Philipsburg: --- Students from various primary schools on St. Maarten gathered at the Sports Auditorium on Wednesday morning where they kicked off the St. Maarten Day celebrations. Some 1,700 students from various primary schools dressed in tee shirts that symbolize the flag. There were students with red, some with blue while others wore white tee shirts. Each student was also given a flag to wave as they gathered at the Sports Auditorium.At the Sports Auditorium to participate in the days activities were Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, Minister of Education Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, and Head of Department of Education Gwendolyn Davis-Holiday. The intention of the organizers was to have some students participate in cultural performances prior to marching through the streets of St. Maarten.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams implored and encouraged the students to live up to the St. Maarten's Day theme "Respect" while respecting the colors of the St. Maarten Flag.
Minister of Education and Culture Rhoda Arrindell thanked the organizers for organizing Wednesday's event. Dr. Arrindell also commended the persons who took the initiative to involve the Primary School students in the St. Maarten Day celebrations.
Discouraging for the teachers and organizers on Wednesday was when they had to cancel most of the items on their programme due to a power outage from GEBE.
The students and teachers then marched through Long Wall Road on to Front Street and headed towards the Government Administration Building where they sang a few patriotic songs. On hand to witness the performance at the Administration Building were Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Heyliger, Minister of Education and Culture Rhoda Arrindell, Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto, and Minister of Economic Affairs Franklin Meyers.
Click here to see more photos of the Primary School St. Maarten Day Celebrations.
