SINT MAARTEN — Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams says the Kingdom must repair the damage caused by its abstention in a recent United Nations vote on slavery.
The resolution declared the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, but the Kingdom’s decision to abstain has raised concern.
Wescot-Williams says the explanation from the Kingdom Minister of Foreign Affairs is not enough, arguing that a promise to do better in the future does not undo the political and moral impact of the vote.
She says the abstention sends the wrong message to Caribbean people, especially those whose ancestors endured slavery and whose societies still live with its lasting consequences.
The MP has submitted parliamentary questions to Prime Minister Luc Mercelina, seeking clarity on whether Sint Maarten was consulted before the vote and whether the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom were properly represented.
She says statements of regret and reconciliation must be matched by clear action, warning that the vote could weaken future discussions on reparations and acknowledgment.