At a town hall meeting at Mr K’s Cigar Lounge on Sucker Garden Road Tuesday evening, Democratic Party candidate #3 Jorien Wuite made a plea for a future based on Innovation, Youth, and Education. She stressed the importance of these critical subjects, so Sint Maarten can take pride in their accomplishments and resilience. With that she focused on our “software” such as our cultural heritage, our mindsets, and skills as the basis for success in the coming 10 years.
“We have to recognize that we should get out of our comfort zone as we can’t continue doing the same thing over and over and expect different results. The bureaucracy of government affairs has increased making it more and more difficult for people to receive service or do business with government. The red tape and paper trail can easily be minimized with new technology, trust and accountability of governmental agencies that civil servants so eagerly support. I always underline that innovation means doing things you do now and in the case of government affairs it means we can do things at a better, cheaper and easier way.”
As Wuite believes in life long learning and open access for all to programs for tertiary education offered at institutions such as NIPA and USM, she emphasized that the education sector should be considered as an economic pillar that creates opportunities to curve youth unemployment. Based on a question from the audience, she responded with the need for short programs that focus on second chance learners that would like to receive recognition and a better opportunity for jobs. Year programs for vocational trades provide these jobs or entrepreneurs which is often referred to “startkwalificaties” in the Netherlands e.g. Following another question from the audience about possibilities for sports, Wuite recognized that she was happy with this question as we should focus more on the Software instead of the Hardware in sport. “Yes,up to date and modern facilities are important. Sport coaches in the neigborhood sport fields will however make the real change.” Examples mentioned in this regard were accredited programs at NIPA to become (assistant) sport coaches in the neighborhoods be it to support and develop sport talent of the youth or to encourage recreational sport activities amongst seniors. This is where subjects such as education, youth and innovation connect. The critical question of a recognized young community leader about community agriculture and the way forward for Wuite as it builds on entrepreneurship, food security and poverty alleviation. These are however areas that require micro finance and stimulus packages such as tax incentives and that is what the DP Manifesto clearly supports as high priority programs.
“I believe Sint Maarten could easily compete with highly innovative countries due to our size– the only thing we need is a broadly carried long term strategy”. With that, Wuite wants to build on the extensive alliances her party built for the new Hospital and the timeshare ordinances. Wuite would now like to expand on new areas as well.
Our youth will always know more about digital innovation than older generations do. If our country does not keep up pace with our surroundings, they will feel frustrated and have a better ‘click” with for example the country of study.
Last but not least, innovation makes Sint Maarten more competitive. In a meeting of the creative industries of Sint Maarten last week in John Larmonie Center, Wuite addressed the crowd with the opportunities of an Orange Economy. “ Creative industries are one of the key growth sectors of the 21st century. By facilitating the creative sector on Sint Maarten, we make the island more livable for both ourselves, as well as tourists”.