Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
MARIGOT--The Collectivité honoured six worthy women in its annual Mother's Day ceremony on Friday.
In keeping with tradition, the representatives of the six different councils had the difficult task of choosing someone from their district. Mother's Day on the French side is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of May.
The ceremony began with an opening address by Vice-President Ramona Connor recalling the important role of the mother in society before each district representative announced their candidate with a biography.
The chosen six included Alberta Leblanc from district one, Jocelyne Illidge for district two, Marguerite Bryan from district three, and Tamika Meyers from district four, Louisita Fleming Richardson from district five and Mercedes Thomas from district six.
The ladies were chosen for their strong family values, raising many children, and contributing much to the community. Territorial Councillors Nadine Paines, Rollande Questel, Maud Ascent-Gibs, José Villier, and former Mayor Albert Fleming assisted in presenting each recipient with a plaque and a bouquet of flowers.
Following the presentations author and poet Gérard Chirlias recited two of his poems entitled "Toi ma petite negresse" and "si j'etais".
Children from the after school activity classes of Emile Choisy School, Sandy Ground, Elie Gibbs, Emile Choisy, French Quarter 1 and 2, Hervé Williams 1 and 2, Nina Duverly and Rambaud, under the supervision of district four representative Nadine Francis then recited a poem written by Francis before presenting the six honourees with small especially prepared gifts of confectionery.
President Aline Hanson in her remarks at the end of the ceremony noted the tradition of children always marking Mother's and Father's Day in the schools with an activity has all but disappeared and vowed to bring it back. She congratulated all the deserving recipients in turn.
