Well Wishes and Gratitude to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix on Her Abdication
Looks forward to having His Royal Highness Prince Willem Alexander as Monarch of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams offered her well wishes and gratitude to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix on Monday after she learned that Her Majesty will be abdicating the throne as monarch of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Prime Minister also congratulated His Royal Highness Prince Willem Alexander on his succession and mentioned that she both reflected fondly on the reign of her Majesty Queen Beatrix as well as looks forward to having Prince Willem Alexander as the new monarch for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. "I look back fondly on the reign of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and her visits to what was then the Netherlands Antilles as well as to new country St. Maarten in 2011. I wish her well in the coming years and we hope to see her back on our islands sometime soon. Similarly I would like to congratulate His Royal Highness King Willem Alexander on his succession and look forward to having him as Monarch of the Kingdom of the Netherlands," commented the Prime Minister.
Queen Beatrix, who is approaching her 75th birthday and succeeded the throne in 1980, mentioned in a pre-recorded television broadcast that she will be stepping down on April 30th, Queen’s Day. The Prime Minister concluded her comments on the abdication announcement by stating that Queen Beatrix has always had a fondness for the Dutch Caribbean and that her reign as Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was one of close consultation with all the islands, including the Caribbean.