The Curacao Tourist Board Honors Prime Minister Gerrit F. Schotte in New York City

The Curacao Tourist Board in America honored Curacao's first Prime Minister Gerrit F. Schotte on Friday, September 23, 2011, in New York City at Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South. Liberata Dance Theatre, Inc. was invited by Andre Rojer, Director of the Curacao Tourist Board in the U.S.A. Myrena Sint Jago, President/Artistic Director of LDT. Inc. is pictured left with Prime Minister Schotte.

The picture directly below, taken with Prime Minister Schotte, is of all those present who are from Curacao currently living and working in the surrounding areas of New York City. Myrena is pictured in the fore ground on the right with Eliane Emmanuel of the Aruban Antillean Cultural Affairs Association.

Also present were Arthur Kibbelaar, Consul for Press and Cultural Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands, pictured with Myrena below left; and Jacqueline Kolmes, Cruises Inc. pictured right with Samuel Sherrod, Secretary/Treasurer LDT, Inc. Jacqueline is one of Myrena's dance acquaintances from years ago and now operates her own travel business in New York City.

Pais Kòrsou, nos ta stimé?

Myrena Sint Jago, Artistic Director of Liberata Dance Theatre, Inc. recently got her poetry in the local newspapers in Curacao. If you can read Papiamentu/Dutch or would just like to see the article go to http://www.amigoe.com/ which is one of the newspapers carrying this article, look at Ingezonden and then find the article on the right side "Pais Korsou, nos ta stime?

This article and poem describes the issues related to the cleanliness or lack there of on the Public beaches and recreation areas in Curacao. The litter has become unbearable and there does not seem to be a system of maintaining a way of keeping it clean. The people cannot depend on the businesses, or sanitation departments to help, the only thing remaining to do is to change the culture and habits of the people to refrain from leaving their garbage behind, because that is where it will remain for weeks and months.

This is an example of the power of art to bring about change in the family, community and country. Art, when presented in a meaningful and thoughtful manner can be a political tool to encourage change throughout the world. In this case Myrena Sint Jago follows in the steps of the Poet Elis Juliana and many others from Curacao who inspired cultural enrichment via creativity.

(The updated drawing above is for a portrait painting of Myrena Sint Jago, a work in progress by Samuel Sherrod)