The presentation was quite straight forward, some unique photos of the island, both French and Dutch sides, prompting questions from the Democratic Party about the relationship between both sides of the island as far as promoting St. Maarten is concerned, as concerns have been expressed in several quarters as to the less than optimal relations in this area. The government assured the island council that the cooperation between the two sides is very much alive.
Members of the Democratic Party were also interested in tourism data as far as this renewed attempt at marketing the island is concerned. It was clear from the presentation and comments by government that the Tourism Master Plan of Sint Maarten is still the blue print for tourism-related activities by government.
This brought to the fore the statements attributed to Commissioner Frans Richardson during the Caribbean Market Place event, held in Puerto Rico recently. Newspaper reports suggested at the time that the Commissioner was making a pitch for "slowing down" tourism on Sint Maarten in favor of the island catching up with its infrastructure and the like. The Commissioner was unaware of these publications, citing him.
Again, it is not whether one agrees or disagrees with government's alleged policies or visions or the perceived lack thereof, but the ad-hoc way the NA/Heyliger/Laveist government is managing the country. The constant springing of ideas and plans from government, often times without any follow-up or feedback or credible and well thought-out plan is making it seem more and more that the left hand knows not what the right hand is doing.
On our way to country status, this attitude by government is counter-productive.
The Democratic Party has been notified that the meetings requested by them will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, March 10 and 11th respectively, both at 10 are.
The Central Committee meeting on Wednesday will be on the topic of "government's position on (incidental) subsidies/investments." This topic has been raised due to the lack of an adequate response by the NA/Heyliger/Laveist government on the matter of subsidies and the budget 2010. In addition, when one considers recent publications regarding the Carnival Foundation and the Heineken Regatta, it leaves one to wonder how this government views subsidies, the budget, and the ordinance regulating subsidies by government. Is this ordinance still in effect or is the government guided by other regulations? The Democratic Party hopes through the Central Committee to get clarity for the organizations affected and the public at large.
On Thursday, they hope to hear from government and its views on the draft 2010 budget. Again, the government has been evasive and outright arrogant in its reactions to the island council on matters of the budget. The government seems to have no issue with the fact that basically all they can do at the moment is keep government afloat based on the 2009 budget.
"We are taking this matter much too serious" has been government's response.
Well, let us see why the government in the face of all the criticism St.
Maarten is receiving due to this budget dilemma, can still tell us: "It's nothing to worry about." Says party leader Sarah Wescot Williams.
