Seven to receive
royal decorations
~Nominations needed for 2009~
PHILIPSBURG--Seven local residents will receive royal decorations this year on the occasion of Queen’s Birthday, April 30. Recipients are being honoured for their valuable contribution to community work and other outstanding achievements.
Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards, Queen Beatrix’s representation on St. Maarten, will confer the royal decorations on Friday during a reception at his home in Little Bay. The name of the recipients will be made public at that time.
Meanwhile, nominations are needed for the 2009 Royal Decorations and can be sent by individuals or organisations in the community to the Royal Decorations Advisory Committee (RODAC). Special forms are available from the committee chairwoman Jane Buncamper-Harms or any committee member.
Nominees must have carried out voluntary activities that impacted the community for over fifteen years and must still be active at the time of nomination. Information about the activities with specific periods and dates must be submitted along with the completed nomination form and a photo of the nominee. Incomplete forms will not be processed. These requirements have been stipulated for all nominations by the Chapter of the Civil Honours Advisory Commission in the Netherlands.
Once the nomination is received, RODAC issues recommendations to the Lt. Governor who prepares a proposal for the National Decorations Committee. This group advises on the nominations and sends its recommendation to the Council of Ministers. After working through the central government, the final list is sent to the Netherlands for approval.
Royal Decorations for exceptional or outstanding services to the community are divided into the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands and the Order of Orange-Nassau.
The Order of the Lion of the Netherlands is divided into three classes of Knighthood: Knight Grand Cross, Commander and Knight.
This order can be conferred on people who have rendered exceptional services to the community often through achievements or efforts springing from special talents that are of great public benefit. Examples include pioneering research and innovative entrepreneurship.
The Order of Orange-Nassau is divided into six classes: Knight Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, Knight and Member. This Order can be conferred on people who have rendered outstanding services to the community for a considerable period. They are often people who carry out voluntary work for all manners of civil society organisations. They are not only members of a board but are ordinary people who keep these organisations up and running.
