Great Bay:--- It was more like a journey through memory lane for the 60 senior citizens of the Golden Age Foundation when they went on an island tour hosted by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau on Friday, September 24th, 2010. The tour was organized as part of the activities marking World Tourism Day under the theme, "Tourism and Biodiversity"."We wanted the seniors to experience what the tourists see when they come to St. Maarten and to be able to compare the island today to the St. Maarten of their youth," said Tourism Director Regina LaBega.
Taking off from the John Larmonie Center, the group sported complementary T-shirts provided by the Tourist Bureau and was alert throughout the tour as they acknowledged the tremendous development of the island in comparison with their younger days.
"They lamented the disappearance of several ponds, and were saddened by the dilapidated buildings at Mullet Bay where several of them had worked before the resort was destroyed by Hurricane Luis in 1995." Lisa Coffi of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau said. "They also noticed with regret that they could no longer see the Simpson Bay lagoon as they drove towards the airport because it had been filled and built up."
"Some of them said they had never been at the Orient Park on the way to Orient Bay and promised to return there with their children and grandchildren," Ms. Coffi added.
The tour took them around the entire island with a stop for lunch at Busby's at Oyster Pond. The showers that came down at lunch time could not dampen their enthusiasm as they expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the restaurant for a delicious meal.
Such was the spirit in which they were that they broke into a sing-song on the way back into Philipsburg, intoning many old tunes.
Patsy Flanders of Home Away from Home Golden Age Foundation thanked the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau for involving the elders in such an activity. "They all had fun," she assured.
"They were very jovial, very exciting to be with. I learned a lot from them," said Fabian Badejo of East Caribbean DMC, who served as their tour guide.
A group young boys and girls of the Belvedere Community Center pose for a group photograph as they get ready to take part in the 12 metre race on Friday, September 24, 2010. The event was organized by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau as part of activities for this year's World Tourism Day, which is on September 27th. It was sponsored by the 12 Metre Race ... The group enjoyed the activity very much. Indeed, for many of them, it was the first time they would participate in the 12 metre race. The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau has been focusing this year on activities for the youth and the elderly to familiarize them with what tourists do when they come to the island.