Princess Beatrix visits Sint Maarten and Saba
News item | 22-10-2024 | 11:49
Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands will visit Sint Maarten and Saba from Tuesday 12 to Friday 15 November. The visit will focus on the work of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA ) and social initiatives on the islands. The Princess is the patroness of DCNA. In addition, the Princess will reopen the airport building of Princess Juliana International Airport on Sint Maarten.
Saint Martin
Wednesday, November 13: Emilio Wilson Park, Milton Peters College, Perpetual Plastic
Morning
In the morning, Princess Beatrix visits Emilio Wilson Park. Originally a plantation where slaves were employed, it is now a historically and ecologically important area with native flora and fauna. After a short walk through the park, the Princess attends a poetry and storytelling session organized by the DCNA. Children recite poems or stories about the impact of invasive species and the importance of nature conservation. The Princess then plants a native tree. The
Princess attends an interactive lesson on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP ) at Milton Peters College. Marine Spatial Planning is a process in which human activities at sea are organized in such a way that the ocean can be used in a sustainable way without these activities getting in each other’s way. This helps in the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) to protect nature. The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten is working together with the Blue Marine Foundation and DCNA to establish more MPAs. During the lesson, students present the outcome of negotiations in the role of different stakeholders, simulating the MSP process.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, Princess Beatrix will visit the ‘ Perpetual Plastics ‘ project of EPIC Sint Maarten, an NGO that works on nature conservation and environmental education. The project is a social workshop for plastic recycling, where local plastic is recycled into usable items. The Princess will be given a tour of the EPIC workshop. Here, the Junior Rangers of the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten (NFSXM) will tell about the effects of plastic waste on nature and the importance of recycling.
Thursday, November 14: Great Salt Pond, Simpson Bay , Reopening of Princess Juliana International Airport terminal
Morning
In the morning, Princess Beatrix takes a short walk on the recently completed boardwalk at Salt Pond . Here she is given an explanation about local birds. The boardwalk is part of the New Birding and Ecotourism project of the NFSXM and was constructed to be able to view the birds properly.
The Princess then takes a boat trip along Mullet Bay , the only so-called Ramsar nature reserve on the island. The UNESCO Ramsar Convention aims to preserve wetlands of international importance worldwide. The Princess then sails past Little Key – a small island in the middle of Simson Bay – where mangroves are being planted. The Princess is given an explanation about the importance of planting the mangroves.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, Princess Beatrix will attend the reopening ceremony of the Princess Juliana International Airport terminal , which was severely damaged during Hurricane Irma in 2017. The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, and State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Digitalization, Zsolt Szabó, will also be present. The Princess will reopen the terminal by unveiling a plaque. She will then be given a tour of the renovated terminal and speak with those involved in the project.
Saba
Friday November 15: Maritime Research Laboratory, Jantje Beton, Botanical Garden , UNICEF
Morning
In the morning, Princess Beatrix visits the maritime research laboratory of the Saba Conservation Foundation, where research is conducted into the underwater life around Saba. During a tour, the Princess is given an explanation about the breeding and release of the herbivorous sea urchin, which plays a crucial role in the recovery of the Caribbean coral reefs.
The Princess then visits the Queen Wilhelmina Park, a centrally located park in The Bottom that is being renovated with the support of Jantje Beton. With the help of children and residents, a new design has been created for the park that takes into account the various needs in the areas of playing, meeting and nature. The Princess is given a tour of the park and speaks with children about the importance of good playgrounds. The Princess also unveils the new nameplate of the park. Princess Beatrix is the patroness of Jantje Beton.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, Princess Beatrix visits the botanical garden, which opened in 2019. Here, Junior Rangers from the Saba Conservation Foundation will explain the current reforestation project and the birds that have settled there. They will also demonstrate the so-called seed bombs that contribute to biodiversity. The Junior Rangers are students who attend an after-school program of the Saba Conservation Foundation and learn skills related to nature (conservation).
The Princess will then visit the youth center The Spot , which will open in 2023 by the Public Entity of Saba. During a tour of the youth center, the Princess will talk to young people about the UNICEF program ‘Children in their Power’, where young people think about how they can make the island even more child-friendly. There will also be a discussion about the campaign ‘ Raising Our Future ‘, which focuses on making positive parenting a topic of discussion.
The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) is a non-profit organization established to protect nature in the Dutch Caribbean and was created as an alliance between Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF), Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (Carmabi), Nature Foundation Sint Maarten (NFSXM), Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), Sint Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) and Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire). The nature organizations on the six islands of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom entered into the partnership for the sake of improved nature management, sustainable fundraising, nature education and knowledge exchange.
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