PHILIPSBURG--Personnel of the Netherlands defence forces in the Caribbean were awarded with commemorative medals on Thursday for relief operations after Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
The ceremony was held at the Belair Community Centre and awards were presented by Commander Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean Brigadier General of the Marine Corps Peter Jan de Vin, Governor Eugene Holiday and Colonel Sandra Keijer of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. Deputy Prime Minister Wycliffe Smith was also present during the ceremony.
De Vin and Holiday addressed the attendees prior to the ceremony,
Holiday delivered words of thanks on behalf of the people of the island. “You were called to help us and came to our aid. This brings us together and makes us strong together,” he said.
He also referred to words of former Queen Wilhelmina, which she pronounced in a radio speech in 1942. Exactly 75 years before Irma hit the Windward Islands, Wilhelmina shared her vision on relations within a then-future Dutch Kingdom. “She wanted it to be based on own strength but with the will to help each other. Her vision is still a great thing in times of need. You have granted that vision with your military assistance,” Holiday said in his speech.
De Vin looked back at the emergency relief operation in his speech. “St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius and their populations were not alone. That was our message and it quickly became visible in decisive action of which you all can be proud.
“You gave the helping hand, the epitome of the bond between the countries of the Kingdom, no empty words but very tangible in the implementation. Recognition for that work, by means of the presentation of this commemorative medal, is therefore very appropriate,” he said.
De Vin and Holiday had already handed out medals to military and civilian personnel in Curaçao on June 19. A similar medal ceremony will be held in Aruba on July 4.
Hurricane Irma became a hurricane in the strongest category in September 2017 and left a trail of destruction on St. Maarten. Two weeks after Irma, island state Dominica was also badly damaged when Hurricane Maria raged over it.
Military personnel of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Army, Air Force and Military Police (Marechaussee), together with local authorities, repaired connections and roads, helped evacuate the wounded and were deployed to prevent looting and maintain public order and security.
More than 600 military personnel were in St. Maarten at the peak, while another 400 supported them from ships and from Curaçao and Aruba. In addition, civil emergency services such as the Red Cross, the police and the organisation Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) were active.
The Royal Netherlands Navy Joint Support Ship Zr. Ms. Karel Doorman brought more than 1,300 tons of relief goods from the Netherlands and 400 tons of relief goods to Dominica. Netherlands naval vessels present in the area such as support ship Zr. Ms. Pelikaan and the station ship Zr. Ms. Zeeland delivered tons of supplies.
The NH-90 helicopter from Zr. Ms. Zeeland was a very flexible transport and reconnaissance tool. The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps delivered two so-called raiding squadrons and a headquarters from a Marine Combat Group to maintain public order and coordinate the distribution of food.
The army company stationed in Curaçao was also deployed to maintain public order and support to distribution of food. Army construction specialists restored necessary infrastructure and literally paved the way for the relief effort. In addition to army and navy units, the Royal Netherlands Air Force flew back and forth between Curaçao and St. Maarten with personnel and goods with a C-130 Hercules, as well as the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard with its Dash 8.
The relief operation lasted from September 5 to November 28, 2017.
