President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell attended the Voice of the Children first Spelling B Competition on Sunday, May 27, where she delivered some remarks.
PROTOCOL HAVING BEEN ESTABLISHED, GOOD AFTERNOON, TEACHERS, FAMILIES, FREINDS,THE VOICE OF THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION, BOYS AND GIRLS!
YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THIS 1ST SPELLING B COMPETITION FOR 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GRADERS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE RATE OF ILLITERACY ON SINT MAARTEN.
TODAY; FOR EXAMPLE THE COUNTRY OF EGYPT WENT TO THE POLLS TO VOTE; TO ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
HOWEVER; THEY ARE FACED WITH THE PROBLEM THAT MORE THAN 30% OF THE VOTING POPULATION COULD NOT READ THE NAMES OF THEIR CANDIDATE!
THE VOICEE OF THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION IS DOING OIR COUNTRY A GREAT SERVICE. U ARE MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE WELL EQUIPPED AND READY TO COMPETE HERE AS WELL AS ABROAD.
AS PARLIAMENT WER DO OUR PART AS WELL.
WE HAVE INVITED OR UPON REQUEST, WELCOMED STUDENTS FROM ALL SCHOOLS TO VISIT THE HOUSE OF PARLAIMENT.
THIS IS A DELIBERATE EFFORT TO GET OUR CHILDREN, THE FUTURE OF THE STRENGHT OF OUR ISLAND FAMILIAR WITH AND RESPECT THIS NEW INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT, AND GOVERNANCE.
THE FACES OF THE CHILDREN, THE QUESTIONS THEY POSE; TELLS ME, WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
THIS SPELLING BE COMPETITION COMPLEMENTS THE WORK THAT WE DO DURING THE SCHOOL VISITS TO PARLIAMENT AS WELL AS THE EFFORTS MADE BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS READING IS FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION, AND THOSE WHO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR VERY BUSY SCHEDULE TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS TO READ TO OUR CHILDREN. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
MY SPELLING BE CHALLENGE TO THOSE OF YOU COMPETING THIS AFTERNOON; IS SPELL THE WORD PARLIAMENT!