AIRPORT (April 2, 2009) Heavy gusts of wind kept on blowing off the
candles, but not the determination of the participants in PJIAE’s
candlelight vigil Wednesday evening in commemoration of People Living
with HIV/AIDS; together with a group of pupils from the Methodist Agogic
Centre (MAC), PJIAE management and staff, clad in red T-shirts, walked
in silence in front of the airport’s terminal building. The candlelight
vigil marked the start of activities at PJIAE, the
[RED] business of April 2009.
PJIAE President drs. Eugene Holiday called it heartwarming to see the
MAC pupils taking part in the walk. “When we were that age, we did not
have to take on issues as serious as HIV/AIDS,” he said. But with the
disease having taken on pandemic proportions, he urged all not to stray
away from their responsibility, but to join in the battle against the
further spread of HIV/AIDS. “Don’t just walk with us tonight in this
candle light vigil. Participate in all our Red Activities that we will
be hosting throughout this month. Participate in every activity in SXM
to stem the increase of HIV/AIDS. Participate wherever you can,” he
said.
Throughout the month PJIA’s [RED]
team has organized several events: a movie day for the MAC school in
Betty’s Estate, which the team has adopted, on Friday, April 3, during
which an HIV/AIDS related movie will be shown to the students of the
fifth and sixth grades, and a question and answer session will be held
after the movie. Then on April 17th PJIA goes back to the School to
facilitate in collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team
an HIV/AIDS information session for the students. PJIA will also
organize a essay and poster contest for the children with wonderful
prizes. In addition to the above mentioned activities PJIA employees
will attend an HIV/AIDS workplace policy information session and
employees working on the premises, the airport community will attend an
HIV/AIDS 101 session. “Those of you who use their creative skills and
write the best essays will win a prize,” drs. Holiday told the students.
MAC Principal Mr. Cedric Hodge thanked the airport for involving his
pupils in the awareness campaign. “We are honored to have been
selected,” he said. He said the school has already started its own
campaigns to increase student’s knowledge about health and hygiene.
“This [RED] campaign complements
nicely what we have been doing,” he said.
The
[Red] Campaign was launched last year by the HIV/AIDS Program
Management Team of the Island Government of St. Maarten Sector Health
Care Affairs, to foster and broaden private sector and community-based
involvement in the island’s HIV/AIDS program, and to raise public
awareness and provide education about the issues related to HIV/AIDS in
St. Maarten. Under this year’s theme “Think
[Red]. Do Safe”, the Campaign places
the emphasis on encouraging dialogue in the community by involving
primarily the private sector in outreach activities. Every month a
different business adopts the campaign, dedicating time to the cause.
PJIAE first was the [RED] business
in April 2008. “our commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS remains
unwavering,” said drs. Holiday
n
campaigns to increase student’s knowledge about health and hygiene.
“This [RED] campaign complements
nicely what we have been doing,” he said. 
