On Wednesday December 2, Mr. Lars Walrave, of the Philipsburg Office of the Representation of the Netherlands in the Netherlands Antilles, met with the Chamber of Commerce represented by the president Glen Carty, the Vice-President, Ludwig Ouenniche and the Administrative Manager, Ruth Patrick.
It is the first meeting of Mr. Walrave with the Chamber since he took office replacing Mr. Gert Jan Stortelers.
The meeting was called by Mr. Walrave to introduce himself and have an exchange of information on multiple issues related to the economic and social climate of Sint Maarten. Glen Carty updated the Dutch Representative on the present upgrade of the Chamber that has been undertaken for some time to prepare for January 2010, this includes the new offices, the hardware and software upgrade to prepare and update the business register, the advancement of the Security Study, commissioned by the Chamber that should be presented to the Executive Council and the Minister of Justice very soon.
What were also discussed during the meeting are the different possibilities of cooperation with the Dutch Government in the joint promotion with the Private Sector to promote and encourage the Sint Maarteners, studying or living in the Netherlands, to come back home and help in the building of the Country Sint Maarten.
The discussion was frank and constructive with the commitment to continue the talks and seek the most effective ways of starting effective cooperation.