PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce has team up with local runner Andi Siegers to herald in Country St. Maarten. The chamber has sponsored Siegers' participation on the annual Chicago Marathon on October 10.Chamber President Glen Carty said when he learnt about the run and the significance of the date, the business association was immediately on board. The marathon of some 45,000 runners is an excellent forum to send the message to the world that St. Maarten is now a country in the Dutch Kingdom.
While in Chicago, Siegers will deliver messages to the Chambers of Commerce there about the status change and inviting the people of the city and state to visit and consider doing business on the "Friendly Island."
Carty said the chamber is always seeking ways to improve the visibility of St. Maarten in the region and the rest of the world, because with proper and positive exposure the island's economy will grow and strengthen in the benefit of its people.
Siegers, the only St. Maartener in the race, is honoured and overwhelmed to have been named the chamber's ambassador. He has been training intensely for the marathon and expects to complete the race in just over three hours.
As for his task of representing his island of birth on such as historic day, Siegers said he couldn't think of a better way to tell the world of the achievement of the people of St. Maarten. "The right to self determination was ours and we took it and I will run with that in my heart."
The local runner, who owns the Little Cigar Factory, will be wearing a shirt printed with the St. Maarten flag and 10-10-10 and the Chamber logo. When he crosses the finish line, it will be like the high point of this island's new status. The end of the marathon will be the beginning of more to come just like the attainment of country is just one hurdle in the run to a better St. Maarten.
Andi Siegers has participated in the Charlevoix Marathon in Michigan in June.
