GRAND CASE--Several individuals and cultural associations were honored for their service to Grand Case on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as the Collectivité de Saint-Martin also officially opened the village’s local community center during the annual Grand Case and Victor Schoelcher Festival.
President Louis Mussington and his team used this year’s celebration to recognize residents and organizations whose work has supported community life, cultural development, music education, youth involvement and the preservation of local traditions.
The official program began with a mass at Mary Star of the Sea Church on Grand Case Boulevard. This was followed by the inauguration of the local community center in the presence of Allen Lake, a representative of the center.
Among those honored was Francine Carti, a well-known Grand Case hairdresser who has contributed to the well-being and confidence of women in her community.
Carti studied hairdressing in New York before returning to her hometown in Shanty Town in 1994. She continued developing her career through hair shows, fashion activities and the operation of increasingly successful salons. She now encourages young people to consider careers in the beauty and wellness sectors.
Paul Emmanuel and the Paul Emmanuel School of Music were recognized for their contribution to music education and the cultural development of young people throughout Saint-Martin.
The association was established in 2001 and is marking 25 years of teaching young people to play musical instruments. Emmanuel, a prominent figure in Grand Case, is also the founder of the Saint-Martin Jazz Festival.
The Sonic Drum Band was honored as a newer cultural organization representing an active generation of performers committed to maintaining the island’s drum traditions.
Created in 2025, the group has quickly established itself within the territory’s cultural landscape and is viewed as having a promising future in the representation and promotion of Saint-Martin’s drum culture.
The Circle of Kings and Queens of St. Martin was also recognized. The association was established in 2022 and is led by Bernadette Chance, who has dedicated many years to serving Grand Case and representing the village through cultural activities and community involvement.
Recognition was also given to the Grand Case Lighting Parade Association, which was founded in 1990 through the efforts of the late Charlesia Laurence.
The association is now led by President Monica Hodge. For 35 years, its volunteer members have organized the nighttime light parade held during the Christmas season, contributing to one of the village’s established annual traditions.
The Collectivité saluted the honorees and the volunteer members of the recognized associations for their commitment to Grand Case and the wider Saint-Martin community.
The celebration also featured a cultural parade with performances by the Sonic Drum Band, the Association of Saint-Martin Traditions and Cultures and students participating in the CTOS after-school program.
The music, dance and cultural presentations highlighted the continued involvement of young people and community organizations in preserving and celebrating the heritage of Grand Case.
Official remarks were delivered by Allen Lake, First Vice-President Alain Richardson and Deputy Prefect Marie Hildegarde Chauveau.
The speakers reflected on the life and journey of Victor Schoelcher and emphasized the importance of unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence in maintaining the social and cultural strength of Grand Case and the wider territory.
The annual celebration brought together religious observance, community recognition, music, dance and cultural participation in honor of Victor Schoelcher and the people and organizations working to keep Grand Case’s traditions and community spirit alive.
Victor Schoelcher, who lived from 1804 to 1893, was a French politician, writer and leading abolitionist who devoted much of his life to ending slavery in the French colonies. After becoming Undersecretary of State for the Colonies in 1848, he chaired the commission that prepared the decree of April 27, 1848, which abolished slavery throughout France’s colonies and possessions. While Schoelcher is remembered as a central figure in that process, the abolition of slavery was also driven by the resistance of enslaved people and the work of abolitionist movements across the Caribbean and France.
