Library and NDP host panel discussion on nation building this Thursday

This panel discussion will be themed “Building the Nation of St Maarten: The Role of Cultural Heritage Institutions”.“Our main purpose for this event is to explore ways in which cultural heritage institutions, like our library, can contribute to the Nation building process by learning from the experiences of the National Library of Aruba”, stated Library Director, Monique Alberts.

The keynote address will be delivered by researcher and educator, Drs. Mirto Laclé from Aruba. Laclé holds two master's degrees in Hispanic and Latin American Literature and Linguistics. His expertise are in Creole languages, specifically Papiamentu. The retired lecturer of the Instituto Pedagogico Arubano currently coordinates special projects at the National Library of Aruba.

Panelists for the event will include archeologist Dr. Jay Haviser representing the St. Maarten Archaeological Center (SIMARC), Marcellia Henry, Secretary General of UNESCO St. Maarten, Drs. Okama Ekpe-Brook, NDP representative, and Drs. Monique Alberts, PJL Director. Moderator for the panelists will be author, senior journalist, and cultural activist, Fabian Badejo. “We want to encourage young people to use the library for research on tangible and intangible cultural heritage, ancestral lineage, monuments, etc. We also want to encourage the love of reading as a way to improve literacy and a knowledge based economy”, said Okama Ekpe-Brook.