Philipsburg:--Commissioner of Culture Maria Buncamper Molanus announced that a committee has now been put in place to organize this year's St. Maarten Day celebration."On November 11, 2009, St. Maarten will mark the 50th anniversary of the Celebration of St. Martin's Day. The Island Government of St. Maarten is tasked this year with the organizing of the official festivities to mark St. Martin's Day considering the French government was responsible for the task last year." Buncamper Molanus said.
St. Martin's Day is already a significant, national day on the annual calendar of events for the people of St. Maarten. This anniversary year however, it is the intention to celebrate our national day with an impressive program of events on November 11 along with the customary pomp and pageantry. Culture will play a significant role in all festivities and will be the foundation upon which the event will be organized.
To accomplish this, there needs to be a dynamic, dependable group of persons designated in a committee to organize the yet-to-be determined program of events. These persons should also have experience in organizing events of such a local, cultural magnitude. It was also determined that it would also be beneficial to have persons in government service comprise this committee.
Having said that, the Executive Council has identified and approved the following persons to serve on the "St. Martin's Day 2009 Golden Anniversary Organizing Committee":
Fabiana Arnell - Stichting Overheids Gebouwen - Designated to head the Committee
Michael Granger - Office of Commissioner Buncamper
Faye Arnell - Office of Commissioner Buncamper
Lydia Arnell - Directie Ondersteuning
Dorothy Lake - Social & Culture Department
Youmay Dormoy - Philipsburg Cultural & Community Center
Rose Vlaun - Government Protocol
Marsha Beauperthuy - Government Information Service
It should be noted that the aforementioned persons have all organized major events on St. Maarten at one point in time. They bring a collective experience that will serve to benefit the St. Maarten day activities. This entire initiative will be coordinated through the office of the Commissioner of Culture.
The task of the "St. Martin's Day 2009 Golden Anniversary Organizing Committee" is two-fold:
1. To establish a program of celebratory events leading up to and on St. Martin's Day 2009. A tentative program should be ready to present to the Executive Council by March 1, 2009.
2. To be the executing body of this program of events on St. Martin's Day with the cooperation of all relevant entities (to be outlined in detail to the Executive Council).