PHILIPSBURG – Author, inspiring politician, university student, history enthusiast, President of Parliament award winner of 2015 Ralph Cantave recently presented his new book entitled: “Words of change: Voices from Soualigan Soil,” which was dedicated to the people of St. Maarten to the Director and her staff at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library to circulate to the public.
It was Cantave’s great pleasure to donate these two copies of his books to the library on Friday, November 4. Cantave stated that he spent most of his time at the library doing research from the various books that are mentioned in his book, such as: “The friendly anger” by Joseph H. Lake Jr.; “1963: A landmark year in St. Martin” by Daniella Jeffry; “Beyond the tourist trap: a study of St. Maarten Culture” by Sypkens Smit, Menno; “Claude A portrait of power” by Fabian Badejo; and “Language, Culture and Identity in St. Martin” by Rhoda Arrindell, among others.
In his book, Cantave, who is a youth advocate, left his message of empowerment to the youth asking them to realize their hidden talents and develop them, be responsible, intelligent, become avid readers and educate them self.
To the adults, he said they had to know their history, embrace their own culture, preserve natural resources, “know your identity as a people, and know where you come from and to know where you are going with your county St. Maarten.”
These books were gratefully received and are available to the public at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library.
