In her press meeting on January 30th, 2013, Prime Minister Hon. Sarah Wescot Williams gave a wonderful report on how St. Maarten is rated as a first class Tourism Destination. Our Airport is rated the best in the region. While this is partly true, we the people are not feeling the prosperity, Madam Prime Minister. Let us take off the rose tinted glasses for a minute. We are not much more than a hub drop off point, servicing the other Islands in the Region.
While you were talking I kept thinking, one third or more of these stay over visitors just touched down at the Princess Juliana International Airport and left just as quick as they arrived. The most affluent visitors were not visiting St. Maarten, they are enhancing the economies of our neighbour’s, if that is your version of a premier destination then I’m afraid that you are living in an Ivory tower that has clouded your vision.
I say this because the average businesses on St. Maarten are not feeling this economic wonderful impact from all these rosy pictures you are painting, neither are the people. Our Hotels on St. Maarten are currently rated ***(3 stars) at best, so this great report is not about St. Maarten’s accommodations. If St. Barths and Anguilla are the premier destinations in the region for the affluent visitor then the PM should say it, and not try to make the people feel as if they are living in a deprived state of economic affairs while others are benefitting from our Airport arrivals.
Affluent visitors are often players of Golf, they now have to go to Anguilla, even if they are visiting St. Maarten, to play because, the island’s Golf course has deteriorated and prime property remains untouched while the owner should do something with it. I’m just saying the rose tinted glasses needs to come off.
So what can you do in the future to change this Madam PM, you are after all the first amongst equals, if you set the pace , maybe, just maybe the Minster of VROMI your Deputy Prime Minister and the rest of the cabinet of ministers will follow your lead. I don’t know maybe St. Maarten needs to put pressure on the owner of the property to rebuild the flagship Hotel Mullet Bay or at least bring the Golf Course up to an internationally acceptable standard.
While the current Minister of VROMI was a Member of Parliament, he would yell loud and clear, that the previous Vice Premier was not doing anything to help the people but was only doing projects just for his circle of friends. As I drive over the Cole Bay hill I see the Causeway nearing completion and I’m thankful, for the vision of the previous Vice Premier. I will soon, as one of the MPs on the UP faction (in his circle of friends) be able to drive non-stop across this causeway to the airport without having to stop and wait for the Simpson Bay bridge.
The difference is something I will be very thankful for, while I hope that the current Deputy Minister will stay off the causeway since it is in his words a "Bridge to nowhere." Let’s face it, he is taking St. Maarten nowhere; he wanted to stop the construction and failed. Now I’m sure he will be there for the ribbon cutting ceremony. While a drag strip and cricket field (not approved) started by trucks of sand being brought from the Harbour to the great salt pond, it is the only thing that this current Government has accomplished, the shifting of sand.
I’m very concerned that the Deputy prime Minister of VROMI and the Minister of Economic Affairs Hon. Romeo Pantophlet, need to go back to school and take a few courses on Economic Development. I’m just saying they need to learn what progress really looks like. Front Street needs to be resurfaced, I guess they do not drive on Front Street either; it is not their problem that a tourist can break an ankle while stepping into a hole. As a Doctor I feel we should prevent mishaps, whenever we can.
The PM also talked about changing the Electoral laws, I guess that Madam PM is not satisfied with being the PM, while she only has two MPs supporting her in Parliament….. Be very careful what you start Madam Prime Minister. The Last commissioner that changed things, so the greatest vote-getter got elected, was successful at pushing himself out of the commissioner’s seat, because he was not more popular than others who got into Government on the backs of their party and he sat on the outside looking in. I would hate to see the Prime Minister suggestion for change cost her Prime Ministership. Maybe the next PM will be the Leader of the most popular Party.
Dr. Ruth Douglass
United People’s (UP) Party
Member of Parliament