During Wednesday’s Isand Council Meeting, a motion was presented by the Island Council with reference to the last agenda point contracts overseas tourism marketing firms.
MOTION
December 16, 2009
Considering:
That Tourism is the main stay of the economy of St. Maarten;
That in order to attract visitors to the Island on a sustainable basis, St. Maarten should at all times be represented by overseas marketing and public relations firms;
That the Island Territory reserves on a yearly basis on its budget, funds for marketing, promotional, advertising and Public Relations activities in connection with attracting visitors to our island;
That in addition, the Executive Council on May 25, 2009 reference number 2632/09 submitted a request for an amendment to the SEI funding to the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, for which approval was given by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations by letter dated May 26, 2009 reference number DGBK/VNW 09/35256 to reallocate funding under the Social Economic Initiative for an Emergency Marketing Stimulus Program;
That this program calls for the contribution of funds by the 3 stakeholders, the private sector, the Island Government and the Dutch Government;
That in order to execute the regular tourism related activities, in addition to the Emergency Marketing Stimulus Program, the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau needs to make use of overseas marketing and public relations firms to disseminate information about St. Maarten to the travel and trade industry;
That Article 17 of the Island Ordinance Financial Management of the Windward Islands (A.B. 1981 nr.3) dictates when works are to be awarded by the Island Government above an amount of Nafl 25.000,– a public bidding process should take place;
That in accordance with the same Ordinance, the Island Territory may deviate from this procedure in the event that the Island Council determines that in the interest of the Island Territory, works may be awarded above this amount through a selection process of one or more suppliers;
That the nature of the works to be executed does not lend itself for a public bidding process;
That due to the above the Marketing and Public Relations agreements for our overseas marketing firms need approval of the Island Council;
That the proposed dates for the contracts run as follows: Canadian representative, Communications Meca from October 15, 2009 to October 14, 2009: Brazilian representative, Interamerican Travel Industry Representatives from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009: United States representative Kahn Travel Communications from March 15, 2009 to March 14, 2010 and The Netherlands representative Interreps BV, from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010:
That therefore within the next couple of months the process of Island Council approval needs to be redone in the event of contract extension by the Island Territory after the aforementioned termination dates;
Resolves:
1. To grant retroactive approval to the Executive Council for the agreements entered into with Communications Meca, Interamerican Travel Industry Representatives, Kahn Travel Communications and Interreps BV, for the duration of 1 year to provide promotional/public relations and advertising services on behalf of the Island Territory of St. Maarten.
2. To grant the Executive Council approval to renew these agreements for a maximum period of 3 years, on a year to year basis, which 3 year period includes the 1 year period as described in decision point number 1.
3. That 3 months prior to the termination of each 1 year agreement an evaluation will take place by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the SHTA, which will primarily consist of the performance of the respective firm in accordance with the Terms of Reference, which evaluation will form the basis for the contract renewal.
4. That the Island Council will be informed of the results of each evaluation within 30 days after this has taken place.
And goes over to the order of the day:
Copies of this motion to be sent to:
The Members of the Island Council.
The Governor of the Island Territory
The SHTA
The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau
The Director of Resources
The Director of Support Services.