GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – On June 25, 2019 the artist Ruby Bute’s artwork, a special rendition entitled “185 miles wind”, made its long-anticipated arrival in the chambers of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament in The Hague, the Netherlands.
After having been displayed at the Council of State, the National Red Cross, UNICEF and at various Ministries in The Hague, the portrait will now be on public display at the Second Chamber for 18-months.
Minister Wuite in her address during the reception on the occasion of the IPKO meetings, gave an outline of the progress and developments since 2017 and emphasized the need for continued dialogue and understanding within the Kingdom.
Minister Wuite further mentioned the fact that even though the Sint Maarten IPKO delegates were not present at this Inter Parliamentary Kingdom meetings, Sint Maarten was symbolically represented through Bute’s artwork and the members of the cabinet.
Wuite said this signals support for the deliberations that commenced that day. Similar to the chairlady of the Second Chamber Khadija Arib, further reference was made to the significance of art and culture uniting nations, especially in the current landscape within the Kingdom, where all are called to work diligently, securely and in the interest of the countries constituting the Kingdom.
Minister Wuite reference to the fact that she was exactly one year in this function in the Netherlands, and that she was pleased to see that this initiative, triggered through her conversation with Bute in June 2018 prior to her departure, materialized.
As Wuite considers cultural diplomacy and the younger Sint Maarten generation of importance in her tasks of representation and Kingdom relations, she introduced young professional Carla Vlaun to the parliamentarians in the Second Chamber.
Vlaun, who completed her Masters degree in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, presented her thesis “Tis We ting, All Ah We”, with a special analyses of the historical development of carnival, the construction of identity and the role of government in the formation and promotion of such identities.
Carla Vlaun, in her brief address to the gathering, narrated the origin of carnival on Sint Maarten, the importance of the ‘carnival spirit’ of both Caribbean and national identity and the ambition of preserving and documenting one’s cultural heritage.
The role and understanding of government cannot be understood without these reflections on identity and the practice of carnival. Vlaun, using parts of her thesis, awed those present with her eloquent and persuasive delivery.
Vlaun will return to Sint Maarten this summer to further her career and considered the presentation at the Second Chamber to be a great opportunity as well as a wonderful manner to conclude her years of work and study in the Netherlands and Europe.
After the address of both the Minister Plenipotentiary Jorien Wuite and Carla Vlaun, the painting was unveiled by the chairlady of the Second Chamber, Khadija Arib and Minister Wuite after which a toast was made to not only a successful IPKO but also to Sint Maarten for this wonderful gesture.
The painting will be on public display at the Second Chamber for 18-months. Chairlady Arib thanked Sint Maarten for the gesture made, which was deeply appreciated. Minister Wuite recognized former chair of the Kingdom Relations Committee Alexander Pechtold, who made this happen through his role as chair of the Art Committee of the Second Chamber.
PHOTO: Carla Vlaun
