A debate titled “The Voices of One Island” was held on December 6 as part of an international conference dedicated to Saint Martin, a territory colonialized by France and the Netherlands. The event was organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) and moderated by Fabian Badejo, Former Advisor to the Minister of Education of Saint Martin.

During his address, Fabian Badejo highlighted the challenges in education, healthcare, and social development on Saint Martin Island, emphasizing the importance of achieving economic independence and fostering a cohesive community.

Other speakers included Rhoda Arrindell, President of One St. Martin Association; Franklin Meyers, MP; Christopher Emanuel, Leader of Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) Political Party; Pamela Carty, Former minister of Health, Labor, and Social Affairs and Julienne Denis, activist.

The speakers stressed the importance of strong unity and ongoing struggle for Saint Martin to move towards an independent future, along with the challenges, and the significance of developing new strategic approaches in this direction.