Island Council pays glowing tributes to Vance
~ ‘He was an outspoken fighter and advocate for the people’ ~
PHILIPSBURG--Former Island Council Member, Commissioner and Member of Parliament Vance James Jr. did things differently. He broke barriers and he was a standard-bearer and an outspoken fighter and advocate for the people.
That was how the chairman and members of the St. Maarten Island Council remembered James when they paid tribute to him during an extraordinary meeting of the council on Thursday in the presence of his family.
James, a politician, a broadcaster, a member of the clergy, an educator, a businessman and “a man of the people,” as he was referred to, died on January 1.
Former Lt. Governors, Members of Parliament, commissioners and Island Council members also were present during the solemn meeting of the Island Council which was broadcast live on both radio and television.
After the meeting the public in general paid tribute at Royal Funeral Home where James laid in state. He was honoured with a honour guard of police and St. Maarten Voluntary Corps VKS officers who will stand watch at the funeral home.
All eight Island Council members who were present in the meeting Thursday reflected on James’ life, contributions and legacy. So too did Island Council members Theo Heyliger and Leroy de Weever, who were unavoidably absent but whose messages were read by Commissioners Louie Laveist and Roy Marlin, respectively, after they had delivered their own tributes. Also unavoidably absent was National Alliance (NA) Island Councilman George Pantophlet.
Chairman of the council Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards was the first to pay tribute to the late leading statesman who made his debut as an Island Councilman in 1979. He said James’ “tireless service, even after leaving active politics, will resonate in the minds of the people of this island and elsewhere, for a long time to come.”
He continued: “Vance, who served his people with distinction and commitment, has placed a permanent mark on the history of St. Maarten.”
He said Vance had never found it necessary “to disrespect, ridicule or belittle anyone, (for) he was a man of the high road.”
National Alliance leader William Marlin, who together with James was a co-founder of St. Maarten Patriotic Movement (SPM) in 1978, remembered how James had done things his way for others to follow.
“He was the first to appoint an Executive Assistant and the first to appoint a Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary to represent St. Maarten in The Hague. Vance did things differently. He gave all his life to St. Maarten,” Marlin said.
Democratic Party (DP) Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams reflected on James’ legacy through his commitment to St. Maarten’s pursuit of separate status. It was beyond a shadow of a doubt after the people of this island spoke in the referendum of 2000, she said.
“How he marvelled at things that were achieved for St. Maarten. How proud he was of the breakthrough with the November 2, 2006, accord. Why? Because he understood the strides we made to get to that point. He understood the work that was accomplished to reach that far,” she said.
“Vance preached togetherness and love,” said NA Island Council member Frans Richardson. “He was my mentor. I had the opportunity to be guided and to be taught by him,” Richardson said proudly.
NA Councilman Rodolphe Samuel, who ran on the National People’s Party (NPP) list with James in 1999, said, “Vance happened to St. Maarten.”
Samuel: “He helped everybody on both sides of the fence, no matter what political stream they came from. I asked him why and he told me because he could not allow the island to hit the bottom.”
NA Councilman Hyacinth Richardson, whose remarks were interrupted by a power outage that affected St. Maarten Cable TV, suggested that consideration be given to observing James’ birthday as a holiday.
DP Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus said her fondest memories of James were “the moments he took time to seek me out and offer advice – sound, intelligent advice. I wonder if he ever realised that most people had such a high sense of respect for him, he could have offered that advice without asking. But, such were the mannerisms of the man. He was a true patriot, a nationalist to the core, and without doubt a statesman,” she stated.
Shortly before the meeting was closed, the Lt. Governor and members of the council signed the Book of Condolence for the late Parliamentarian, Commissioner and Island Councilman.
James’ body will lie in state at the Philipsburg Methodist Church today, Friday, from 11:00am. Tributes will be paid to him by a number of dignitaries at noon in the presence of his family.
