Commissioner responsible for Education Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, will be leaving for the Capital City of Florida, Tallahassee on Tuesday for a series of meetings with city and educational officials as well as St. Maarten students attending university.
On Wednesday the Leader of Government will meet with Tallahassee Mayor John Marks at City Hall. A series of meetings will also take place with Florida House Representative Senator Allen Williams (Florida Legislative Black Caucus); Governor Charlie Crist; Director of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development Dale Brill; International Affairs Liaison Eric Graham; Commissioner Andrew Gillum; and City Manager Anita Favors-Thompson.
Commissioner Wescot on Wednesday will also visit the Police and Fire Departments and tour the Cities Traffic/Engineering Security Room.
On Wednesday afternoon in an official ceremony, an exchange of Tallahassee-St. Maarten proclamations will take place marking a 10-year relationship between the city and the island.
On Thursday Commissioner Wescot will meet with Leon County Commissioners, and representatives from the Energy and Economic Development Departments. A tour of the Garbage Disposal Area is also planned.
Thursday also includes a meeting with Florida State University (FSU) officials.
On Friday Commissioner Wescot will have a breakfast meeting with Rotary members concerning a computer project for the island besides meeting with educational officials from Tallahassee Community College (TCC) and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). While visiting the FAMU campus, Wescot will be given a tour of the Black Archives.
Friday evening the Commissioner will meet with St. Maarten students studying in Tallahassee. Since December 2007, a St. Maarten Students Association has been in existence lead by Dominique Hodge who was re-elected last December as the organizations President.
Commissioner Wescot-Williams will be providing students with an update on the process of constitutional affairs and preparations for Country St. Maarten.
On Saturday Wescot will meet with Tallahassee Airport Manager Ken Austin and staff to discuss the airport’s security system.
"I am looking forward to this working visit. It is very important for our island nation to retain mutually beneficial relations with the sister city of Tallahassee. This relationship will become even more important as we move to country status.
"The working visit is also an opportunity to touch base with our students and to hear from them how their studies are progressing. At the same time I am able to provide them with the latest developments on constitutional affairs and how things are progressing for country status," Commissioner of Education Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS).
Commissioner Wescot is being accompanied by Head of Study Financing Calvin Mardenborough.
The Leader of Government is expected back on February 22.