THE HAGUE–A total of 24 persons from the Dutch Caribbean received Royal Decorations on Thursday on the eve of King’s Day. All were from Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. There were no Royal Decorations in the Windward Islands this year.
The reason no one from St. Maarten was nominated for a Royal Decoration has to do with Hurricane Irma and the devastation it caused. The vetting of persons for a Royal Decoration and the preparing of their nomination is a rather lengthy process which needs to be completed in October, which was too soon after the hurricane.
Even though there were no Royal Decorations in St. Maarten this year, St. Maarten Governor Eugene Holiday did give recognition to a number of persons in his speech at the reception that he hosted in honour of the King on Thursday evening.
In total, almost 3,000 Dutch citizens were awarded a Royal Decoration, mostly in the Netherlands and 12 in Curaçao, eight in Aruba and four in Bonaire. Three well-known persons on the list were Curaçao-born singer Izaline Calister, ABVO labour union President Stanley Heereveen from Curaçao and Curaçao White Yellow Cross Director Shirley Martis-Treurniet. All three received the honour of becoming a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Two other persons became Knights in the Order of Orange-Nassau in Curaçao: Mrs. G.J.L.M. Faber-Melfor and Mrs. S.A. Olario. Mr. R.S. Bentoera, Mrs. M.C. Diwan, Mr. S.G. Djaoençao, Mr. J.J. den Hartog, Mr. S. Laker, Mr. F.I. Lourens and Mrs. Y.J. Pereira received Royal Decorations as Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
In Aruba, Eduard de Veer was promoted to Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, Mrs. S. Lopez Henriquez-Orman from Aruba to Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau, while Mrs. X.E. Caciano, Mr. D.A. Kelly, Mrs. A.M. Koolman-Chirino, Mrs. A.M. Richardson-Peters, Mrs. I.J. Simon-Hernandez and Mr. A.E. Toppenberg, all from Aruba, became Members in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Four persons in Bonaire were appointed Member in the Order of Orange Nassau: Mr. A.E. Felix, Mrs. S.E. Felix-Sheets, Mr. C.F. Saragoza and Mr. E.F.F. Semeleer.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76140-24-royal-decorations-none-from-st-maarten
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