Courtesy Visit by St. Maarten’s only Meteorological Student
Thursday, Commissioner S. Wescot-Williams and the Sector Director of Economy & Tourism, Mr. Miguel de Weever, met with the only St. Maarten student that is presently studying Meteorology, Ms. Desiree Connor. Ms. Connor is presently studying at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahasee Florida. She is scheduled to graduate in May 2009 with her Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology. Parties discussed the possibilities for Ms. Connor to return to St. Maarten after her Bachelor’s degree and pursue training possibilities in Curacao at the Meteorological Services of the Netherlands Antilles in order to acquire the necessary experience as well as a possibility to obtain a scholarship for her Master’s degree in Meteorology along with some Management courses.
Commissioner Wescot mentioned, given St. Maarten’s quest towards Country Status and the required preparations, the process is continuing by identifying our students that are studying in the various fields of expertise in order to ensure that they can return and contribute towards the development of their country namely, St. Maarten.
The Sector Director of Economy & Tourism, who is also the Chairman of Work Group for the Ministry of Economy & Labor, stated that the Meteorological Services will resort under the future Ministry of Economy & Labor. The present Meteorological Services on St. Maarten does not have any Meteorologist and since we have one St. Maarten student studying in this field, we need to ensure that St. Maarten encourages their students to return to St. Maarten. In addition since there are so little persons in this field, we would also like to encourage other students to study meteorology so they can also be trained and hired to work in the Meteorological services of the Country St. Maarten.