On Wednesday President of Parliament Hon. drs. Gracita Arrindell met with the Executive Director of the Tallhassee-St. Maarten Foundation (TLH-SXMF) Arthur Lugisse to discuss the opportunities that exists with respect to the City of Tallahassee, Florida and St. Maarten sister-city partnership.
Arrindell was informed that the TLH-SXMF was established to bring together public and private sectors based on the partnership agreement between the City of Tallahassee, Florida and the island of St. Maarten.
The partnership entails the enhancement of local, regional and global markets into positive involvements in education, economic development, community initiatives, sports and culture, health, tourism, technology and ministry.
On September 23, 1999, the City of Tallahassee signed a sister-city agreement with the Government of St. Maarten. The main emphasis of the agreement is international economic development by means of expanding the economic basis, stimulating opportunities for inward investments and business development and enhancing exposure to today’s ever-growing global economy.
“I’m impressed with the great opportunities this sister-city relationship, can provide to enhance the market and experience of St. Maarten.
“We need to pursue this relationship further and look at developing other areas which offers great opportunities for the public sector, but also the private sector.
“The major focus over the past 10-years since the partnership agreement was signed has been in education. Now is the time to explore the other areas especially since we attained the status of country and are in the process of building the various institutions of our country,” President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Wednesday.