Lions Club District Governor Denise Forrest (centre) pinning Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs (second right) in the presence of Second Vice District Governor Claudio Buncamper (left), St. Maarten Lions Club President Oralie Boirard (second left) and Past District Governor Maxime Larmonie (right).
SUCKER GARDEN--The St. Maarten Lions Club named Prime Minister (PM) Silveria Jacobs as an honorary member of the club during the recent working visit of Lions Club District Governor of District 60B, Denise Forrest.
The official pinning was done when Forrest paid a courtesy call to the Office of the Prime Minister. “This is customary when a District Governor visits clubs in various countries and islands,” said the club in a press release on Wednesday.
St. Maarten Lions Club President Oralie Boirard, Second Vice District Governor Claudio Buncamper and Past District Governor Maxime Larmonie accompanied Forrest to the Prime Minister’s office.
“The St. Maarten Lions Club bestowed this honorary membership on Prime Minister Jacobs for the assistance that she had given the club by presenting a law amendment while sitting as Member of Parliament [MP – Ed.] as far back as 2015, which ultimately raised the legal drinking age from 16 to 18 years old and is now in effect since September 2019.
“As Chairperson of the Education Committee of Parliament at the time, Silveria Jacobs took the initiative to meet further with the legal representatives of the Lions [Club] and got outside legal advice on changing the Permit Ordinance. The amendment prohibits businesses in the country from selling or serving alcohol to minors below the age of 18,” said the club.
An honorary member is not a regular member of the Lions Club. A person can be granted honorary membership by a Lions Club for having performed outstanding service to the community.
“The St. Maarten Lions Club felt Prime Minister Jacobs so rightly deserved [the honorary membership] for her hard work and dedication to safeguard the youth of St. Maarten from alcohol abuse at a young age,” said the club.
