Cole Bay:--- A large cross section of the community of St. Maarten/St. Martin turned out on Friday to bid farewell to their late friend and activist Elridge Van Putten whose farewell service was held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) in Cole Bay. Among those in attendance were several dignitaries from the Dutch side of the island including Governor Eugene Holiday and his wife first lady Marie Louisa, Acting Governor Reynold Groenveldt, Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin, Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever, President of Parliament Rudolph Samuel, Member of Parliament Louis Laviest, Member of Parliament Roy Marlin, Member of Parliament Ruth Douglas, Member of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson, and Member of Parliament George Pantophlet. Also in attendance was the Ombudsman of St. Maarten Nilda Arduin Lynch, Patsy Philips from the Ombudsman's office, and Mavis Brooks-Solomon from the General Audit Chamber while UD Member Helen Hunt represented the Deputy of French St. Martin Daniel Gibbs.Among the mourners of the late Elridge Van Putten were several of his close friends who were highly emotional throughout the service. Fernando Clark, Miguel Arrindell, Leopold James, Julian Rollocks, Clarence Richardson, Elton Jones, and Valerie Van Putten-Hodge were some of his close friends who paid tribute to the late Eldrige. One thing that stood out in all the tributes that were given by his friends was the late Elridge's stance for justice and his constant appearance in the media to defend the things he believed in especially when he began gathering signatures to get rid of the UP/DP government. Leopold James described the late Eldridge he knew as a student at the Milton Peters College, one who was always smiling but also had what he describe as a mischievous face. James said he admired Elridge's perseverance in what he believed in, this was shown when spoke out against ills that affected St. Maarten and its people even when he stood alone.
Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin also remembered Eldridge as one of his students at the Lionel Connor School in Cole Bay. Minister Marlin said that Elridge would constantly call him or show up at his home when he wanted to discuss the things that were bothering him within the community of St. Maarten/St. Martin. Member of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson shared some of the conversations he had with the late Eldie prior to him leaving for Martinique to undergo a major heart surgery. Member of Parliament George Pantophlet and WICSU union member William Reed along with several others spoke about the relationship they had with the late Van Putten, even when they disagreed with his views on certain things.
The funeral service was carried live on La Voix St. Martin in honor of the contributions the late Elridge Van Putten made to the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin.
The late Elridge Van Putten leaves to mourn his wife, son, and several siblings including his only brother Samuel Van Putten.
Click here to view more photos of the late Elridge Van Putten's funeral.
