PM: "Working hard on minimizing the effect and shortening the length of the low season"
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister- Mr. Richard Gibson, St. Maarten representative on the Board of the CFT and Annelies van den Assem, president of the University of St. Maarten, presented the CFT/ USM Report titled “Towards a Strong Economy of St. Maarten” to the Prime Minister the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams and the Minister of Economic Affairs Mr. Romeo Pantophlet on Tuesday.
The report, commissioned under the recommendation of the CFT and executed by the University of St. Maarten, is centered on minimizing the economic effects of the Tourist Low Season to the economy of St. Maarten. The report focuses on making the island’s infrastructure attractive enough to minimize the difference between high season and low season, thus strengthening the economy of the island and contributing towards the GDP.
The Prime Minister, on behalf of Minister Pantophlet and the other members of the Council of Ministers, thanked the CFT and the University of St. Maarten for the work done in preparing the “Towards a Strong Economy of St. Maarten Report”. “What you have indicated as being the focus point for the report is exactly on of the areas which the government of St. Maarten is paying a lot of attention to. We are working hard to bridge the gap and minimize the length and effects of the low season on the economy of St. Maarten. I look forward to looking at the recommendations outlined in the report as well as to when all of the ideas in the report together with those of government can be compiled in a plan that we can all agree to and execute to strengthen the economy of St. Maarten. We have sought various approaches to minimize and deal with the so-called tourist low season and this is a significant step in that direction,” commented the Prime Minister.