During first One on One Radio Program
PM: I am championing very much for in 2014 openness and dialogue between the Government and the different sectors of St. Maarten
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, during her first live radio show held every Friday from nine to ten on 98.1, again expressed best wishes to the population of St. Maarten for 2014 while admitting that there will be some challenges ahead for the country going into the New Year; "I would like to extend all of the residents and visitors a very blessed, happy, healthy and prosperous 2014. There will be challenges but I think that with the right spirit and resolve we can make a grand year of it. Overall 2013 has been good for St. Maarten if we only consider that we have been spared from any major natural disaster. However I would like to express our sympathy to those families that fell victim to the fire that destroyed several homes. We should and are doing all that we can to support these families. Similarly I would also like to extend our empathy with the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Dominica who have faced a natural disaster which caused lost of life and property
"In 2013 our economy has and is picking up and that is very important. It is important that we all understand the inter linkage between the different sectors and participants within the society. Our economy is essential in ensuring that jobs are created, that persons can maintain their jobs, and that there will be investments in our island so that we can see this growth continue.
"I would also like to emphasize that our country is growing and that the services that Government needs to provide are many, for example in fighting crime and providing safety and security, in the area of education and health, these are all big cost items to Government and needs to be able to finance these services. It is therefore important that we ask ourselves what we as individuals can do to promote that common vision for St. Maarten and understand how they connect to one another. And in that regard it has not been a bad year. All over the world there are so many expectations from the populace for their Government there is a constant tension to satisfy these expectations. On St. Maarten the Government is confronted by needs and expectations and we need to be on a constant look-put on how we will deal with the issues.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that, in terms of Governing, 2013 was a year of learning, a year where St. Maarten continued to find its way in the political landscape as a new country; "2013 also saw political change with the swearing in of a new Cabinet. 2013 was also very much dominated by the Budget process and then of course regarding the instructions; the procedural instruction on the budget and then again the issue regarding integrity. But if you look at those processes all of these issues are a part of the learning process for St. Maarten. It was definitely a year of learning, learning what we want for this country and where we want to go with St. Maarten. A common vision for people knowing where we want to be as a nation. I am championing very much for 2014 openness and dialogue between the Government and the different sectors of St. Maarten," emphasized the Prime Minister.