Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip would like to say thank you to the people of Sint Maarten and all participating groups for bringing the true spirit of Christmas to Philipsburg on Sunday, December 14th.
Philipsburg will come alive with sounds of music, laughter, joy, hope and good will to all mankind.
“They brought joy, peace and showed the love one to another and for the traditions of this country by making such a tremendous effort to portray the true meaning of Christmas such as togetherness, family and gratitude.
“The Department of Culture and the Caribbean Professionals in Intangible and Tangible Cultural Heritage PITCH – IT Foundation, must be applauded for putting this together.
“I will encourage them to establish it in our intangible heritage profile and have it become a tradition that will continue for many years to come,” Minister Hon. Patricia Lourens-Philip said on Monday.
Neville York the Department Head of Culture says the event is part of the Department’s agenda for 2015 which is in keeping with the UNESCO’s 70th anniversary in 2015, and therefore saw it fit to support the initiative taken by PITCH – IT foundation in which they are reviving a popular Christmas parade that was held for seven years consecutively with a two year hiatus in 2012 and 2013.
Based on a positive vision to promote peace, founded on equality, dignity and respect, taken forward through tolerance and solidarity between and within societies, local musical bands, elementary schools, cultural groups, popular children characters and children meandered through the streets of Philipsburg on Sunday to bring light and a breath of fresh air of the holiday season spirit to the public which was widely accepted by all those who turned out.