Our economy is supported by one pillar: Tourism. Different sectors/spin offs of our economy are thriving well because of this pillar. Think about our Marine sector, Hotel-Restaurant-Bar sector, Retail sector etc. As a matter of fact tourism is the main reason that our island was able, and continues to be able, to develop and provide bread and butter to us all. Sint Maarten has been progressive, assertive and innovative in becoming a tourist destination. But are proven results a guarantee for the future? What when Cuba opens up its borders? What when the surrounding islands catch up with us as a tourist destination? What in case of a natural disaster (remember the hurricanes)? These possible and not unlikely situations could take place on/for Sint Maarten and put Sint Maarten, and thus its people, in some serious problems.
A diversified economy is an economy that is being supported by more than one pillar like trade, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture etc. The advantage of a diversified economy is clear: if one pillar of the economy has no growth, or even has a decline, the over-all economy might still be "booming". A diversified economy basically guarantees government steady revenue from taxes and not in the last place over-all job security for the people of Sint Maarten. The latter primarily, because individuals would less rely on seasonal jobs/contracts and the opportunity to find placement in a different segment of the economy if their segment is "slow".
Creating a diversified economy on Sint Maarten brings along two major subjects: Socio-economic landscape and Human Resources. First we need to determine what we want Sint Maarten to look like in, let's say, twenty years from now when it comes to the sorts and amount of businesses, the environment and the people living in this environment. What and which businesses are owned by "local" people and for what and which businesses do you look for foreign investors? Human resources are key in this aspect, because you want to use as much human resources possible which are currently legally registered on Sint Maarten.
The next step would be a logical one: prepare your human resources to match the market(s) which you envision. This means no more and no less than to educate your people. Not only on an academic level of education, but also on a vocational level of education. If you have fifty thousand lawyers, forty-nine thousand and nine-hundred and fifty will be unemployed. We need mechanics, plumbers, electricians, cooks, butchers, gold smiths etc more than the twenty-five CEO's in our hotels and casinos. When it comes to other projects initiated by our government they should also take this in account when building bridges, tunnels, stadiums, government owned hotels and the likes. #sxmmovement
Soualiga Social Movement
