~ ?Wonderful day,? says Queen ~
By John van Kerkhof
and Althea Merkman
ST. EUSTATIUS--Although Statians had to cope with numerous roadblocks during the visit of Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess M�xima to St. Eustatius on Friday, the eight-hour royal visit to the ?Golden Rock? was met with general enthusiasm.
Many Statians seized the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the visiting royals throughout the day. This trend started even before the Queen and her delegation had set foot on the island. Many flocked to the airport to watch the royal aircraft co-piloted by Crown Prince Willem-Alexander touch down at Franklin D. Roosevelt airport.
Island Governor Gerald Berkel and the Committee of Reception consisting of Kingdom Representative Wilbert Stolte, Island Council members Franklin Brown, Reginald Zaandam, Millicent Lijfrock-Marsdin, Reuben Merkman and Koos Sneek, Airport Manager Elvis Schmidt and Chief of Police Duco Koolstra officially welcomed the royals to the island. Commissioners Glenville Schmidt and Clyde van Putten also were present.
Young Chanae Hamilton presented flowers to Queen Beatrix, while Princess M�xima received a bouquet from Kendra Hassell.
After a short presentation by schoolchildren, the visiting royals were taken by bus to the Governor?s residence for brief talks with the island?s highest official.
The stands at the brand-new sports facility, which Commissioner of Sports Clyde van Putten announced would be known as Earl N. Merkman Auditorium, were filled to capacity with Statians from all walks of life.
Queen Beatrix officially opened the auditorium by presenting a table-tennis ball, a volleyball and basketball to local sports champions, who gave a short demonstration.
Pupils of the island?s five elementary schools presented themselves in song and dance.
While the focus was firmly on the island?s youth during the visit to the sports hall, the island?s many senior citizens were not forgotten. The Queen, Crown Prince and Princess also were given a tour of Chapel Piece Recreational Centre for the elderly.
Foundation president Hilda Berkel explained that the centre, which was established in 1999, catered to seniors ages 58-97. The oldest client and oldest resident of Statia is the Governor?s grandmother Miriam Beatrice Berkel, who shares not only her name but also her birthday, January 31, with the Queen.
The royals clearly enjoyed their visit to the centre, during which various activities such as singing and gymnastics were presented in a light-hearted fashion. Queen Beatrix took some time to speak with several seniors before retiring for lunch at The Old Gin House.
An afternoon visit to Miriam B. Schmidt Botanical Garden was included in the visit on the Queen?s personal request. She had said that volunteers of the island?s nature organisations had always come to her on previous occasions and this time she wanted to come to them. The official bus was exchanged for police vehicles to drive the Queen and her entourage to the garden on the slope of The Quill.
Despite the oppressive weather, the royals clearly enjoyed their time spent under Statia?s lush foliage, which included small presentations by St. Eustatius National Parks Stenapa and Junior Rangers.
Stenapa Director Kate Walker guided Queen Beatrix through the garden, while Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess M�xima took ample time to listen to the explanations of their tour guide, Stenapa board member Mike Harterink.
The royal motorcade was confronted during the ride to the botanical garden with two residents protesting against the erection of a detention facility in the area, a rare expression of this nature during the generally very festive day.
At the St. Eustatius Historical Museum grounds, the royal family received a tour of the recently opened historical blacksmith shop by Joanna Gilmore, while island archaeologist Grant Gilmore demonstrated how the fire had been kept burning and the steel hammered in the days of old.
On the way to the reception of representatives of the island?s non-governmental organisations, the Aloei Dancers persuaded Princess M�xima to join in a little dance, much to the delight of the crowd.
At the end of her visit, the Queen was presented with a painting of the Historical Museum building by Governor Berkel on behalf of the island and people of Statia.
?We had a wonderful day on a beautiful island,? the Queen said before leaving for the airport. ?We enjoyed everything during our day together. We are very happy to be in Statia now.?
The royal takeoff from the island at 5:30pm was witnessed by many residents, with cars lining the entire length of the airport runway.
Island Councilman Koos Sneek was among the many who looked back on the royal visit with a positive feeling. ?Many negative things have been said in connection with the Dutch recently, but the royal visit was something good and positive,? he said.
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