PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Culture and Education Rhoda Arrindell, on behalf of the government of St. Maarten, has promised a full University of St. Martin (USM) scholarship to the young lady who will be crowned the new Miss St. Maarten Senior Carnival Queen for Carnival 2011.
The Minister's announcement brought smiles to the faces of some of the contestants, who paid a courtesy visit to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. Arrindell and Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto represented the council, while contestants Glenicia Mitchell, Luduska Dongo and Onella Weekes were present.
The pageant has nine contestants, but the others could not be present due to school and work responsibilities. The contestants introduced themselves to the ministers and shared a little about themselves and the pageant experience thus far.
The ministers were also given a short briefing on the progress of preparations for the pageant by St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) Secretary Michael Granger, who explained that the contestants were working hard until late in the evening, preparing for their big night. He also explained that the business community was still being called on to support the contestants financially, "so they can be prepared to fully represent their country and their culture."
Arrindell urged the girls to realise that they were examples for their peers and other young women. She said she was very happy to note that the contestants present placed great emphasis on furthering their education. In that context, the minister pledged the USM scholarship.
She congratulated the contestants on their efforts thus far and urged them not to become discouraged, even though raising sponsorship money was somewhat challenging in the current economic climate. She told the contestants always to recognise the importance of being an ambassador for St. Maarten.
Minister Shigemoto relayed greetings to the contestants on behalf of Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams. He suggested that in their preparations for the pageant and after, the young ladies should take up worthy causes in the community, including charities. Working for these causes, he said, not only helps the causes, but teaches the contestants something as well.
He also advised the contestants to use every opportunity to further their studies and eventually return home to apply what they had learned for the further development of their country. "To me you are all beautiful, you are all queens," he said.
SCDF President Stuart Johnson, who could not be present Wednesday, said that as an educator, he was especially pleased with the scholarship pledge. "We tell our contestants all the time their education comes above everything else, even the pageant. So we are very happy with the minister's pledge."
Following the meeting with the ministers, contestants met with Parliament President Gracita Arrindell and Members of Parliament (MPs) Frans Richardson, Leroy de Weever, Jules James, Patrick Illidge, Ruth Douglass and Lloyd Richardson. All MPs shared words of encouragement with the contestants, reminding them that whoever was eventually crowned Queen would be the face of St. Maarten.
Arrindell welcomed the contestants to Parliament and congratulated each one for the bold step taken in entering the competition for the Miss St. Maarten crown. Arrindell and the other MPs also issued a call to the business community to support the contestants. De Weever went a step further and requested that the girls approach Members of Parliament to see "if there is something to give from their own pockets."
Frans Richardson, who has supported various Carnival participants in the past, lauded the fact that the Senior Pageant was back in strength with nine contestants and complimented SCDF for the work executed for Carnival 2011 to ensure that the pageant would be back.
He said that traditionally Carnival was not only calypso, but the Senior Pageant was a major part of the activities to which many people looked forward. He added that he had a number of requests for assistance from contestants and would honour them shortly.
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