GREAT BAY--His Excellency Governor Ajamu Baly has called on leaders, educational institutions, families and community organizations to pay closer attention to the concerns of young people, warning that their recent actions are sending messages that cannot be ignored.
In his St. Martin Day address on Wednesday, November 11, the Governor placed particular emphasis on the challenges facing the island's youth, stressing that meaningful solutions require more than acknowledging their concerns.
"To do so we need to listen, we need to listen to our people. What are the challenges facing our people, and based on the events of late in particular, our young people. They speak to us not only with their words but to a greater degree in their actions. And, I think you can agree with me, lately their actions have been saying a lot."
The Governor urged those in leadership positions to respond to what young people are communicating by developing practical solutions that address the challenges they face.
"As leaders we need to take what they have been saying to us and turn it into tangible solutions to the challenges our young people are facing."
Baly emphasized that preparing young people for the future requires a combination of academic education and practical life skills.
He identified reading, writing, mathematics and critical thinking as essential foundations, but stressed that young people must also be equipped to manage money, communicate effectively in the workplace, resolve conflicts, solve problems and make responsible decisions.
According to the Governor, schools cannot be expected to carry this responsibility on their own. Families, employers, public institutions and community organizations must also contribute to preparing young people for adulthood.
He further advocated stronger connections between young people and the institutions serving them on both the northern and southern sides of the island.
Beyond youth development, the Governor emphasized that the challenges confronting St. Maarten and Saint Martin cannot be addressed independently of one another.
He pointed to waste management, drainage, development, environmental protection and social challenges as areas in which decisions on one side of the island have consequences for the other.
The Governor stressed that unity must extend beyond celebrations and expressions of goodwill, requiring continued investment, cooperation and a willingness to confront differences.
He acknowledged that authorities on both sides may have different priorities or disagree about the best way forward, but said those differences must be addressed honestly and with patience.
Baly concluded by calling for cooperation that produces measurable benefits for residents, emphasizing that working together must translate into concrete results.
"However, all of this means nothing if we do not ensure that our cooperation is tangible. Because actually working together teaches cooperation in a way that speeches alone cannot."
He expressed hope that the spirit of cooperation would continue beyond the celebrations and lead to practical action that benefits the island and its people.
