Philipsburg-Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams and Governor Franklin Richards were presented with a copy of the newly English translated Traffic Booklet for 5th graders.
The book was presented by Mr. Mathias Voges, President of the Catholic School Board, who coordinated the effort, seeing the need for such-there were no English language traffic books for students.
"For years now there existed only a Dutch version of the traffic books, which were printed in Curacao and used in the 5th grade of the elementary school in the Windward Islands," Voges said.
The traffic book translation, which started in 1993 by Lillian Voges, has been completed with the assistance of Grace Maccow. The Foundation for Traffic Safety has been instrumental in bringing about this booklet as well, Voges pointed out.
"Finally, we can offer our elementary schools a traffic book in the English Language. We have also adapted the book to the local situation, talking about our own Princess Juliana Airport and the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility,"
For their contributions, Voges said, I wish to thank the Windward Islands Bank and Print 2000 for their good corporate citizenship in publishing this book.
Each 5th grade of the English Schools in St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius, will receive 30 English Language Traffic Books free of charge.
The Book, entitled, Safety on the Road, is 64 pages and consists of the rules and regulations of traffic ordinances. The book explains what is traffic, rules of traffic, traffic by air, water, and land; language of the road, traffic signs, right of way, safety, traffic and the environment, traffic and tourism. After each chapter, there are questions and assignments for the students to debate and answer.
The traffic exam has been given to 5 grade students for over 50 years now. The date of the exam is June 2 of every year. Students will start right away using the book to study for the up-coming traffic exam.
For more information, please contact the Foundation for Traffic Safety.