St. Martin Has It — Let's Invest in It

Athletes. Artists. Academics. Entrepreneurs. You name it. St. Martin has it. You probably went to school with a few. You're probably one of them.

But why has it always been a struggle for them to break through? That is a narrative we have to change. We can't change the course of history, but we can chart our destiny. That destiny is one where St. Martin people thrive right in their country because of our collective resolve to support and invest in ourselves. To make the sacrifices for our children (including those who don't belong to you) to have opportunities we were denied or unaware of.

It means mentorship, structural support, and building capacity to withstand and push through obstacles that seem greater than ever. Because as Nelson Mandela once said, "It always seems impossible until it's done."

I remember back in 2016, while speaking as a youth representative of St. Maarten at a conference, I introduced myself as, "I'm such and such from the small island of St. Martin."

During the networking phase of the event, an older gentleman came to me and said, "Don't you ever introduce yourself like that again. Don't you know Britain is also a small island, and they colonized a large portion of the world?"

Imagine how confident I was to boast of how small a place I come from — that it's so small the university population can fill the island. But what matters is what we can achieve beyond our sandy shores that adds to the beauty of our home.

I want to encourage us to remain hopeful and to be the change we wish to see in our nation. You are not too small to make a difference.

As the island is currently on a high thanks to Nahjah Wyatte bringing the gold medal home from CARIFTA, let us remember that it's a result of community support. And with continued, structured investment into sports, the arts, academics, innovation, and the talents of our children, we can touch the shores of many nations and excel because we are a blessed people.

Congratulations, St. Martin. Let's take a longer look and focus on the good.

- Author & Speaker - Ralph Cantave

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