Prime Minister Congratulates Jean Illidge on Years of Service and Retirement as Commander of the VKS

 

"I am sure you will continue to serve the people of St. Maarten"

The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined dignitaries from St. Maarten and the region in saying farewell to VKS Commander Lt. Col. Jean Illidge. Mr. Illidge has been commander for fifteen years and has transitioned the organization from its structure within the Netherlands Antilles to one for Country St. Maarten.

"It would be remiss of me to not make use of the opportunity to express gratitude on behalf of the people and Government of St. Maarten on Lt. Colonel Jean Illidge for his more than fifteen years of service as Commander of the Voluntary Corps of St. Maarten VKS. I thought thinking about it and I wanted to tell the officers and management team of the VKS that if you get a call from Mr. Illidge not to be surprised. The VKS is so a part of him that it will take some time for him to come to terms with his retirement. And so it is for that reason that the Government of St. Maarten has made Commander Jean Illidge an honorary member of the VKS. We are proud to be able to do that after the time and service you have given to the people of St. Maarten," stated the Prime Minister.

"We have stood here and witnessed so many events of the VKS and there was always that person who was so extremely proud of his achievements. Lt. Colonel Jean Illidge I want to thank you for the dedication that you have given to the VKS and made it the organization it is today. We thank you and we wish you many more years of good health and happiness for the people of St. Maarten. I am sure you will continue to serve the people of St. Maarten. And it is in the words of the Mighty Sparrow that we know that indeed Word is Just a Number," concluded the Prime Minister.