PHOTO CUTLINE: Left to right, Monique Alberts, MP Gracita Arrindell and MP Johan Leonard.
"GRACITA DONATES MEMORABILIA AND DOCUMENTATION OF SINT MAARTEN’S CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDA TO THE PHILIPSBURG JUBILEE LIBRARY."
"I ENCOURAGE PERSONS WHO HAVE MATERIALS REGARDING BOTH CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDA TO MAKE THESE AVAILABE TO THE LIBRARY AS WELL. WE MUST MAKE A CONSIOUS STEP TO PRESERVE AND PRESENT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL TRANSITION FOR THE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS."
Gracita R. Arrindell, Member of Parliament representing the United Peoples Party (‘UP’) today stated that "I was pleased to donate a collection of newspaper articles, framed posters and other memorabilia to our public library from the historic 1st constitutional referendum held on October 14th 1994 and the 2nd referendum held on June 23rd 2000. The second referendum continued to set the stage for the process leading up to the dismantling of the constellation of what was formerly known as the Netherlands Antilles on October 10th , 2010. Some of these items displayed at the time, were used for the information campaign leading towards the date of the voting for the options presented in both referenda. The donated material also includes a framed full page original copy of a Dutch news paper article from the ‘Telegraaf’ Tabloid Newspaper of 1984, reporting the outcome of historical discussions held in the Hague (with picture of a.o. the late Aruban leader Betico Croes, former Prime minister Don Martina) leading to the separate status of the island of Aruba, two years later.
As Chairwoman of the referendum Committee an official report of the 1st referendum was submitted to the Island Council. A copy of this report was provided to the library as well. This report contains not only the outcome of the four options presented in the 1st referendum. It gives a detailed overview of the organization and the process leading up to the vote on October 14th 1994".
"Regrettably, I am not in possession of more material left over from the second referendum, held June 23rd 2000. I have always underscored the importance of recording our constitutional history. Not only as recorded during formal meetings of the Executive and Island Council meetings. Making it ‘alive’ and accessible to the general public, will contribute hopefully to an awareness and recognition of where we have been, and where we are heading as we continue to evolve constitutionally in our new status as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Having additional material on display and available such as the ones donated to the library which included the different opinions from people and organizations as expressed during and after the historic referenda, is a small yet significant step in recording more extensively this process"
"Once more I take this opportunity to encourage others who have photo’s, posters, newspaper articles, video tapes, t-shirts etc to get in contact with the director of the library Mrs Monique Alberts and see in which manner they can also make their contribution. We are very great full to the director for taking time out to welcome MP Johan Leonard and myself as we handed over the material in her care. It is our understanding that the library is in dire need of upgrading. We look forward to meeting with the director again to discuss the needs of the library and how to best to turn this public organization into a modern heritage institution of which we can all be proud of."