Starting life on an island Maximiliaan Willem Nicholson was born on the island of Saba a former Territory of The Netherlands Antilles on August 26, 1934 to Polly Geraldine Nicholson and John Lionel Nicholson in the Town of Bottom. Max was born in a chauvinistic and somewhat secular era predictable at the time in the society of the island of Saba. Saba like most Caribbean islands shared the history of Captains, Pirates, and White Planters and oppressed Black People of African decent. The typical colonial past of the new world in the Americas was also relevantly simultaneous on Saba. Saba was mainly a Dutch colony annexed to St. Eustatius. The Dutch colony extended all the way to Surinam, Paramaribo and the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands were also included from 1828 to 1845; known as the Netherlands West Indian Possession. The Governor General of the Colony resided in Paramaribo. The smallness of Saba of only five (5) square miles island did not prevent it from sharing in the colonial past of the Caribbean islands. This past came to be by settlers from Portugal, Spain, England, Holland, France and other people from different countries in Europe. Saba was an isolated corner of the Caribbean in the 1930s and most of the world didn’t know that the island even existed. Max’s early childhood was in an uncommon Caribbean island where it seemed that the old Caribbean still persisted and time stood still. In the 1930s there were hardly any roads built on Saba and people had to make use of the many step roads that connected the different villages. Max’s mother, Polly carried him on her back up the steep roads as a child growing up in the Town of Bottom. At that time when Max was born, Saban men built there own boats, The local Police-man had to double the bell ringer on the street to mark each passing hour. He also had to post daily the exchange rate on a street bulletin board. Saba was also known as the island of women as many had to go away to work to support their family on Saba. Black kids had to pay personal visits to White people and bringing them flowers for their Birthdays. Black men known as porters transported cargo from the 200 steps coming up the Fort Bay Harbor and had to bow at the sight of the Lieutenant Governor who was a white man. That was the island of Saba Max was born to in 1934, not knowing that he will be the chosen one, a color man to change it and create a catalyst of progress by his ingenuity. In the year of 1934 in which Max was born, the construction of the Government building was being carried out. This building is near the Hospital in the Bottom and is now called the Culture Building. It first began just as an operation quarters for the island’s Lieutenant Governor and then in 1934 it was expanded to Post Office, Court Hall and Office of the Administrator and Staff. He grew up on Saba as an island boy and attended the Dr. Moses Crossley primary school in the Bottom. Max left Saba in the year 1948 at the age of fourteen years as a young boy in order to continue his schooling in St. Maarten. On Saba each village had their own school, the children from the village o the Windwardside went to a school in that village; and the children in Town of Bottom who were mostly black and colored went to the Dr. Moses Crossley School in Town of Bottom. In the 1940s there was no continuing secondary education on Saba. Henceforth, many Saban youths who wanted to become educated left home to go to another island, such as St. Maarten, Aruba or Curacao. Only those children from families who were well off or had family abroad, were able to go away even to the U.S.A or The Netherlands. In the island of St. Maarten, Max quickly adopted as he had family on that island. The saying goes as follows, at a certain point in a man’s life, he will meet his significant other, his true love. That person is significant by truly being the one that compliments you in achieving success in your life. Ms. Margaret Germen Nicholson was that significant other for Max. Germen was born to Sarah Lucinda Bryan and Jacob Alexander Nisbeth on December 02, 1933 on the island of St. Marten. She truly complimented Max, uplifted him and was the great lady that Max was seeking. He had first met her while going to school in St. Maarten and acquainted himself with her. In 1948, Ms. Germen was fifteen years old when she met Max. She was in the sixth grade going on to the seventh grade. She was not sure if she wanted to continue schooling, as she was not certain of her future in education. She found a job as an assistant teacher at a local pre-school center on Back Street St. Maarten. This pre-school was located in a building known as the Brick Building. The pre-School center was affiliated with the Methodist Church located next to it. The opportunity of getting this job convinced Germen to make the decision to start working. This enabled her to help her family, pay bills and contribute financially to her household instead of continuing on to Secondary School. In the 1950s in St. Maarten, many children did not go on to secondary school due to the economic situation of the time. It was also prevalent that not much importance was place on education. Germen, despite the norms of the time or the impact of culture still had a bright future in the horizons in junction with Max. Max was certainly on the ladder of success into the future. He could not imagine the success in-store for him. The completion of secondary school in St. Maarten was a great accomplishment but also another step in his Academic career. His University education continued on in Aruba. He started school in Aruba in 1953 in pursue of his academic career. Max was destined to catch up with Germen in that island. Max was well received in Aruba as his Father Lionel Nicholson, better known as Nel, was born in Aruba. Nel was a local businessman. He was the owner of a Cola factory and rum shop or as we now properly refer to it today: a liquor store. He also owned two bars on down street and up street of the center of San Nicholas, a town in Aruba. Nel was a well-known and successful businessman in Aruba in the 1940s. He knew all the big shuts in business and all the big politicians and was connected with top-government officials. Germen migrated to Aruba to stay with her older brother Alpheus Warner who was also born in St. Maarten. She immigrated to the booming economy in Aruba due to the Lago oil refinery and Tourism one year before Max. Germen quickly found a job in Aruba in doing catering in parties and in weddings. In the Neighborhood of San Nicholas, Max loved riding his bike. He did not know that Germen, in her search for a better job and a better life would come to reside in the home next to his Father’s house in Aruba. Max and Germen became overwhelmed when they came to know that they were neighbors. That explained the particular malady of Max always being around her brother’s house. She remarked that: “In the 1950s there were a lot of weddings in Aruba”. This was good for the catering business she was in of making very impressive decorative cakes and sold them to wedding couples and other people for birth parties, and other celebrations or occasions. She recalls that the catering business for her at that time was booming. Soon after then, she learned to become a seamstress and took night courses in secretarial administration. She always wanted to better her self so that she can live a better and more comfortable life. Life for her was simple based on the principals of handwork and honesty to be able to make money and live comfortably. Max quickly excelled in the academic ladder as a student of business in Aruba. He was a swift talker and his brains worked as fast as a computer. In University, he did not only study business but also Moss Code which is a military radio coding system to send short radio messages especially to ships lost at sea or a plane. In University, he was the talker, the social type of guy, and the friend to go out with and have a good time but also the leader. He was not afraid to take the controversial side of any issue. Max was very discipline and clever. He quickly out-smarted anybody in any conversation by the swiftness and sharpness of his speech. Max just like his Father Nel Nicholson was very business minded. He loved to start a business; Germen Nicholson explained that he was very successful in starting businesses. Once all the permits were acquired and set-ups for the business have been done, he would then almost kind of abandoned it and put someone else to run it for him. Germen knew that Max very much-disliked doing the administration work for business and would prefer if someone else would deal with it ‘and that was just the way he was,’ Germen commented. Max rode his bike consistently up and down a lane in front of Alpheus Warner’s house to get Germen’s attention in the town of San Nicolas. Ms. Germen murmured to her girl friends and brother at the instant: “look at him going up and down on that bike, looking for someone but it sure can’t be me whom he is looking for.” One day when Germen was alone, he got the valor to go up to her by the gate and told her that he loves her and wants to marry her. Germen reacted cynically at this impulsive emotional outbreak by Max and she just laughed and asked him if ‘he was out of his mind’? Max didn’t easily give up in his quest to get her to fall in love with him. He kept coming to Alpheus’ house looking for her. Germen was compelled to seriously inform Max that she is living in her older brothers’ home and is under his rules and guardianship and does not want to have any guy coming to visit her at her older brother’s house. His visitation would not look respectable in the eyes of her older brother. Max obviously, did not give up in courting Germen, the pearl of his eyes and pursued her until she, Germen fill in his arms. Max and German became married in 1958 and they went for their honeymoon in a big Resort on the island of Curacao. Arriving at the Resort as a newly married couple; other guests began clapping at the sight of them and shouted ‘congratulations’ to cheer them up. The long line of people at the front desk who were checking-in allowed Max and Germen to pass right through and to check in first and continued to cheer on. Leo Chance who was a Saban politician in Aruba was part of the Staten or Legislature of the Netherlands Antilles and was in Curacao at the time and Max bumped into him. He was sitting by the bar of the Resort and Max and Germen were passing by. Ms. Germen greeted Mr. Chance and she proceeded to her Hotel Room. Max and Chance sat down for a moment at the bar and had a drink. Chance was very please to see Max. The two gentlemen did not know at that time the future success they will accomplish as future leaders of the country The Netherlands Antilles. After their lovely honeymoon in Curacao, Max Nicholson and Germen Nicholson left Aruba and moved to live on the small island named Saba, where Max was born. Aruba Flying Club While living in St. Maarten Max frequently visited Aruba in 1974, Max was interested in Aviation. He became a member of the Aruba Flying Club and the International Pilot Club of the U.S.A and subscribed to a Pilot Magazine and learned a lot of new advancements in airplane technology. He didn’t have time though to get his pilot certification as he got busier with running the business of his father in Aruba. He did not obtain enough flying hours to become a certified licensed pilot, as his wife Germen did not want him to pursue a career as a pilot. He abandoned the courses as more interesting endeavors were ahead in running the business of his father. J.I. Kock who was the Vice President of the Aruba Flying Club opened the meeting of November 12, 1974. The President E.Ch. M. Nicolaas sent word that he would come later. At the club meeting fourteen (14 persons were present, among them four (4) guests. Mr. Kock made a newsletter about the coming Field Day. He distributed copies to all present and went through the contents. He discussed that help would be needed from oversees persons to make the planed field trip a reality. The Secretary J.A. du Bois approved the minutes of the last meeting before Field Day of The Aruba Flying Club on October 8, 1974 which were as follows: To have the hours changed of 1974 for the VST into 217.4; total time to 562.0. The KLM flying club had sent a letter to the Aruba flying Club in answer to the request of AFC. The application that was submitted by Mr. M.W. Nicholson was passed around. The Club decided to send minutes and Agenda for the next one in prior to every General meeting. Mr. A. Klamer as Treasurer reported to the members the financial transactions over October 1974 of the club. He also informed the club members of the accumulated o 8, 726 guilders, which was a lot of money in the 70’s. This money was raised by the paying of member fees and fund-raising events done by the club. The liquidity of the club was getting low though according to the expenses that the club had and more heavy bills were on the way. Mr. Klamer encouraged the members to plan more fundraising events for the club to be able to meet all the financial obligations. The maintenance Director and Purchasing Agent Mr. Gr. Arrindell reported that the VST would have a 50 hrs. inspection and that the 25T is maintained by tag hours. (They found now a 19hr. ‘s difference in hours.) The 25T will be maintained by American standards. A new artificial horizon was installed and on the AIF a quotation was expected. The spinner of the VST was off, a new one was then to be ordered. The Radio of the VST was bad. The report of the Aruba flying club stated that: Mr. P.E. Bernabela was appointed fight director on October 25, 1974, On October 14 Mr. Frank Windral flied alone in an airplane; de Vuyst Field was closed on November 2nd and 3rd, because of work on the runway. The flight tower on Beatrix-runway had no direct connection with the outside anymore. There were special proceedings for flying on Field Day and briefing for all pilots about these proceedings was followed. Mr. Nicolaas the chairman of the club commented that: “ Mr. Wegenbouw did not do the proper job as the Club expected on the plane that he was hired to maintain and fix. The oil was sill to be put in the plane and that Aruba flying Club will try to extend payments to Lago Oil Company after Field Day. The Club did not spend money on work and equipment so far. Mr. A. Granville was in charge of the runway and needed a lot of help in maintaining it.” The Chairman asked Mr. Cl. Rutt: “if he had already assigned persons to different jobs in connection with the Field Day. Mr. Rutt responded in stating that he had organized a few co-workers already, but he was still waiting for volunteers.” Mr. Max Nicholson left the room and the Chairman, Mr. E. Nicolaas told the members that: “Mr. Nicholson lives in St. Martin, but that he often visits Aruba. He has to become an Associate Member.” Having accepted a motion that took an open vote, Mr. Nicholson was unanimously voted in as an Associate Member of the Aruba Flying Club in 1974. Then after the induction of Max Nicholson, the meeting continued and the Chairman made a motion that raised the monthly dues from f. 20 to f. 30. The treasurer considered f. 25 high enough and he asked to consider the Aruba Flying Club rates in connection with starting from Beatrix runway and de Vuyst runway. The flights of Aruba’s flying Club are more costly to Bonaire and Curacao. The Chairman Mr. E. Nicolaas withdrew his motion and it was put on Agenda of the next meeting. The President stated that another point of discussion was going to be that: ‘Every member flies one and half hour per month’. The last meeting of the Aruba flying before the Field of 1974 was on Tuesday, December 10, At 7:30 p.m; the and members were request to be present to help Clarence. The meeting was then closed, in which Max Nicholson became Associate Member of the Aruba Flying Club in 1974.’ Max Nicholson was later asked on December 10th 1974 along with Gr. Arrindel to investigate registrations and import-duties on equipments ordered by the club. Max was also involved in a discussion of the selling of one of the planes of the club. The ground school of the Aruba flying Club began on June 3rd 1975. The ground course offered in the ground school aimed to instruct all A.F.C. students pilots and also prospective students in the basic theoretical knowledge as required by the Netherlands Antilles Department of Civil Aviation for the Private Pilot 1st class and Radio Telephony exams. The ground school course was also recommended as a refresher course for licensed pilot. Mr. Max Nicholson spoke of the need for a bigger Airport for Saba to allow international flights and wanted the airport on Flat Point moved to Giles Quarter. He believed in Tourism as a good economy to develop on Saba. He was not able to accomplish this, as other politicians of Saba did not see it feasible because of the Wind directions in Giles Quarter could affect the ability of flights coming in. The Airport was kept in Flat point as it proved to be the best location with less major effect by the wind directions. Max sent a letter to the Circulation Department, Flying Magazine in Colorado U.S.A on March 26th, 1976 as follows: “I am interested in your flying monthly magazine. I am a member of the National Pilots Association of Washington D.C. I tried through them but it was not possible, so they refer me to you. I would like to receive your magazine monthly by airmail. So please let me know the prize plus airmail.” The National Pilots Association of Washington soon after began mailing magazines and catalogues of the most recent developments in aviation to Max. He enjoyed reading of new technologies in airplanes and accessed the information. This was an interest that always fascinated him. Bunker Hill Cottage The Bunker Hill Cottage is one of Saba’s oldest historical-traditional home bought over by Max Nicholson who was Deputy/Commissioner at that time, from Ruth Hassell in the 1960’s and remains in possession of the Nicholson Family. The Cottage traditionally was a Sea Captain’s Home. A Governor by the name of Thomas Dinzey owned and lived in Bunker Hill Cottage in 1780. His families were settlers from England. The Dinzeys first came to Barbados, after to St. Kitts and then to Saba. Thomas Dinzey became Vice-Commander of Saba from 1778 – 1801, Commander from 1801 to 1803 and Vice-Governor from 1803 – 1809 in the Dutch Colonies of The Netherlands Antilles and through the Occupation of the British and French. Governor Thomas Dinzey owned a small sugar plantation running from Town of Bottom to Middle Island and 100 oppressed black people served for him. Richard Dinzey son of Governor Thomas Dinzey (1796 –1860) born on Saba played a prominent role in St. Barths at the time when the island belong to Sweden as a businessman. Susannah Leverock born Dinzey, was the daughter of Governor Thomas Dinzey and the Mother of Lieutenant Governor Moses Leverock who emancipated the slaves in 1863 of Saba as Royal decree from the Netherlands. Susannah Leverock was raised in Bunker Hill Cottage. Richard Burton Dinzey had two children: John Richard Dinzey and Edward Dinzey. He had them with a woman of color and sent his two sons to a boarding school in the Dominican Republic so that they would not face racism since some islands were more tolerant of color at the time. The following is a description of John Richard Dinzey, born in Saint Christopher island (St. Kitts & Nevis) in the year of 1887, and who lived in the Dominican Republic until his Death in March 3, 1981. Sir Richard Dinzey, Knight, was born on Saba in 1796 son of Governor Thomas Dinzey and was raised in Bunker Hill Cottage. He married Eliza Peterson whose family came from Denmark. She was born in 1802 and died in St. Barth’s in 1806. King Oscar I, made him a knight of the Royal order of Wasa. He was honored for his fidelity to his sovereign and devotion to the interest of his adopted country. As a faithful tribute and in gratitude his devoted wife and children erected a tablet. This plague is on the interior wall of the first Anglican Church on the island of St. Barth’s. He died in St. Barths on August 15th 1860. Sir Richard Dinzey had several children, a daughter Roberta Dinzey, Peter Dinzey, Joseph Dinzey, and Doctor John Knigtly Dinzey (John K. Dinzey). He was the medical officer at St. Kitts. He graduated from Jefferson Medical School, Pennsylvania, United States of America. He innovated the technique for the treatment of tetanus with great success. Roberta Dinzey married on June 15th, 1850 a Swedish nobleman, Carl John Ridderhjerta. They had a daughter: Augusta Gabriel married Axel Victor Emanuel Dolman, also Swedish nobleman, on February 24th, 1873. Axel died in 1926 and Augusta passed away on May 17, 1922. they had no children. Peter Dinzey was born in 1839, and died on November 14, 1919 due to an automobile accident in Brooklyn, New York. He was pronounced death at Jewish Hospital, and is buried at Greenwood cemetery. The Department if health of the City of New York had a Bureau of Records containing the certificate of Roberta Dinzey: registered No. 21896. Joseph Dinzey, another of Richard’s son, at the age of fourteen (14) was sent to Burlington College in New Jersey, U.S.A., to complete his preparatory education. This was an Anglican boy’s boarding school and he remained at the school for four years. In 1853 he entered St. Augustine’s College, Cantebury, England to prepare for the ministry. He returned to St. Kitts (West Indies) and was nominated assistant curate of St. George’s Church. He was ordained priest on August 19th, 1858 and one year later received his license as Curator of Christ Church, Nicola Town and St. Mary’s Church, Cayson on the island of St. Kitts. Then, one year later moved to St. John’s Church, Antigua as curate of St. Lukes Chapel. The Reverend Joseph Dinzey is now remembered as the founder of the Compton Anglican Girls College in Compton County, Quebec. (1874-18840 Dr. John Knightly Dinzey (John K. Dinzey, M.D.) had a son and a daughter. His son’s name was Richard B. Dinzey and Anna Beatrice Dinzey. Richard B. Dinzey was born in Philadelphia in 1862 when his parents were there for a while. Anna Beatrice was born in 1886 on St. Kitts (St. Christopher island). Richard Burton Dinzey entered to New York City in a boat from Jamaica, in the Caribbean, through Ellis Island in 1910. Richard Burton Dinzey met his son John Richard Dinzey in Panama Peninsula in 1910. (Copy of the boats documents is in Ellis Island Museum. Domingo A. Dinzey has a printed copy of the landing of John B Dinzey in Ellis Island, New York. On April 23, 1910, Richard wrote a letter to his son John, who was living in the Dominican Republic with his brother Edward. The letter introduces in this way, quote: “I sent a postcard which I hope you have received safely. I received your letter and was very glad to hear of your safe arrival in St. Domingo…ect” (Dominican Republic). The original of this letter is in a safe place in Bronx, New York, at the house of one of John Richard’s daughter (Beatriz Dinzey), copy of which is on the hands of Domingo A. Dinzey, in Bronx, New York, as of today, May 19. 2004. The letter finalizes, quote: “Your affectionate father, John B. Dinzey’. Anna Beatrice Dinzey, Dr. John K. Dinzey’s daughter, married Lewis Webster Harvey in 1898 on the County of Brooklyn, New York, Richard Burton Dinzey had two children and a daughter, John Richard Dinzey and Edward B. Dinzey. John Richard Dinzey was born on September 2nd, 1887 in the Parish of St. John in the island of St. Christopher & Nevis (St. Kitts & Nevis0, as per Certificate of Birth No. 256452, page 157, issued by the Registrar General in the island of St. Kitts on December 7th, 1993. John Richard and Edward B. Dinzey’s mother was Louisa Carey as per the same certificate. The Dinzey family also migrated to the Dominican Republic. John Richard Dinzey Carey jr. was born on the island of St. Kitts in 1887 and immigrated to the Dominican Republic in 1901, at the turn of the century with his brother Edward Dinzey. They are the sons of Richard B. Dinzey. The brothers lived in the City of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic as their father sent them off so that they would be entirely accepted socially in the Dominican Republic and not face discrimination. They separated for some unknown reason and it is not certain if the brothers kept in contact. John Richard Dinzey, the paternal grandfather of Rebeca Lorena Dinzey had as many as 57 children of which her father is the 28th in line and the first son out of 8 with her grandmother Casiana Germen, Ms.Casiana Germen passed away on March 2, 1981. The maternal side of the family of Rebeca Dinzey is both Spanish-white and mullatoe and her paternal side of the family Anglo-Saxon and Mullatoe. Mullatoe is a mixed people of native Indians: Arowak and Carib, African, and white European people who settled in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean islands giving birth to a colonial history. The maternal grandfather of Rebeca Dinzey, Epharim Genao moved to the east part of the Dominican Republic and married her grandmother Mercdes Elogidina Sosa. Epharim Genao was born sometime between 1905-1907 in the northern-western part of the Dominican Republic, around Santiago de Los Caballeros. Rebeca Dinzey’s grandfather Epharim Genao lived most of his life in Hato Mayor, a district in the Dominican Repulbic. Epharim Genao strangely became separated from his family. As a consequence he carries a different last name Genao then his original family ‘Nunez”. The family has no knowledge of why he carries the family name of Genao, which is an Italian name, and not his original family name. Rebeca Dinzey’s mother grew up not knowing much about her husband’s family. Bunker Hill Cottage is a prestige national monument of Saba originally belonging to the Dinzey family. The Author of this Book Cristian Hassell has lived in it and consequentially researching its history has produced this historical information researched by the author himself and Domingo A. Dinzey. The Bunker Hill Cottage, the family home where the Dinzey family originated on Saba is more than 230 years old built in the 1700s looking up at the roof from inside resembles an upturned Captain’s Schooner/Boat. The Architecture of this home is unique. The supporting pillars to hold –up the roof of Bunker Hill Cottage are carved with designs. Those two pillars were boxed in with wood to preserve and protect them. The roof also contains a unique structure of pillars to outline it, very distinct from homes of today with just a flat roof. Prominent visitor made a stop at Bunker Hill Cottage and were formerly greeted and welcomed to Saba. It was like a pleasant rest point after climbing up the 200 steps from the Fort Bay. The song ‘O, little island in the Sun’ states that Saba Welcomes everyone. The tradition of the reception of people at Bunker Hill Cottage became no longer necessary after the building of Roads on the island. . Bunker Hill Cottage is strategically located where the steps coming up from the Fort Bay met the flat land of Town of Bottom (The Bottom). Many important visitors were greeted there upon arrival. This was a little break point from making the climb of 200 steps from the Fort Bay Harbor. Captain Fred Simmons owned Bunker Hill Cottage who was Captain of the Schooner Springbird. The Schooner carried cattle from the Virgin Islands to the Windward Islands. The Cottage was then purchased for the amount of NAFl 1,000 (guilders) which is a conversion rate of USD$ 555, by Father Mattheus De Groen as a residence for Eart Joseph Sloterdijk. This was in order for Sloterdijk to marry Orie Hassell, a Saban girl. Eart then converted to a Roman Catholic. Sloterdijk was a policeman from the province of Frysia in the Netherlands. He rented the home with his wife Orie Hassell. Eart Sloterdijk was also an immigration officer in the 1800s and sometimes did his work at Bunker Hill Cottage. Sloterdijk was also the former harbormaster and Brigadier in charge of the Saba police. At the age of 16 he tried to join the military ranks but was rebutted and sent back home to his parents. In 1911 at the age of 18 he joined the Koloniaal. He then became a part of the Koninlijke marechausse or military police in Curacao in 1912, where he served the Dutch Crown on St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba. He was awarded the Bronze Star in 1924, attained the rank of Sergeant and Harbormaster in 1928; later Brigadier of the police force on Saba. He served the Queen for more then 20 years and retired on Saba. Kenneth Bolles, an American writer who visited Saba in 1931 aboard the steamer Baralt writes as following: “The harbormaster, who was also Brigadier in charge of the Saba police, shook my hand. He was bristly and full of good cheer, his blue eyes and ruddy Dutch cheeks shining beneath a white helmet. His Khaki coat was strewn with brass buttons and the bulging of an upper pocket, which hung from a big gold chain, suggesting the presence of an enormous gold watch. He spoke English.” This quote is from an unpublished manuscript titled “Caribbean Interlude” Mr. Bolles in the above paragraph described the first person he met, Eart Sloterdijk; after being transported via a small surf boat atop the crashing waves to the less than inviting rocky shore of Fort Bay harbor. Martha Ora Hassell known as Orie Hassell was born on Saba in 1884. She is the descendant of a traditional Saban family, the Hassell family who were Pioneers of Saba of Scottish, English and Irish descendants. As the first settlers on Saba from as early as 1677, they are the only family with a crest or coat of Arms. The Great Migration as the described in the House of Names Swyrich Corporation: “Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make exceptional contributions to the emerging Nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Hassell. William Hassell settled in Virginia in 1635, John Hassell landed in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1647 , Richard Hassell landed in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1636, Alice Hassell arrived in Maryland in 1660”; to name a few among a lot others including those in the Caribbean islands who came to Saba 1677. Sloterdijk died before his wife Orie Hassell and she lived in Bunker Hill many years after his death. Bunker Hill Cottage became in possession of Anna B. Johnson and then in Possession of Ruth and Danny Hassell. Max Nicholson purchased this very Saban traditional home from Ruth Hassell in 1960. Max Nicholson and his sister Ms. Carmen Simmons started the Bunker Hill Club Restaurant/Coffee House in the 1960s that became a popular place for black people to socialize. In the Windwardside there was a Club for whites and a few colored or official (elite) black people. Max Nicholson was one of those elite colored people along with such family as the Granger family. Max though did not go to that Club in the Windwardside, as he perceived it to be a club that promotes segregation. In the 1960s black people had a lot of political power. A man by the name of Matthew Livingston used his political capital to establish the airport on Saba on Flat Point. Max Nicholson became politically involved with Matthew Livingston in the late 1950s and then became Deputy/Commissioner of Saba at the young age of 29 years in 1963. Economic change came to Saba under the commissionaire of Max Nicholson. The Juancho Yrausquin airport was completed in 1963. A new airport meant a bigger flow of tourism in to the island of Saba. The coming into leadership of Max Nicholson in the Government of Saba were said to be years of economic growth and development under his administration. In Bunker Hill Cottage Max Nicholson kept safely stored away in a brief case The New York Times newspaper of 1975. In one of his travels to New York he bought the newspaper containing a highlight of the speech of Dr. Joaquin Balaguer President of the Dominican Republic. Max greatly admired and respected President Balaguer. He was delighted to know of President Balaguer who took office for the first time in 1960 – 1962, his first term. Commissioner Max Nicholson followed closely the administration of President Balaguer as Dr. Balaguer was determined to lead a democratic Government in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Nation was plagued with continuous dictators ruling her government and dictating her people. The last dictator was Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, the worse tyrant of them all; Trujillo was assassinated on May 30, 1961 by orders to the CIA by President John F Kennedy. Dr. Balaguer went on to serve three non-consecutive terms as President of the Dominican Nation after the assignation of Trujillo. The second term he served from 1966 to 1978, a time when Max Nicholson was Commissioner on the Island Dutch Territory of Saba. Balaguer’s third term was from 1986 to 1996, a time when Max Nicholson was State Secretary and Minister of State; of the Netherlands Antilles in the Office of the Minister of General Affairs. In 1992 the Consulate General of the Latin Country of Venezuela in Curacao gave Junior Minister Max Nicholson the honor of inviting him to Bolivar Plaza to commemorate the 181 years of the signature enacting the independence of the Republic of Venezuela as State Secretary of General Affairs of the former Country the Netherlands Antilles. In the country of Venezuela in the year 1959 the President Romulo Bentacourt spoke strongly against the dictator Trujillo. He supported the conspirators of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. Trujillo strongly despised and hated President Bentacourt, he openly opposed his regime in the Dominican Nation. Trujillo interfered with the internal affairs of Venezuela by working with exiled Venezuelans to topple President Bentacourt. Bentacourt carried the case of Trujillo’s wicked regime to the Organization of American States. This infuriated Trujillo and he sent his agents to plant a bomb inside the car of the President of Venezuela in his own country. This assassination attempt left President Bentacourt severely injured. This incident of June 24, 1960 made the international opinion strongly against Trujillo labeling him as an evil tyrant. The Organization of American States placed sanctions on the Dominican Republic and the diplomatic relationships were irreconcilable. Apart from the genocide of more then 20,000 Haitians of 1937 by Trujillo; one of the most evil murders that he also carried-out, was the assassination of the Mirabal Sisters. The Mirabal sisters were three native born-Dominican sisters who were journalist who openly opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Their names were Patria Mirabal, Minerva Mirabal and Maria Teresa Mirabal. The men of Trujillo, arrested the three sisters, imprisoned the sisters with men, tortured them and then murdered them. This imaginable cruel act of inhumanity by the order of Trujillo immortalized his unquestionable wickedness as a leader just to secure power. This unbelievable assassination of the Mirabal sisters angered the international community. When President John F. Kennedy took office on January 20, 1961; plans were on the way by the CIA to topple Rafael Trujillo. President Kennedy besides involving the CIA, sent the Diplomat Robert D. Murphy to meet with Rafael Trujillo as an emissary from the United States. Rafael Trujillo was informed by Robert D. Murphy of the disagreement by the U.S. Government of his regime and dictatorship and was asked to step down and to give up his power. Robert D. Murphy was the last U.S. diplomat sent by the US to ask Trujillo to step down willingly. Rafael Trujillo refused to cooperate and stood firm in his position. The CIA then carried out the plan with involvement of Dominicans who were against Trujillo’s regime to eliminate the Dictator. On May 30, 1961, the vehicle in wich Trujillo traveled in with his close compatriots was open fired. It was hit more the sixty times and all the men including Trujillo were killed. The assassination of Rafael Trujillo made way for Balaguer to become President of the Dominican Republic. Thee Mirabal sisters therefore did not died in vain. The Mirabal sisters are an example to all Dominicans and to the world of pride and dignity in the commitment of fighting for the freedom of humankind. It was by their courageous will of resistance of standing against a dictator that lead towards the freedom of many people. The tragic ending of their noble lives brought hope to the future of all people of the Dominican Republic. They are an example for all women to stand up for their civil rights but especially of the collective freedom, and justice that all humankind should fight for. President Balaguer was a very influential President of the Dominican Nation and was respected and known internationally. He was invited on many occasions to the White House in the United States. President Richard Nixon Presented a Busk of John F. Kennedy to President Balaguer in 1966 in the White House. This gift was in recognition of the role that President Kennedy played in eliminating the Dictator Rafael Trujillo. The 12 years of President Joaquin Balaguer’s administration were economically good and successful for the Dominican Republic. President Balaguer ordered the construction of Schools, Hospitals, dams, roads and many important buildings. President Jimmy Carter complemented President Balaguer by stating: “President Balaguer has set an example for all leaders in this nation in changing his own country and his own people away from a former totalitarian government to one of increasingly pure democracy”. The following is a paragraph from the partial text of the significant speech by Dr. Joaquin Balaguer, to the delegates at the 16th meeting of the Assembly of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank in their opening session in Santo Domingo on May 19, 1975; taken from Max Nicholson’s Newspaper he preserved in Bunker Hill Cottage on Saba from 1975. President Joaquin Balaguer’s message was acclaimed and discussed with concern and interest throughout the hemisphere. This speech outlines a history of the economy of the 1970s particularly of Latin America. Below are just four paragraphs of the significant speech by Dr. Balaguer: “This meeting begins its work at a time of signal importance, not only for the Americas but also for all the countries of the Western World. The profound changes and great uncertainties created by the instability of international economic and monetary systems call for pragmatic solutions that emphasize the spirit of solidarity in foreign affairs, which has, to date been the goal of all the American countries. This situation has been worsened recently by a development requiring the intervention of those regional institutions that serve in our hemisphere as instruments stabilizing our available human and financial resources. This new source of instability emerged just as the international monetary system was passing through a period of significant change and realignment. Naturally, the countries in both hemispheres were affected, but the greatest impacts was felt among the countries of the so-called Third World, that is, those of us that continue to wage the hard-fought struggle against economic and social under-development. The Crisis unleashed by the rise in oil prizes – the new factor that has bought world inflation to near catastrophic proportions – forced many of our countries to call a halt to development plans and made more difficult our common efforts, that have met with varying degrees of success, to activate our economies and thereby solve the population explosion and bring about the social reforms which are so urgently needed to prevent the onslaught of chaos and violence that can nullify or minimize our civilizing goals. The capacity of the international finance agencies to provide aid has been curtailed by the afore-mentioned developments, forcing many governments to resort to the domestic resources available to them, which are, obviously, far from sufficient in the case of the developing countries. The austerity programs instituted in most nations of the region, especially those that have no petroleum resources at all or not enough to satisfy their own consumption, have in turn heightened social dissension. Without question, 1974 was a year of testing. It was a year when the world and Latin America in particular, had to face the consequences of financial imbalance brought about by the energy crisis and world inflationary pressures. It was a year that spawned the idea, now accepted by most countries, of seeking collective solutions to those problems. Specialized agencies like the “Committee of 20” on international monetary reform have worked, though with little success, to provide the countries of the Third World with the financing they must have to meet the high cost of importing oil and oil by-products. We are still impatiently awaiting the final results of some of the most promising steps taken by the agency established in 1974, among them the establishment of the Provisional Committee whose creation was supported by the Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund in September 1974 with the task of recommending and carrying out currency reforms and the international Development Committee, which was instructed with the trust of promoting a meeting between the industrialized and the developing countries to encourage the transfer of a larger volume of financial resources form the rich to the less developed nations.” The NEW YORK TIMES (newspaper) reprinted this message by Dr. Balaguer: President of the Dominican Nation at the time, in 1975, on Friday June 6, 1975. It was reprinted as a service of the central Bank of the Dominican Republic by Dr. Diogenes H. Fernandez, Governor, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It was the only NEW YORK TIMES newspaper Max Nicholson kept because of his admiration of the President of the Dominican Republic Joaquin Balaguer. Max Nicholson went to Sant Domingo on many occasions in the 1960s and was able to meet President Joaquin Balaguer. Arthur Anslyn was Max colleague in Government as Deputy/Commissioners in 1963 to 1971. Arthur Anslyn came to Saba through his grandfather. His grandfather, Dr. Nicolaas Anslijn, was born in 1823 on the southern Caribbean Dutch colonial island of Curacao, part of the Leeward Antilles. Nicolas Anslijn came north to the small Dutch colonial island of Saba as a government physician in 1875. He was a pensioned officer of health of the first class and was also made a knight of the order of the Netherlands Lion. His father had been a Dutch schoolteacher also named Nicolaas Anslijn and his Mother had been the daughter of a Venezuelan General who had fought along side Simon Bolivar. At 54, after his first wife died, Dr. Nicolaas Anslijn married 19-year-old Esther Zipporah Benjamin Hassell, on Saba. They had two sons, Edward John Arthur Anslijn and William Carl Anslijn. The House of Orange passed the Act of the abolition of Slavery in the Netherlands on July 1,1863. In 1863 Slavery was abolished in the Dutch colonies, Nicolas Anslijn was the official who read the Dutch colonial emancipation proclamation in the settlement of Windwardside, a town in Saba. Lieutenant Governor Moses Leverock was the one who received the royal decree from the Netherlands to abolish slavery. The Governor also went around on his horse and informed the white planters of the abolition of Slavery since some of them were reluctant to free the oppressed black people. He notified the 730 black people that they are no longer to be slaves or referred to as such but they are free people. To the business of compensating the former white oppressors of black people, The Lieutenant Governor of St. Eustatius authorized Moses Leverock to pay-out up to146,000 guilders. He proceeded to emancipate the black people and paid out the oppressors who were usually white planters and sea captains, 200 guilders each per black individuals for their freedom. The irony of this is that it should have been the black people that should have been compensated for all the free labor they performed for the white people. It has been brought to the attention of the United Nations to sanction this matter so that the children/offspring’s of oppressed black people could be paid out to justify a wrong that was done to people of African decent who were forcefully taken to Europe, North, Central and South America and islands of the Caribbean. On the little Rock of Saba, an island so small, it is kind of hard to believe that it also committed the Original Sin of Slavery. Captain Edward Anslijn was the first son of Nicolaas Anslijn who was the Father of Arthur and Carl Anslyn. Edward worked for the Captain’s Spinner’s Association in England. This association had an agent in Nevis, in the West Indies. Arthur’s Father was put in charge of the yacht. Arthur’s Father exported the crops of Nevis down to South America and as far down south as Trinidad. He traveled up and down the Caribbean islands but was mainly stationed in Nevis. Arthur and his brother Carl Anslyn were taken on yearly trips to different islands in the Caribbean from June to October. They sailed to hard-locked harbors; such as the Oyster Pond in St. Maarten, St. Barths and St. Thomas. Their sister sometimes went along but did not like it so much as the enjoyment of the boys of sailing with their Father. In the 1950s, Arthur Anslyn and his family left Nevis and came back to Saba. His Aunt: Mrs. Helena Peterson-Every with whom he re-united once again on Saba, owned two stores; one in The Bottom and another in the town of Windwardside. The Anslyn and the Nicholson family became a leading business families on Saba in the 1960s. Carl Anslyn describes Aruba of the olden days as one of the boomtowns of the wild and wooly west. There were very few good houses – Some people were even living in packing crates. The Americans in the colony of Aruba had a kind of – everything was disorganized and was compared to an old gold rush town. There was absolutely no social life for the under classes. The Americans in Aruba had kind of a caste like system like the English in India. No one who was not a foreign employee could go inside their concession: to their clubs, movies and to the beaches. After finishing his university level education, Carl Anslyn became politically involved with Juancho Yrausquin. Juancho Yrausquin started the PPA political party in Aruba. The ‘Juancho Yrausquin’ airport on the island of Saba is named in his honor. He was the one who helped to attain the funding from the Netherlands Antilles Central Government to build a small airport runway on the island of Saba. In the PPA party that he led, he promoted the platform of equal rights and equal opportunity for all Dutch citizens of the Netherlands Antilles. He was very liberal in his views. In Aruba he received enormous support from Statians (people from the island of St. Eustatius), St. Marteners, and Sabans. Leo Chance of Saba also ran in his party. Carl Anslyn was also a Saban who was working in Lago oil refinery at the time of his involvement in politics in Aruba. When the PPA party ran for a second time Carl Anslyn became Deputy/Commissioner of Aruba. Leo Chance also got into government and they were able to control the central government in Curacao and Juancho Yrausquin became Minister of state welfare. He built up the island of Aruba and Curacao by bringing in Industries especially for Aruba: The chemical plants of Aruba and big Tourist Resorts. In the Central Government Leo Chance and Anslyn also represented their native people of Saba in the Netherlands Antilles central Government. Carl Anslyn visited the island of Saba, at least twice a year with the Government as part of the legislature or the Staten. Max took office in the Island Council of the Island Territory of the Windward Islands in 1967. The term is a four-year (4) term ending in1971. The Lieutenant Governor administered the oath of office to induct the candidates. After taking the oath of office Max hit the ground running by having the first public meeting with other candidates. The Candidates made speeches, pledging their support to the Lt. Governor and promised to serve the people who elected them. John Woods a black Saban, was also a former Commissioner of Saba and Acting Lt. Governor and former Windward Island Council who served with Max including:, Carl Buncamper, Ralph Berkel, Austin Woodley, Milton Peters, Kenneth van Putten, Lt. Governor J.J. Beaujon, John Woods, Claude Wathey, Charlie Vlaun, Peter Granger and Arthur Anslyn, Eugenius Johnson, Joseph H. Lake Sr., Vincent Astor Lopes and Clem Labega. Peter L.Granger also a black Saban was Commissioner and acting Lieutenant Governor. Carl Buncamper was a notary in St. Maarten with whom Max had dealings over land on Saba. In the meeting of 1965, Mr. Buncamper was appointed Acting administrator of Statia. A letter from the Lt. Governor of the Windward Islands J.J. Beaujon stating that by Royal Decree of February 20, 1965, he has been reappointed Lt. Governor of the Windward Islands was presented in this meeting to the members. The council also received a letter from the Netherlands Antilles General Civil Bond, in which it was proposed that the Government of the Netherlands Antilles approve the 6 day 40 hour workweek for the Government officials. The President of the Council J.J. Beaujon suggested that it must be seen first what will be proposed by the Central Government and then base on that, the council will be able to decide on which course they will take. He then stated that a letter would be sent to the Netherlands Antilles General Civil Bond containing the decision of the Windward Island Council. In this meeting Mr. Wathey congratulated Mr. Beaujon on his reappointment as Lt. Governor of the Windward Island for another six-year term, 1965-1971. He said that Governor Beaujon spent his time working towards the welfare of the Windward Islands and had work pleasantly along with the Island Council. He also congratulated Mr. Van Delden for his appointment as acting Lt. Governor of the Windward Islands. The law of Compatibility Oversight handled by the Council stated that jobs should be bid for if the work to be done exceeds a certain amount. The executive council of the Windward Islands in 1965 had set the amount to fl. 10,000, fl. is florines or Antillean guilder which was the former currency of the Netherlands Antilles. Any job that reached or exceeded fl. 10,000 must first be approved by the Executive Council. This law was applied to St. Maarten, Saba and Statia as the Windward Island Council approved it. The Staten or Legislature of the Netherlands Antilles of 1965 did not allot the requested amount of fl. 2,879,000 but only fl. 1,750,000 to the Budget of the Windward Islands. Due to this fact it was necessary for the Council to reduce the tentative budget of 1965 to fl. fl.1,750,000. The Executive Council proposed the division of this amount to the three islands as St. Maarten, fl. 912,500, St. Eustatius, fl. 417,000 and Saba, fl. 420,000. An amendment to this proposal was motioned and signed by members of the Council, Lopes, Peters, Woodley and Labega. The Motion stated that the Island Council of the Island Territory the Windward Islands; Having taken note of the financial situation of the respective Islands of the Island Territory the Windward islands; considered the proposed division by the Executive Council of the Windward Islands, that in a meeting of the Island Council of the Windward Islands held in St. Maarten, April 24, 1964, a motion was presented by Mr. A.C. wathey, which motion moved that the division of the allotted amount of monies for the Windward Islands be divided as follows: St. Maarten fl. 912,000, St. Eustatius, fl. 420,000 and Saba fl. 417,000. Mr. V.A. Lopes then proposed a different motion to Mr. Wathey’s. His motion after having studied the financial situation of the islands was: St. Maarten fl. 915,000, St. Eustatius fl. 420,000 and Saba, fl. 415. The Windward Island Council then resolved these amounts. Max Nicholson wanted the motion as proposed by the Executive Council due to the financial position of Saba. His colleague Arthur Anslijn was against the motion presented by Mr. V.A. Lopes due to the expenditures of Saba and that the proposal by the Executive Council should have been accepted and approved. Mr. Matthews Livingstone who was also present at this meeting, agreed with Mr. Anslijn’s comments. The black Sabans made a stand in the society of the island Saba by gaining political power after the Second World War like most of the Caribbean islands/countries. In the Caribbean black men were better-positioned then American men in the 60’s as Max Nicholson. National Leaders and the press/local newspapers reported this. The American press pointed out that black men in the Caribbean were different as they held top positions in society and truly had total political power. The black Sabans obtained greater social and political freedoms and had a lot of opportunities in succeeding in Saba even before the black people of the United States that was violently segregated. That is why many black people of Saba had a lot of opportunity on the islands, as fruits of the black leadership made education easily accessible to them. This trend of black political power is still upheld in St. Maarten and in St. Eustatius, Curacao and in other Caribbean islands but Saba is in Limbaugh in this, as many blacks just prefer to move away then to fight for their stand in society. Max Nicholson showed solidarity to the cause of the oppressed black people in the United States. Max Nicholson as a leader on Saba in the 60s paid close attention to the News of Martin Luther King in the in the United States and spoke of the cause of black liberty and the end to segregation. He stood up for black pride in his activism within the organization of the King Hiram Lodge. In this organization he united and lead other black and colored Sabans to activism in Saban society. In his home you will find books of Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy and of many leaders in the United States and in the Caribbean who fought for Civil rights. Max lived to see the first black President of these United States: Barack Obama and was exceptionally proud. It was John F. Kennedy who said in the 1960s that he believed that in the future a black man can become president of the Unites States and it happened.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 23:23:52 +0000
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