~ Called a 'superb evening' by queen ~
CLEM LABEGA SQUARE--The multi-talented performers of Thursday's cultural manifestation themed, "Embracing St. Maarten's Traditions" entertained their royal guests with "the best of St. Maarten" in a "superb evening," in the words of Queen Beatrix, in an impromptu speech at the end of the event on Clem Labega Square.
The cultural evening, hosted by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, was put together especially for the one-day visit of Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess M�xima.
The queen was presented with an intricately carved vase with an engraving to commemorate the visit, by Wescot-Williams on behalf of the people. Three locally handmade dolls in traditional Creole dresses were given to the royal couple for their children.
At the end of the festivities, that featured performers from various ethnic backgrounds, the queen made her way to the stage and spoke to the gathering of residents who were clustered on the sides of the square, and invited guests under the large white tent.
She said that during the visit they had seen "totally different aspects" of the country and were "very grateful" for the experience.
The evening featured three segments that combined dance, music and poetry
The first segment, New Voices, saw new life breathed into folk songs of old with dancers for Motiance Dance School, Imbali Centre for Creative Movement and Dance Theatre of St. Maarten, also adding their voices to the mix. Rounding off the segment was a poem "My St. Maarten" by Andrew Peterson.
"Sankfa: Taking from the past to help the future" followed and included the Sweet Salt Chant and the Three-Step Polka to the music of Tanny and the Boys, and a steel pan medley by three generations of Yorks: Patriarch Chester York, son Isidore "Mighty Dow" York and grandson Jabari York.
"Tis vi own ting" brought the evening to a close with energetic performances of the country's national dance: the Ponum and Mr. Jambole, a poem "This is for St. Maarten" by Lucinda La Riche Audain and the St. Maarten Rhumba performed by Isidore York.
The lively rhumba even got the princess singing and the square in a festive mood. When York invited everyone to stand up and "jump" the prince and princess as well as the queen joined in to enjoy the music.
Wescot-Williams said at the start of the event that St. Maarten welcomed the royal guests into its midst to enjoy its culture. She added that throughout the day the meetings and visits would have given them an insight what the country has faced and faces.
The prime minister said the queen and royal family had been with the people of St. Maarten in "our proudest moments" and also when the country had been "reeling from disaster."
"The past year has been a hectic one, but step by step government is taking action to sustainable development of the country," said Wescot-Williams, listing the planned upgrade of the medical centre, the progress in compulsory education, the commissioned alternative energy study to help lower the high cost of electricity, and efforts to reduce the number of undocumented people.
As the just-over-a-year-old country within the Dutch Kingdom, St. Maarten is "getting its feet wet and getting acquainted with our new roles," said the prime minister.
The visit of the queen is "testimony" to the sovereign's interest in the well-being of all citizens of the kingdom, noted the prime minister. She said she hoped the House of Orange would continue to be strong as the future of the kingdom is examined again in the near future.
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