~ Says he won't refuse government if asked ~
By Michael R. Granger
GRAND CASE--French Catholic Priest Cornelius Charles says he will not argue or fight with anyone, but will challenge any person who disputes the original handwritten music and lyrics to Father Gerard Kemps' "Oh Sweet St. Maarten Land" that he owns and which Father Kemp, as a friend, gave to him.
Charles, a very popular priest who suffered a stroke about three years ago, but is still of sound mind and in good health, says that he has been hearing the debate about the St. Maarten Song and the questions about copyrights. He said he could not speak about why government would say the song was definitely copy-written by Father Kemps, only that the late priest was a good friend, who left something cherished in his possession.
"He was my partner, so to speak. We got close after I had arrived in St. Martin in 1986 to take care of Marigot, French Quarter and Grand Case. The original mission was to build back the church that had burnt down in Grand Case. We got close and remained so, even in his later years when Alzheimer's was setting in," Father Charles said.
"Despite all the talk, I am sure that nobody can produce what I have. He gave me his old Volkswagen, in which I drove around, and the original handwritten music to that song (the St. Maarten song). I don't have to blow my own trumpet, I didn't steal anything, and I don't have to bluff. I know what that song means to every St. Maartener (Dutch and French), what it means to me and what St. Maarten meant to him. Nobody might want to hear me and I won't fight anybody, but I can challenge anyone to get this anywhere," Father Charles said.
Father Charles said if the government wants to adopt the St. Maarten Song as the national anthem, as stipulated in the constitution of Dutch St. Maarten, he could never refuse. The only request he would have is that they do not completely change the song.
"This hymn, no matter what anyone says, connects Dutch and French St. Maarten, whether you disliked the man (Father Kemps) or liked him. When you hear it, everybody swings and sways. Everybody says unity: one island, one destiny. Why can't we give the world a lesson from that? We can show that over there they speak Dutch, over here French, but we are one. And the song also represents that," Father Charles said.
Father Charles' comments add another dimension to the emotional issue after the announcement of government's intention to form a committee to oversee a competition to select a national anthem for St. Maarten. Minister of Culture Rhoda Arrindell explained earlier in the week that government, via archived documents, knows for a fact that the song was copyrighted.
However, archives documents only have copies of the lyrics of the song with the word "copyright" indicated. There are no legal supporting documents, with signatures validating intellectual property. The Minister also stated that when Father Kemps passed away, it was understood that the Catholic Church would de facto become the owner of the song.
But checks with the Catholic Diocese and parishes on Friday did not yield any documentation indicating that the church owns the song. Dutch Parish Priest Father Bob said a check would have to be done, but stressed that intellectual property laws in those days were less than adequate. He also said that government has not approached the Catholic parish locally and if government chooses to do so, an official letter would have to be sent to Bishop Secco of the Catholic Diocese in Cura�ao.
The Daily Herald has submitted inquiries to the Intellectual Property Departments in Cura�ao and France regarding the song with no results thus far. Also interesting to note is that in 2004 the then Executive Council managed to track down the siblings of Father Kemps to enquire about the usage of the song. The siblings reportedly had no issue with the government of St. Maarten using the song, with certain conditions. Documentation with those conditions was not readily available on Friday.
In the meantime, the public has increased vocal opposition to a competition for an anthem, using call-in radio programmes to literally sing the song and initiating several online petitions. Member of Parliament Romain LaVille initiated a poll on his Facebook page to gauge the feelings of the public and thus far poll results show overwhelming sentiments towards "no competition" for an anthem, and to adopt the St. Maarten song as the national anthem.
The official government Website (www.sintmaartengov.org) has a dedicated section for the St. Maarten Song with a short description of Father Kemp's legacy. It reads:
"Many years ago, Father Gerard Kemps, after being appointed as priest for the Catholic Church of French St. Martin in 1954, felt compelled to compose lyrics and a melody to sing of the sweetness, the grace and the incomparable beauty of the land that was unfolding before his eyes. In 1958 Father Kemps created 'O Sweet Saint Martin's Land.' Because of the message the lyrics conveyed and the melody that carried the tune, it served the purpose of a national song. In 1984, on the occasion of the Queen's Birthday, Father Kemps was knighted Ridder in de Orde van Oranje van Nassau. Although there are some now on St. Martin who are unaware of Father Kemps, his legacy lives on in the St. Martin's Song."
Rugby union Simon Barker Insects Buenos Aires Liza Minnelli Protest
No comments:
Post a Comment