Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Fire Department held its annual parade on Friday as part of Firemen's Week. For the first time all Fire Departments of the island – the St. Maarten Fire Department, the Princess Juliana International Airport SXM Fire Department and the French St. Martin Sapeurs Pompiers – were represented in the annual parade.
They were joined by the Volunteer Corps St. Maarten VKS and the parade was closed off by St. Maarten Red Cross vehicle.
Firemen's Week started with a service at the Philipsburg Methodist Church on Sunday, followed by a number of sports activities during the rest of the week.
On Monday there was an indoor soccer tournament at L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium between the Fire Department, the Sapeurs Pompiers, the SXM Airport Fire Department, the police, the Coast Guard and the VKS. The French took home the prize, with the airport fire fighters coming in second.
On Tuesday the same teams competed at the auditorium in a basketball tournament. This time the St. Maarten Fire Department was victorious, with the airport fire fighters again taking second place.
On Wednesday, the Fire Department held a sports day during which various teams competed in dominoes and table tennis. They were joined by the police for the table tennis match.
On Thursday, police officers and the Fire Department once again competed in a friendly game of pool.
On Friday came the day eagerly awaited by many members of the public and tourists-in-the-know: the Fireman's Parade.
A VKS band led the fire fighters, including one woman, as they marched through the centre of Philipsburg.
The march started at the Government Administration Building where the fire fighters dressed in their ceremonial uniforms stood at attention as they were inspected by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs. The French-side fire fighters especially stood out, as they wore helmets and carried heavy axes.
The parade then marched off towards the police station, turned right towards and onto Back Street and back up Front Street.
The parade had the attention of locals and tourists alike, with many running towards the sounds of the band to take photographs. Young children, especially boys, were excited to see the local heroes march through town.
The parade then continued to the Court House, where the marchers saluted the Prime Minister and Senior Fire Officers and on up Front Street, returning along Back Street to the Government Administration Building where the marchers were dismissed.
Tonight, Saturday, will be the night of the grand party to finish off the week: the Fireman's Ball under the tent at Princess Port de Plaisance Resort starting at 8:00pm. The Fire Department has arranged for both local and international musicians and deejays, and tickets can be bought at the door for US $20 per person or $35 for couples.
