PHILIPSBURG – The scene is set for today’s visit of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima to St. Maarten. The St. Maarten flags are up on the light poles, the pupils of various primary schools have rehearsed their parts, the stage and tent draped in red, white and blue bunting on Clem Labega Square are ready.
The royals are set to arrive at Princess Juliana International Airport from Curaçao at 10:30am. Several brief road closures will occur throughout the day to accommodate the royals’ smooth transition.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams urged residents during the Council of Ministers press conference on Wednesday to be part of festivities organised for the royal visitors. “I encourage all St. Maarteners to come out and welcome the royal visitors.”
Residents were encouraged by Wescot-Williams to “use all creativity possible to show love for country” today and continuing until St. Maarten Day on November 11. “Get your flags, and if you don’t have a flag wear your colours [of the flag]; start from now.”
As the prime minister issued her words of encouragement to the public, preparations for the royal visit were going on feverishly in and outside of the administration building, with painters and carpenters putting the last-minute touches and new furniture being placed. Outside, the square was being prepared with last-minute cleaning and touches.
Wescot-Williams said it “promises to be an exciting day. It will be a short, but quite packed day. We are happy to have them … and give them a glimpse of several areas.”
The royal visit will focus on education, health and environment. In keeping with those topics, the royals will visit the new Mental Health Facilities in Cay Hill at 3:10pm, see presentations by the various environmental organisations in Emilio Wilson Cultural and Historical Park at 3:45pm and visit Sundial School where the culinary arts division will make a presentation at 4:40pm.
The day’s activities will culminate with a cultural manifestation, themed “Embracing St. Maarten’s Traditions,” on Clem Labega Square hosted by Prime Minister Wescot-Williams. Members of Parliament will be able to meet the royal party. The events on the square will be carried live via the Internet on Parliament’s Website www.sxmparliament.org .
Private meetings with Governor Eugene Holiday and Wescot-Williams are scheduled during the day. The queen, prince and princess also will meet with the Council of Ministers.
The royal visitors will visit St. Eustatius on Friday, November 4, and Saba on Saturday, November 5. On returning to St. Maarten on Saturday, a “state dinner” for invited guests will be hosted by Governor Holiday at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa.
Roads to be affected by brief closures for the royal party, specifically between 10:30am to 8:00pm, are Simpson Bay Road, Billy Folly Road, Welfare Road, Cay Bay Road, Kruythoff Roundabout, Alexis Arnell Road, Cole Bay Hill Roundabout, Sucker Garden Road, Arch Road, Bishop Hill Road, Churchill Roundabout (Le Grand Marché), the Prins Bernhard Bridge junction, W.J.A Nisbeth Road, Long Wall Road, A.Th. Illidge Road and Avenue du Lagon.
Government has shelled out some NAf. 300,000 for the royal visit, drastically reduced from the original estimate of twice that amount some three months ago. However, that cost doesn’t include the sprucing up of the Government Administration Building to the tune of some NAf. 150,000. Some labour for the building upgrade is provided by prisoners of the Pointe Blanche House of Detention.
(Source http://news.caribseek.com/Sint_Maarten/The_Daily_Herald/article_104979.shtml)
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