SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – As Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, I would hereby like to thank The Foundation Community Aid Sentry Hill, Mag Tech BV, TelEM Group, and First Response for your initiative to restore the statues on the three roundabouts as a contribution in support of Sint Maarten’s Culture and Heritage, Minister Rodolphe Samuel said in his speech on Thursday.
Minister Samuel continues: “In particular, as Minister I thank you for the restoration of the Lokay, Peridot Foundation/Domestic Violence and the Salt Pickers statues.
“Our statues, portraying a significant role in displaying not only our country’s heritage, but also the strength, defiance, and courage of our women especially during the enslavement period.
“With the understanding that the foundation, which strives on providing financial aid to various organizations on the island, I have to acknowledge their contribution to not only this project, but also their contribution to education and youth related projects.
“I hope that by restoring these statues, which display our heritage and oral history, and by continuing to display them to the public, this can further solidify the importance of Culture and the Creative Industry to our brand that is Sint Maarten.
“I hope that this would also increase the awareness and understanding of the importance of public-private partnerships and that more can be done in the future to help restore and maintain not only our statues but also our existing tangible and intangible heritage.
“Thank you once again to The Foundation Community Aid Sentry Hill, I applaud you and encourage you to continue with your efforts to preserve the Culture and Heritage of Sint Maarten. Thank you!”
