Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association in a press statement said the draft report that has been submitted to government will not bring any type of relief to businesses during the economic down turn. SHTA President Emil Lee said after reviewing the document which was submitted on June 9 he has not seen any type of relief forthcoming any time soon. The SHTA felt that the economic recovery plan should have elements that would offer immediate relief to both business and residents of the island in order to stimulate the economy.
The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade (SHTA) feels that after months of work the so –called draft proposal does not have any solution for crisis. The association does not believe that those in the driver seat should wait any longer to develop plans if not the businesses and residents will suffer.
In the meantime , the SHTA said they have been lobbying for the reallocation of SEI funds for emergency marketing since February 2009.
They said in its efforts to ensure a speedy approval of the reallocation of the funds, the association met with the Island Government and Dutch Kingdom representatives on several occasions to convince them of the importance of increased destination marketing for the island in these trying times.
The release said before the reallocation of funds could be approved, the Dutch issued a prerequisite asking that the private sector contribute approximately US$ 1 million in kind to the marketing campaign., the SHTA, with the help of its member hotels, managed to secure over two million guilders, exceeding the required amount in record time.”