Dignitaries, Distinguished Guests; VKS Commander Mr. Jean Illidge; fellow VKS Officers; VKS volunteers; guests; Ladies and Gentlemen:
It has been 12 years since the voluntary corps, VKS, was established with a clear mission to protect and serve St Maarten by providing much needed assistance in situations which taught us that such aid is definitely required.
Today, the VKS is widely recognized for its structured, efficient assistance to the police, fire department, EMS and any disaster recovery effort.
The VKS is a Para-military organization that provides security and peace-keeping capabilities for Sint Maarten, and for the Netherlands Antilles.
Volunteers of this organization are trained and disciplined to cooperate with and work alongside other entities in whatever circumstances and even on demand. The VKS volunteer knows that complete dedication is essential; he or she knows that he or she will not withdraw from his or her obligations, even if he or she should be exposed to immediate danger.
You cannot be a member of this organization if you are seen as a coward or being timid.
After all, one of its first major activities was the recovery efforts for hurricane Lenny in November 1999. In times of disaster, they were asked to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.
Members were entrusted to man hurricane shelters, distribute supplies, enforce curfew and prevent looting.
With the crime situation being what it is today, the VKS assistance of the police on a daily basis continues to be welcomed as result of the structural shortage of police officers.
In short, VKS assistance to police is widely considered as an effective partnership with the police. It is based on law enforcement and a group, other than the police, joining together to address issues of crime and social disorder.
It is against this background, it is most fitting that the VKS recognizes the efforts and contributions of 14 of its volunteers, by bestowing upon them volunteer medals law and order and security.
One would expect that the VKS has faced many challenges in proving support for law and order efforts.
To begin with, the VKS is a Para-military volunteer organization; its members are not trained to be police officers. But, they are a unique group of individuals who take pride in serving their community as well as responding to that call for duty.
And sometimes, there is very little time to decide how to react to a situation; yet they are expected to be prepared.
Your involvement makes our community safer and for that I wish to thank you and express deep appreciation for your sacrifices.
Not everyone would be able and willing to stay away from their comfortable homes on weekends, holidays and at night.
I trust that with your being recognized for your many hours of service, you will be encouraged to continue on this present path of volunteerism.
May god continue to bless you and grant you the strength to be the very best volunteer and VKS member that you can be.
Congratulations to all of you.
I thank you.