Association President: Citizens of Saint Martin will continue their struggle

Despite pressure from French and Dutch authorities, citizens of Saint Martin will continue their struggle, Roda Rebecca Arrindell, President of the Saint Martin Association, said during a press conference in response to Report's question.

According to her, even before the Baku Initiative Group conference, authorities were pursuing a policy of oppressing local population seeking independence.

The association president emphasized that if the French government acts aggressively towards activists and independence supporters, the island's youth will respond.

"Dutch special services regularly conduct meaningless inspections and use intimidation tactics. We don't think they will stop doing this after 400 years of such behavior," she said, emphasizing that the organization is ready to continue its struggle to the end, despite obstacles from authorities.

In turn, activist Averdine Antoinette Stephen added that although French legislation includes the right to freedom of speech and protest expression, authorities still ignore their own laws.

"Laws don't prevent French authorities from circumventing them to punish us for protests," she said.

The activist added that the organization will continue its struggle for independence despite obstacles from the metropolitan powers.