Philipsburg:---We are absolutely honored and thrilled that one of St. Maarten’s very own, Mr. Darren James will be delivering the keynote address to the National Alliance Congress, and to particularly the youth, under the theme: “Together, Moving forward”. Darren A. James is the son of the late former Commissioner and Island Councilman, Vance James Jr. and Theresita L. James. Darren graduated with distinction at the St. Maarten Academy where he was the 2nd Runner-Up Valedictorian. He received the Principal’s Award for Outstanding Leadership and was also recognized for his industriousness on the St. Maarten Academy Debating Team for the Annual Constitutional Affairs Interscholastic Youth Debates and his service as the 1st assistant editor of the School Newspaper “The Academy Journal” (a Bi-Monthly Publication). He held the presidency of the St. Maarten Constitutional Youth Club (now Constitutional Cultural Club) between 2004 and 2006, where he joined other students in relaying the message of constitutional change. He was also a member of the Interact Club.
Darren is now is pursuing a double major BA in Communication & Business at the American International College, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA and he is expected to graduate in 2010. As president of the Student Government Association at AIC he presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of a $4.3 million new athletic facility and mobilized AIC students to pledge $50,000.00 for this long awaited project. Darren’s long-range goal is to come back to the island to build his country St. Maarten through the field of Radio Broadcasting which he loves dearly. He has said, “Although my passion is media, I am not ruling out the possibility of a political track. I will go where life leads me.” Just last August he returned home to be the Masters of Ceremony for the St. Maarten Outstanding Youth Award (SMOYA) hosted by the St. Maarten Youth Council Association. That evening he expressed how proud he was to witness the creative talents on display and to listen to the many, unheralded accomplishments of St. Maarten’s youth.
St. Maarten is at a critical juncture in its history. We are acutely sensitive to the rapid pace at which geopolitical changes are taking place in the world. In the midst of a global financial crisis and a planet in peril due to the effects of global warming, we have arduously undertaken to finalize all steps to become a Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands before the end of 2010. On the eve of this new beginning, our people understand that there is a narrow window of opportunity, which we should not miss, but also recognized that we need to prepare our youth to inherit the future.
President of the Congress Committee, Terry J. Peterson, said, “I do believe that Darren James epitomizes the future of the National Alliance Party and he has every right to claim this inheritance. Besides his impressive resume, all of us can still remember the dynamic and touching tribute Darren delivered at his father’s memorial service, so we are more than confident in his ability to instigate crucial guidance to the young generation as we move forward as a community and country. It will be an exciting adventure and exceptional day for all of us, and we are happy that so many enthusiastic supporters and friends have expressed their desire to help us commemorate this special occasion.” The National Alliance Congress will be held at the Dutch Quarter Community Center on Sunday, November, 15, 2009 at 10:30 am to 6:30 pm. NA District Councils still have up until Friday afternoon to submit names to the Congress Committee for election to the Party Board.
From the National Alliance Congress Committee
