three (3) interlocking harms on the society of Sint Maarten:
1) A fractured social structure/ cultural dilution and fragmented personal identity
2) An unequal economic structure marked by structural poverty
3) A distorted political development shaped by colonial governance/ political dominance
Dr. Romney further reiterated that these harms continue to influence Sint Maarteners’ identity, economic upward mobility, and governance culture.
On August 27th, 7:00 pm, at the Belair Community Center, SIPPS will conclude this commemoration and awareness campaign by recognizing and awarding the secondary school students for their engaging contribution with position papers that facilitated the awareness dialogue. Reflecting on the dialogue, SIPPS will also provide a structured conceptual framework or tenable pathway to reparatory justice (for the Dutch colonial enslavement inflicted on the people of Sint Maarten) – grounded in self-reliance. In addition, there will be slave emancipation enactments and dance. All are welcome and are expected to be there.
