Full honours for Vance James,
body will lie in state at Royal
~ Businesses asked to close their doors for procession ~
PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council confirmed Monday that it would be bestowing “full honours” on the late former veteran politician Vance James, Jr. who died of a heart attack early New Year’s Day and who will be buried on Friday.
“Given the public service accomplishments of Mr. James, the Island Government deems it appropriate to confer on him the honours applicable to a person of his stature,” the Executive Council announced in a Government Information Services (GIS) press release.
In keeping with the arrangements, an honour guard will be posted to watch over James’ body as it lies in state for public viewing at Royal Funeral Home, Sucker Garden Road, from 11:00am to 3:00pm on Thursday.
The Council said it was making the necessary preparations in cooperation with James’ family for “the final honorary farewell” for the son of the soil who had served St. Maarten as an Executive Council member, a Parliamentarian, an Island Council member and in several other capacities for over 20 years.
As part of the bestowing of full honours on James who, in addition to his service as one of St. Maarten’s best known politicians, was also well known as a broadcaster, religious leader and education administrator, the Executive Council has also scheduled an extraordinary meeting of the Island Council for Thursday morning during which members of the Council will pay tribute to the late leading statesman.
That special Island Council meeting will start at 9:00am and will be broadcast live on both radio and St. Maarten Cable TV.
To accommodate the large gathering expected to attend the meeting, a large tent will be erected outside the Government Administration Building where persons can sit and view the proceedings on an outside television.
The body will be moved to the Methodist Church on Front Street on Friday for the funeral. Viewing of the body starts at 11:00am Friday and will be followed by additional tributes from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm.
The Thanksgiving Service celebrating James Jr.’s life will be held from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. The body will be laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Methodist Cemetery after the service.
The hearse and funeral procession will be accompanied by police and the Voluntary Corps of St. Maarten VKS. They will travel down Front Street in three rows, following the casket to the Methodist Cemetery.
Businesses are asked by government to close their doors as a sign of respect for James Jr. and his family as the procession passes.
The Condolence Book in the foyer of the Government Administration Building will be available to the public from 8:00am to 5:00pm daily until Thursday morning.
A digital version of the Condolence Book is also available on line at
www.sintmaartengov.org .
