It was an evening of glitz and glamour, dancing and recognition, as the Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE) hosted its annual year-end party at the Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa last Saturday.
There was no mistaking that the holiday season was in the air, as employees and their guests alike, decked out in glamorous gowns and smart-looking suits, enjoyed a delightful cocktail reception in the extravagantly decorated ballroom.
Both Deputy Prime Minister Theo Heyliger and PJIAE Managing Director Regina Labega, in succinct speeches, extended warm greetings to attendees and thanked them for their indelible service to the company during 2011.
"I just want to thank you all for allowing me to be part of Princess Juliana International Airport’s family. I will tell you that over the last year I have learned a lot from you. Before, I was able to learn a lot from the cruise industry, and now it is a real pleasure to learn a lot from you all as well. I look forward to spending the next few years trying to make our aviation business continue to develop and our great country St. Maarten as well," said Heyliger.
After PJIAE Project and Planning Manager Derrick Hilman blessed the dinner, the evening kicked into high gear as guests savored a mouth-watering menu of ham, roast beef and vegetables, fish, and a wide array of soups, salads, and desserts – all catered by the resort.
Amid it all, dozens of employees received tokens of recognition for unwavering service in the areas of planning and organizing the countless events hosted by PJIAE, including Family Fun Day, Sports Day, and parties. Others were rewarded for never reporting sick. As one staffer explained, the latter recognition motivated him to go to work even when he was sick. Others, who became ill during their vacation, admitted to withholding their doctor’s letter, so there was nothing to stand in their way of having an unblemished record – and receiving that coveted "envelope" at the end of the year.
Later that night, PJIAE employees did a salsa dance to a rendition of Jose El Canario’s song, "Quien Como Tu." The dance, which was choreographed by the employees, with instructor Gressy Toulan and an assistant, paved the way for Control Band to open the dance floor.
Keeping with the much-anticipated tradition, several employees ended the night with baskets of goodies, flat screen televisions, the latest BlackBerry phones, and cameras, to name a few, raffled off by MCs Olivia Murray and Carlos Illis. The planning committee unanimously voted for Murray, who does not work at PJIAE. Illis is an employee of the PJIAE Fire and Rescue Department. A lucky employee also carted off an Apple Ipad2.
Throughout the affair, the photographer kept busy ensuring that the some 300 guests will have tangible memories to last long after the night was over.