Wreath laying in memory of domestic violence victims
Source: TODAY Thursday November 25, 2004
GREAT BAY—To commemorate the International Day for the Awareness for
Violence against Women, there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the statue at
the Le Grand Marche roundabout in remembrance of the victims who have fallen
this year. The wreath laying will take place at I0:45am. The statue at the
roundabout represents the struggle of women against domestic violence. French St
Martin would be represented at this ceremony by Nicole Piper from the Mairie.
Peridot Foundation at a press conference at the Mairie yesterday morning gave
some insight into the Foundation and the gravity of domestic violence on St
Martin. The Peridot Foundation was forced three years ago, after the island and
the rest of the world had a high according Arrindell. The Peridot Foundation has
had several marches and vigils and has commended organizations such as Safe
Haven, which was founded five years ago, for doing a "commendable" job in
bringing about awareness. The Foundation, Arrindell noted funds prompted us to
be part of the struggle against domestic violence from the other angle. And that
angle became creative in terms of erecting a statue as an international
symposium to symbolize the struggle of women, children and also of men, in
bringing about awareness and the ills of domestic violence," the council woman
stated. Arrindell, in mentioning the theme of this symbol "Guarding loved ones,
you may lose," stated that it is a universal theme. She added that they want to,
through the foundation, get funds from the outside (the rest of the world via
the website) and give these funds to organizations on both the French and Dutch
St Martin, Saba, Statia and if everything goes well, the rest of the world. The
PPA leader stated that the proceeds that they aim to get will be reached by the
sale of the statues via the website, which will be set up and will be donated to
"police organizations and organizations that deal with families and schools that
have an objective to help strengthen families, to set up projects that will help
our youngsters to engage in other issues other than violence."
Arrindell pointed out that the Peridot Foundation is not a foundation that
counsels family members or victims of abuse. "That's why you have other
foundations, we don't want to replicate the work that these other foundations
are doing. We want to take it from the other angle, that we get funding from the
rest of the world and bring it back to this community," Arrindell clarified.
Arrindell also made a rather pleasing disclosure. Earlier in this year, on March
8 UN ambassador Louisa Viciosa from the Dominican Republic, who has 25 years
dealing with issues of domestic violence in families, with kids, prostitution of
young children in the Dominican Republic and in the world, visited St Martin. "Viciosa
has pledged that she would help this organization to make the theme and the
symbol for the year 2006-2007; we are not yet sure of the date because it takes
a while. It has to go through the long process of UN and the general assembly to
finalize and accept the proposal. But we are very confident that with her help,
her experience, her connections within the UN that that will be a positive
contribution from the women and men of St. Martin to bring about this symbol and
awareness worldwide.
Mayor Albert Fleming from French St Martin was also at the press conference and
applauded the work of the Peridot Foundation. "When we live in a society that is
growing economically fast as are going with all the different negatives, I hope
that other people
Source: THE DAILY HERALD Thursday November 25, 2004
French side
Deputy Mayor of Arts and Culture Affairs Nicole Piper (second left) and Dutch
side Island Council woman Gracita Arrindell (third left) laid a wreath at the
"Mother and Child" statue at the Bush Road roundabout on Thursday to mark
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and in memory of
all the victims of domestic violence. Attending the brief ceremony were
representatives of Peridot Foundation, the event organizer, and other
organizations.