Marigot: --- A group of concern St. Martiners has decided to come together and form a committee and planned one week of activities to celebrate the inauguration and the birth day of Martin Luther King.Businessman Paul Whit told members of the media yesterday at a press conference said that the idea of celebrating the inauguration of President Elect Obama. He said while there maybe many questions as to why Obama since this is indeed is making of history. He said the President of the COM has given his full support for the week long activities by allowing them to use the stage on the waterfront as well as granting the necessary permits for the events.
Alex Sujah Reiph coordinator of the debate which will be held on Saturday at the Chamber of Commerce building in Concordia beginning from 7:30pm to 9:30pm said the event will be live on both radio and television and members of the public can participate by sending in their questions by email or on the spot. Emails can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
He said he have been involved in celebrating history over the years and he felt it is necessary for them to celebrate two great men of history which is Martin Luther King and the first ever black president of the United States of America Barrack Obama. During the debate ever sector of the community will be represented such as the education, economy, youths, women and the clergy who has a very important role to play in society. He said the theme for the event is St. Martin we can too, which is using some of Obama's words to relate to the island and its development being at the crossroads. He said their message is ‘we can too" and they are moving forward in a positive direction. Reiph said they intend to deal with all the issues facing every sector of the people of St. Martin. He urged the general public to come out and give their support.
Also on the schedule are a number of radio and television shows on both sides of the island, said committee member Mellissa Fleming. She said a motorcade will also be held on January 22 starting from Caribbean Auto Sales in Cole Bay. This motorcade is begin at 6:30pm and would conclude at the Waterfront where they would prepare for the inauguration. On November 24 the week long activities will conclude at the Waterfront. Fleming said they are expecting the entire population to come out and witness a historical movement since this would be for the betterment of St. Martin.
Fleming said the committee St. Martin Awareness Committee would be advocating change. The intention is to involve everyone and they are looking to use the Obama and Martin Luther King Momentum to bring about a real change to St. Martin. She said the intention is to see how the people advocate change and become part of that change by advocating that change while building them in a unified manner.
While Emile Powel said the churches on St. Martin/ St. Maarten would be participating. He said the Obama event will be used as a springboard in getting people to focus on the contributions they need to make locally. He said on January 24, the elected officials will be participating, which would not be about talks. Instead he feels the community the has the responsibility of moving the island forward by involving the roles of the family, churches and the young people who has a contribution to make to the island. He said he feels it is important for them to send a practical message. Asked how they intend to get the church to move away from their traditional standpoint and have them play a more active role to eliminate some of the societal ills of this community. Powel said he feels someone has to carry the torch since there would be people who would not catch the vision of the committee. He said he do believe the church has a fundamental role to play locally. Powel said for that to happen someone has to be messenger who would take the message for them to hear it. Once that is done he does feel the churches would join forces when they see the fruits of their labor.