‘We must intervene before the funeral,’ Rawlins warns in Constitution Day speech | The Daily Herald

PHILIPSBURG--With young people increasingly caught in cycles of violence, Archdeacon Terrence Rawlins has challenged St. Maarten to stop waiting until after another death to ask what went wrong.
 He said families, schools, churches, community leaders and government must act before more lives are lost. “We must intervene before the funeral,” Rawlins said, urging everyone to take responsibility for guiding young people and creating an environment in which positive choices are encouraged and supported.
 He delivered the message during the Constitution Day service at Saints Simon and Jude Anglican Church on Backstreet on Monday, October 12, 2026. The service was held under the theme “A Country of Laws: A People of Peace and Prosperity.”
 Marking the 16th anniversary of Constitution Day, Rawlins said the occasion should be more than a celebration of the country’s constitutional foundation. It should also prompt residents to reflect on the kind of country they are building, the people they are becoming and the values they are passing on to the next generation.  He said a constitution must represent more than a written document and should instead reflect the principles by which a society chooses to live.
 “If we are serious about the future of St. Maarten then law, peace and prosperity must be more than words,” he said.
 Rawlins said respect for the law, discipline and one another was essential to building a prosperous society. He pointed to disrespect towards police officers and teachers, reckless behaviour by motorists who disregard traffic laws, and the use of violence to settle disagreements as examples of conduct that undermines those values.
 He also referred to a violent incident at a local establishment less than 24 hours before Constitution Day, and said the island could no longer ignore the seriousness of the problem while continuing to speak about peace and prosperity.
 The archdeacon expressed concern about what he described as an alarming rise in violent crime, saying the community must not become so accustomed to violence that it no longer feels disturbed by it.
 He said that the situation also threatens St. Maarten’s longstanding reputation as the Friendly Island, a name associated with warmth, hospitality, community and welcome.
“When violence becomes increasingly common, when we settle disagreements with weapons, we must ask ourselves, are we still living up to that name,” Rawlins asked.
 He said residents who become afraid to walk certain streets or gather in particular places are experiencing a threat to something precious about the island’s identity.
 Rawlins stressed that government policies and police patrols alone could not restore the community’s moral and social foundations. He called for a wider spiritual, moral and communal awakening, arguing that the responsibility for creating a safer society belongs to everyone.
 He urged residents to examine their own behaviour rather than simply point fingers at others adding that people cannot condemn violence in the streets while practising it through their words, attitudes, social media posts and treatment of one another.
 The archdeacon also challenged adults to consider the example they set for children, questioning how young people could be expected to embrace values that adults themselves refused to practise.
 He called on parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, coaches, religious leaders and community leaders to take a more active role in guiding young people and providing them with meaningful opportunities (see related stories).
 According to Rawlins, young people need opportunities to participate in sports and the arts, as well as adults who recognise their potential, encourage them and help them find a positive sense of belonging. He said when responsible adults fail to provide young people with constructive opportunities and guidance, other influences will step in.
Rawlins also directed a firm message to those entrusted with public office, saying leadership must be demonstrated through personal conduct and responsibility. He urged public officials to set the tone they expect the public to follow and to help young people find a better path rather than merely complain about their direction.
 He called for renewed respect for the law, explaining that laws are not optional and that a society cannot function properly when people believe they can disregard them without consequences.
 The archdeacon said the law serves to protect society and preserve the rights and welfare of its people. Respecting it, he argued, is a shared social responsibility owed to God, fellow citizens and future generations.
 Rawlins also urged residents to recognise that disagreements do not have to lead to hostility and that people can debate issues without becoming enemies. He warned that continued division and fear would undermine the island’s prospects for prosperity.
 He called on the community to reject revenge and violence and instead commit to truth, justice, education, discipline, prayer and love. “Our country is worth fighting for not fighting one another but fighting for one another fighting for the spirit and soul of St. Maarten,” he said.
 Rawlins called for national rededication, urging residents to work towards a society in which hatred gives way to reconciliation, division gives way to unity, and violence no longer defines the island’s public image.
 He said Constitution Day should serve as a reminder that building a country of laws and a people of peace and prosperity is not the responsibility of government alone, but a duty shared by everyone who calls St. Maarten home.