Vance James Jr. remembered
as a great Antillean statesman
~ He ‘distinguished himself as a politician of class and character’ ~
ZAGERSGUT--St. Maarten woke up on New Year’s Day to the news that Vance James Jr. (58) had passed away. A retired politician, senior broadcaster, education administrator and moreover a beloved son of the soil had died.
The James’ family announced on Radio PJD2 on January 1 that James had passed away at 4:08am. The news spread quickly through the community, which remembered James as a great statesman.
James was a co-founder of the St. Maarten Patriotic Movement (SPM) in 1979 and became the first formidable political opponent of Democratic Party (DP) political leader the late Claude Wathey.
Persons from all walks of life and from across the political spectrum paid James glowing tribute Wednesday. Leader of Government and current DP Political Leader Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams, for example, said James had “distinguished himself as a politician of class and character.”
Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards expressed sympathy and heartfelt condolences on Tuesday to the family of the former Commissioner and former Island Council member.
In a letter addressed to James’ widow he noted, “News of his passing has shocked and saddened our community on this, the very first day of the New Year.”
Richards said, “Vance will, no doubt, be remembered for an impressive track record, including his many contributions and services rendered to church, community, politics and public sector.”
He said that ever since Vance James had first stepped into politics in 1979 as a founding member of SPM, he had left his mark on politics.
Serving in the Island Council as well as in the Netherlands Antilles Parliament, he distinguished himself as a gifted orator and played a pivotal role in reconstruction efforts of the island following the devastation left behind as a result of the passing of Hurricane Luis in 1995.
He left lasting contributions to education, public broadcasting and commerce as well, said Richards.
“His passing is a particular loss to the community, particularly at this time, when we are poised to conclude the groundwork necessary to attain country status, by the end of 2008.
“Seen by many as St. Maarten’s ‘elder statesman,’ his insight and contributions to the constitutional process will be sorely missed. Our community mourns this loss, since throughout his long public life, Vance was a man of many interests. He leaves his imprint in various areas of our national life,” Richards said.
Wescot-Williams said she too had been shocked to learn of the passing of James early New Year’s morning. “As reality set in, I spent much of the first day of January reminiscing on Vance’s life as a politician, educator, broadcaster and many others.
“In all these areas, he has left his mark on St. Maarten. In the area that I knew him best, Vance distinguished himself as a politician of class and character.”
While frowned on by a few, the decision to join hands with the DP and form a broad-based coalition government in the aftermath of Hurricane Luis was a turning point in St. Maarten’s politics, Wescot-Williams said. “Teaming up with DP and SPA from his NPP platform for the historic ‘coalition for country status’ was also an unforgettable demonstration of true statesmanship.”
Wescot-Williams continued, “Always heeding a call to serve his country in an advisory capacity became his post-political ambition.”
But above all, Wescot-Williams said, she had come to know Vance in the past few years as a friend, always willing to share a piece of advice or just a good laugh. “He enjoyed it most when, to use his own words, I was ‘fiery’ and refused to back down. He told me recently: ‘Like it or not, I am going to drop in by you unannounced every so often, because there is so much we need to talk about.’ He never got the chance.
“There is an unseen hand at work here, difficult for us to comprehend, especially in times such as these. But that hand is steady, unwavering and merciful. Vance believed that and so should we.”
My heartfelt condolences go out to Terry and the children, grandchild and family of the late Vance James Jr., Wescot-Williams said.
Former President of Parliament and current Parliamentarian for the PNP party in Curaçao Dudley Lucia remembered James as a real gentleman. He had known James as a Parliamentarian with whom he had travelled abroad and had many discussions in Parliament.
Lucia is one of the few Parliamentarians today who worked with James in Parliament. “He was always correct and respectful in his interaction with others. He always practiced politics at a high level. I personally liked to hear him talk on the radio. Every time we went to St. Maarten for Parliament I had to tune in to his radio programme to listen.”
Lucia said James had been significant for politics in St. Maarten and the Antilles. “He will be remembered through history as someone who was of added value. He was a leader and not everyone is called to be a leader. He, unlike many others, knew also when to step down. He recognised the moment when to step down, but kept giving his contribution behind the scenes, in politics, education and the media.”
Edsel “Papi” Jesurun worked closely with James in 2004 in the “Workgroup Administrative and Financial Relations” which produced the “Nu kan het nu moet het” report in 2004.
“St. Maarten has lost a great son,” Jesurun said. “It made me sad when I heard about his death, especially now at the moment when St. Maarten is on the doorstep of big and important changes. He could have been an important factor within the process and given good results for the island.”
Jesurun noted that after Vance completed his studies in municipal administration in the Netherlands, he had entered politics at a young age. “He excelled at what he did. He held office as a Councilman, Commissioner and Member of Parliament.”
Vance also produced excellent work within the committee, Jesurun said. “His arguments were always well founded. He represented St. Maarten in the committee while the island had already started its quest for a new status within the Kingdom.”
Jesurun said furthermore that Vance had been a likable and very sympathetic man. “He was serious and you could always count on him, he was a man of his word.” Jesurun also remembered James for his fluent Dutch which, according to him, enabled James to formulate his arguments very well when discussing with Dutch politicians.
I want to express sincere condolences to the family of James and the people of St. Maarten, Jesurun said.
For former Prime Minister Maria Liberia-Peters too, James stood out as a politician of character and respect. Liberia-Peters said she had known James mostly from the opposition bench, as the DP normally had formed part of government in those days.
Liberia-Peters: “I experienced James as a gentle person. He always had a well-thought point of view he could defend. He was never impulsive. He always treated other politicians and political parties with respect.”
She stressed that James had brought a high level of respect to Parliament, which had given him a certain virtue. “He saw his work as a mission and his aspiration was to serve his people.”
Finally, Liberia-Peters too expressed condolences to James’ family and the St. Maarten public, and said that with his passing away, a little bit of St. Maarten political history had gone, but his legacy of serving his country first must remain.
