PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – This is the time we must honor men and boys in our society. We honor the roles our men play in the family structure and the development of our nation. A significant positive contribution is required in relationships with others based on love and equality, as community leaders and as men who are involved in the care and nurture of children, and involved in organizations. There is no doubt that a prosperous future for our country is based on the pillars of a solid family structure in which our men must play a vital role, especially in being an example for their sons and daughters, loving and respectful to their partners and an inspiration to other men.
We are celebrating by reflecting on some objectives for our men, including; promoting strong role models in our society for our children and focusing on men’s health and wellbeing. As we know, being a man does come with its challenges, especially as our expectations and taboos make men’s vulnerability a conflicted challenge within the individual and society. A man who is not afraid to express and process his feelings is a healthy individual.As a community we must encourage room for growth and thereforeembrace the necessary culture change required for such.
One of the six pillars of International Men’s Day is to improve gender relations and promote gender equality for men and women. In this light, our theme for 2021 is “Better relations between men and women.” We know that the only way to bridge the gap between the two is through good values and respect for each other. I congratulate all men who are leaders in the fight for equality.
I invite the community of St. Maarten to celebrate our men and show appreciation for those who epitomize the above characteristics. I also encourage men to strive to be the rock upon which families can lean, mothers and wives can rely on, and the community can revere.
On behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten – Happy International Men’s Day 2021.
