Arrindell wants Link One stone
dedicated to late Capt. Boasman
PHILIPSBURG--People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell is suggesting that late St. Maarten icon Captain Gaston Boasman be honoured by dedicating to him one of the stones placed by the Island Government at the bottom and at the top of Link One.
In a press release Monday in which she used the opportunity to convey her respects to the family and friends of the late Boasman, Arrindell also suggested that recordings of Boasman’s fund-raising activities and press conferences over the last 20 years be “collected and archived as part of our own national history for future generations to have and to cherish.”
She continued: “In that light, it would also be very interesting to make a documentary of all those who have received a scholarship through the efforts of Mr, Gaston Boasman and JFE and see where life and the opportunity provided to them have brought them.”
She described Boasman as “a true missionary for education for the people of Sint Maarten” and said he had made up for the lack of sufficient scholarships for students for decades.
She said that while PPA was “also happy to know that the late Mr. Boasman has been duly honoured during his lifetime,” consideration should be given to the PPA proposal to dedicate one of the Link One stones to him as a worthwhile way of crowning his achievements.
“This will continue to remind us all that indeed, to paraphrase Mr. Boasman’s words: ‘Education is a cheque that will never bounce.’”
Boasman, who was founder and President of Journey for Education (JFE), which provided supplementary scholarships to many students to pursue their tertiary education at home and abroad, died on February 8.
He had received many accolades in his lifetime, including being knighted by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands on April 20, 1990, for his contribution to the community.
“Captain Boasman’s life’s mission was unmistakably fuelled by his vision and love for his people and the future generation of St. Maarteners’ ability in education to be equipped with the basic tools to be self-respected and self-supportive,” explained Arrindell. She said she regretted not having had the opportunity to pay her final respects to Boasman personally last week, “due to unforeseen family circumstances.”
