Full day of activities planned for royal visit on November 3

PHILIPSBURG--A full day of activities has been planned for the visit of Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess M�xima to St. Maarten on November 3 in keeping with the theme of their visit: public health, environment and education. The members of the Dutch royal family will tour St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba from November 3 to 6.

Outlining the programme for the royal visit in St. Maarten, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams said on Wednesday that after the royal visitors are greeted at Princess Juliana International Airport at 10:30am, their next engagement will be the inauguration of the new Mental Health Facilities in Cay Hill at 3:10pm. Health and Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever will join the royal visitors for the inauguration.

Next on the schedule are presentations by the various environmental organisations at Emilio Wilson Cultural and Historical Park at 3:45pm. Deputy Prime Minister in charge of environment Theo Heyliger is slated to be present at the park.

The royal party's next engagement is at Sundial School where the culinary arts division will make a presentation at 4:40pm. Education Minister Rhoda Arrindell will be at the school to guide the royal guests on their tour.

The day's activities will culminate with a cultural manifestation, themed "Embracing St. Maarten's Traditions," on Clem Labega Square, hosted by Prime Minister Wescot-Williams. Members of Parliament also will be able to meet the royal party at this event.

Private meetings with Governor Eugene Holiday and Wescot-Williams are scheduled during the day. The queen, prince and princess also will meet with the Council of Ministers.

The royal visitors will visit St. Eustatius on Friday, November 4, and Saba on Saturday, November 5. They return to St. Maarten on Sunday, when a "state dinner" for invited guests will be hosted by Governor Holiday, Royal Visit Planning Committee Vice Chairman Marcel Gumbs said.

Wescot-Williams and Gumbs said the idea was to allow as many people as possible to meet the royal visitors, but this is quite a challenge due to the increased security around the queen, prince and princess.

Government is shelling out some NAf. 300,000 for the royal visit, a drastically-cut-back amount from the original estimate of twice that amount some three months ago. That cost, however, doesn't include the sprucing up of the Government Administration Building to the tune of some NAf. 150,000. Some labour for the building upgrade is provided by prisoners of the Pointe Blanche House of Detention.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/21759-full-day-of-activities-planned-for-royal-visit-on-november-3-.html

Art Amir Khan South Korea Global economy Supermarkets Mark Zuckerberg