Festive Christmas Lights Displayed on Bernardstraat
ORANJESTAD — On October 14, Bernardstraat in San Nicolas was illuminated with Christmas lights for the first time in history.
Prime Minister Mike Eman, Minister René Herdé, Minister Wendrick Cicilia, and several volunteers gathered to witness the lighting ceremony. This historic moment marks a new milestone in the revitalization project of Bernardstraat, where a dedicated team of volunteers has been gathering every Saturday for nearly six months to paint homes in the area.
The atmosphere was filled with joy and pride, particularly among the volunteers who have devoted their free time to the project over the past six months. What began as a small group of citizens coming together each Saturday to paint houses has steadily grown into a community-wide movement gaining widespread support.
Prime Minister Eman noted that the painting efforts are clearly bearing fruit, with the street looking significantly more vibrant and welcoming. This inspired the idea to bring the festive Christmas spirit to Bernardstraat as well. To make this a reality, a request was submitted to the Department of Public Works (Dienst Openbare Werken – DOW) to install holiday lighting. Thanks to the collaboration between N.V. Elmar and DOW, this wish came to fruition: Elmar handled the necessary technical preparations and electrical infrastructure, while DOW assisted with mounting and connecting the Christmas decorations.