Matters of mutual interest were discussed several days ago at meetings among the Governor of St. Maarten,Dr. Eugene Holiday, the Governor of Anguilla, His Excellency Alistair Harrison,Chief Minister, Hon Hubert Hughes, and Minister of Social Development, Hon Edison Baird.
The separate meetings were held on Friday, August 17, during Dr Holiday’s first official visit toAnguilla. He was welcomed to the island, in the Executive Council Chambers, by Governor Harrison who said there was excellent cooperation amongAnguilla, Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin. Governor Harrison said he was pleased to welcome Governor Holiday and noted that the three territories were cooperating very well in terms ofvarious practical challenges including maritime, immigration and law and order issues.
Dr Holiday, who came to the island in 2005, on a private visit, said it was a pleasure for him to back inAnguillain his official capacity. “I have come to Anguilla to get a sense of how things are going on our sister island,” he told reporters. “For years, relationships between Anguilla and St. Maarten have been very good – with very strong family ties – and I think these special visits only help to underscore those strong ties. So the purpose of this visit is to foster and strengthen those ties. I have already been having quite interesting discussions with Governor Harrison and I look forward to the remaining part of my visit to the Chief Minister, and the Minister of Social Development, as well as a tour of the island to see how things have changed since I have last been here.”
Dr. Holiday further stated that his visit would give him an understanding of what Anguilla and St. Maarten might be able to learn from each other with respect to the challenging economic times facing the islands. He also saidhis visit provided an opportunity for an exchange of viewsbetween himself and Mr. Harrison about their respective functions as Governors.
Governor Harrison said that one of the matters he intended to discuss with Dr. Holiday was the resumption of the tri-partite meetings which, over the years, involved police, immigration and customs personnel from Anguilla and, Dutch and French St. Maarten/St. Martin. There has been a lapse in those useful meetings and it is now believed that the consultations should be resumed.
Following his meeting with the Governor, Dr. Holiday called on Chief Minister Hughes who commented: “This is one of the most significant visits that I have received since I came in office on the 16th of February 2010. I have an important visitor from my nearest island who truly represents the people of St. Maarten.”
The St. Maarten Governor replied: “It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to visit my sister island –Anguilla– and to meet the Chief Minister Hughes on this occasion…”
Meanwhile, Mr. Baird told The Anguillian that he was pleased to have met Dr. Holiday and to have had some useful talks with him.
Dr. Holiday was appointed Governor of St. Maarten by Queen Beatrix, on October 10, 2010, when the Dutch territory was granted country status by the Netherlands King domin Holland.
During his visit to Anguilla he presented a framed painting of St. Maarten’s port, overlaid by a beautiful flower, to both Governor Harrison and Chief Minister Hughes.
