GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (GIS) – Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, after the recent announcement by Simpson Bay Resort and Marina and the Villas at Simpson Bay Resort and Marina, that they will close as of Sunday February 20, has called for the establishment of a public/private sector "Pelican Crisis Committee," to discuss the developing situation and to deliberate how to mitigate its potential negative impact on the national economy during the high tourist season.
A meeting of public/private sector representatives has been called by the Prime Minister for Monday morning at the Government Administration Building.
The Government is very concerned about the latest turn of events. On Friday, after meeting with a representative of the resort, the Prime Minister announced that parties needed to get back to the table and dialogue regarding the court’s verdict.
With respect to the labor situation, the Prime Minister also expressed the view that mediation efforts could again be started, and that she was prepared to use the possibility of extra-ordinary arbitration.
"However, the impending closure has the potential to irreparably damage the economy of our island and all efforts must be made by all parties to prevent this," Hon. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams explained.
The Prime Minister also expressed her appreciation for the efforts thus far by the Sint Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) and the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) to accommodate Pelican time-share owners as much as possible.
In responding to several time-share owners, the Prime Minister informed those who emailed over the weekend, of Government’s efforts to mediate in this unfortunate turn of events.
"Dialogue is the only way to resolve the Pelican issue. All the interests at stake here need to be taken into account with the ultimate goal of maintaining the resort operational, to safeguard employment and ensure investors’ – property and time share owners – confidence in our country," Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Sunday.