"Today it is about telling you how proud we are of you, how expectant we are of to return to your country"
SIMPSON BAY:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined the Minister of Education the Hon. Patricia Laurens, the Governor of St. Maarten His Excellency Drs. Eugene Holiday, Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary Josiane Fleming-Artsen and Director of the Airport Regina Labega in wishing the departing students Bon Voyage at the Princess Juliana Airport on Sunday. The students were given much encouragement and many offered emotional and kind words to the excited crowd.
The Prime Minister stated that she was very proud to see the some seventy students departing and that she wished them all the best in their studies abroad. "Today it is about telling you how proud we are of you that you have made it thus far and how expectant we are of you and trust that you will do an excellent job in your studies in the Netherlands. Every year our students leave us to further their studies in the Netherlands and elsewhere and there are great expectations from your parents, peers, your Government and indeed the whole community for you to return to the island and contribute to the development of your country.
"I would like to thank the Princess Juliana International Airport for hosting this farewell and for wishing all of you a proper Bon Voyage on your journey. You are traveling abroad to develop yourselves but I would like to encourage you to use technology to stay in touch, to ask questions or just to talk if you need some words of encouragement. I wish you a wonderful and exciting time of study and I look forward to the day when you will be returning to St. Maarten with a diploma in your hand.
To the parents I say that I know that is hard to be separating with you. But our parents are with them; stay in touch with you children and let them know that St. Maarten cares for them. I have been witnessing the departure for many many years. I always do it with mixed emotions. I am happy to see our students leaving but I am also aware of the many pitfalls that they are faced. I am a mother and I understand the nervousness that parents have with the students being out there in the Netherlands. It is a good experience but there are many pitfalls. We urge our students to be strong and to use the values that have been given to them and I wish them many luck," concluded the Prime Minister.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister