Additionally, I would like to point out why I believe that if you have the attitude to look at the "glass half full" you could clearly see why the application of the Treaty will be a very positive thing for St. Maarten for the following reasons:
-St. Maarten 1956 vs. St. Maarten 2012: When the treaty was entered between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States in 1956 the spirit and the intent of the agreement was to facilitate and incentivize foreign investments into the Kingdom and its territories at a time when the economic situation was grim and it was much needed. Unfortunately 56 years later St. Maarten finds itself in a similar situation where foreign capital, entrepreneurship, and certain skilled labor is hard to find. Why not embrace and facilitate that investment from a country that is geographically close to St. Maarten and that has demonstrated over the years its support, love and enjoyment of the island?
-Marketing the benefits of the Treaty: St. Maarten receives an estimated 70% of its guest flow from the U.S. per year, what an opportunity to demonstrate to our major market source how we appreciate their business. U.S. tourists would now be able to stay up to 6 months without the necessity of any paperwork extensions or interference to their enjoyment. All tourists destinations are always searching for ways to extend their guest stay, since longer stays means more financial influx to their economies. Here we have an opportunity staring us right on the face, let's take advantage of it and give it a positive spin.
From the Real Estate side what a marketing tool this could be for showing prospective affluent U.S. purchasers t one of the benefits on owning in St. Maarten is the easiness of staying on the island up to 6 months without the need of any paperwork besides your passport? Since we now live in a global community where our local publications are followed by people all over the world I have already received numerous emails from people that are looking forward to spending more time on the island based on this "new" development of the Treaty.
-Volunteerism and public service attitude of U.S. Professionals: Most U.S. professional living abroad are known for their community service attitude towards the places that have embraced them as their temporary or permanent homes. St. Maarten has not been the exception. Literally dozens of Americans donate countless hundreds of hours per year in St. Maarten side by side with local professionals providing their knowledge, education and expertise for the benefit to the community and the island as a whole without asking anything in exchange. I have no doubt that the Treaty if properly marketed will serve as an invaluable tool to attract some more investors and professionals of this caliber to the island, which in turn should result in additional employment opportunities for the community.
I sincerely hope that this will be the last stage of this case. I also hope that the relevant authorities "look at the glass half full" and embrace the Treaty as quickly as possible as an opportunity for the overall improvement of St. Maarten socially and economically which we all know is badly needed.
Ricardo Perez