(United Peoples (UP) Party) Former first President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten Hon. Gracita Arrindell, left the island on Sunday to attend Prinsjesdag on Tuesday, 18 September in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The third Tuesday in September known as Prinsjesdag, is when in her capacity as Head of State, Queen Beatrix delivers the so-called ‘Queen’s Speech’ (Troonrede) in the Hall of Knights in the Binnenhof in The Hague.
United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Gracita Arrindell had received a personal invitation from Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament outgoing President Hon. Gerdi Verbeet to attend Prinsjesdag.
Prinsjesdag marks the start of the parliamentary year. Her Majesty the Queen delivers her speech before a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament (the First and Second Chambers) in the aforementioned hall.
The members of the Cabinet and the Council of State, as well as a number of invitees are also present for the ceremonial affair.