By Teodor Stan
SABA--Sabans underscored Saba's special relationship with the House of Orange when they gave visiting Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess M�xima a very warm and personal reception on Saturday.
Arriving on a regular Winair aircraft, the visiting royals were greeted by Governor Jonathan Johnson and Kingdom Representative Wilbert Stolte. Charvella Wilson and Meliega Hughes presented bouquets of flowers to the queen and princess.
The royal visitors, accompanied by Dutch Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Piet Hein Donner, were greeted next by the official welcoming party comprising Island Council Members Rolando Wilson, Carl Buncamper, Amelia Nicholson, Eviton Heyliger and Ishmael Levenston, Commissioners Bruce Zagers and Chris Johnson, Island Council registrar Els Boers, Island Secretary Menno van der Velde and airport manager Vincent Hassell.
A large crowd welcomed the royals warmly at the airport and outside. Queen Beatrix showed great vigour and grace throughout the day, braving the heat, the media and the crowd of well-wishers vying to see their monarch. At every glimpse her warm smile radiated confidence, acknowledging the affection she commands on "her" island. Dutch flags had been hoisted on poles along the road throughout the island and houses displayed banners greeting the royals.
The first stop was at Saba Comprehensive Technical Centre at Cove Bay. Principal Michiel Boeken led the royals on a tour of the new facilities. Students were posted at each machine to explain its purpose.
The stop in Windwardside Village was specifically designed to allow residents the closest contact with the visiting royals. The buses stopped at the Tourist Office and the Police Station, an open area that could host the largest number of people.
Local girls in gowns danced before the party walked to Child Focus Foundation where the Saba Youth Drums Band greeted the royals with rhythms they seemed to enjoy.
Board members Jet van Heijnsbergen, Elka Charles and Wim Schutten greeted the visitors, explained the activities and seated their guests for a children's performance.
Across the street, at Eugenius Johnson Community Centre, the royals visited an exhibition of Saba lace, a local tradition passed down through many generations by the women of the seafaring community.
Also adorning the exposition was an extensive installation with artwork by various Saba painters and artists such as Heleen Cornet, Angelita Peterson, Marie Petit, Patsy Johnson, Mary Thielman, Stacey Simmons, Aaron Soares, Karen Slump, Sally Siegner and Marylene Van Dam.
Stand displayed the work of the many local non-governmental organisations, such as the AIDS Group Foundation, Foundation Social Workplace, Projects Bureau and Lions Club.
Olivia Johnson presented the Queen with a painting by Patsy Johnson depicting the Queen's coming ashore on Saba from the Navy ship in a typical fisherman's boat on her previous visit.
Marylene Van Dam said she was "honoured" that she could present one of her hand-painted silk shawls to Queen Beatrix and to Princess M�xima, who wore the shawl with her attire, which stylishly reflected the green hues of Saba's lush vegetation.
The following stop was at Fort Bay Harbour, with a border patrol boat welcoming the party to the tent and displays set up next to the Customs office. Greeting the royal family were Commissioner of Harbour Affairs Bruce Zagers, Harbourmaster Travis Johnson and Marine Park Manager Kai Wulf.
Laid out on a table were the harbour development plans. The queen and prince both spent substantial time asking about the expansion and perusing the photo-installation depicting the marine park's conservation activities.
Wulf said the queen had been very interested, asking about the Saba Bank, what could be done to manage it more efficiently and how fishermen were involved in management. He said the queen also had expressed concern about the lionfish invasion.
The royals returned to The Bottom in the afternoon after they had lunched at Queen's Gardens hotel. They were greeted on the newly renovated cobblestone road by the youth drum band.
Engulfed by a large crowd, Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess M�xima walked past the Adult Continuing Education Centre and Queen Wilhelmina Library before entering Honourable Henry Every Home for the Aged, where they were greeted by Saba Benevolent Foundation board chairman Hubert Roy Smith and head nurse Roseta.
The royals also visited the adjacent A.M. Edwards Medical Centre.
The next stop was Cruijff Court, where demonstrations were organised by Saba United Sports Federation.
To the surprise of many, a stop was scheduled at the request of the royal party at Saba University School of Medicine, where the royals spent a substantial amount of time.
The queen pointed at the many flags hoisted to represent the multicultural make-up of the student body, a great majority of which gathered on the surrounding terraces to greet the head of state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Queen Beatrix inquired as to the nationality make-up of the student body, the selective standards and good reputation of the university, and asked where students went for their clinical rotations.
Crown Prince Willem-Alexander fondly remembered a previous visit when the "Med School" was still a small operation, far less vital for the wellbeing of the island community to which it now contributes. With great congeniality the queen and royal couple spoke with students about their prospects and enquired for clarification about the duration of their intense programme on the island.
On returning to the airport for their departure, the royals were embraced by the ever-present crowd of well-wishers and Occasionals Band sent them off to the old tunes of the island.
As the aircraft's door closed the crown prince was seen taking a photo as his memento of the day. The true historic and sentimental significance of the farewell may crystallise with time. On his next visit he may very well be king.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/22307-saba-gives-royals-a-warm-welcome.html
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