POINT BLANCHE:--- The Port of St. Maarten is working closely with Dr. Jack Stevens, President of the Navy League's Caribbean and Latin American Region, to bring more U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels to St. Maarten for rest and relaxation.
St. Maarten/St. Martin was the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard's top-rated liberty port in the Caribbean from the early 1990's until the shutdown of the Navy's Puerto Rico Training Area, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and real competition from other Caribbean ports that recognized the economic benefits of Navy and Coast Guard port visits. This all caused a drastic decline in U.S. Navy and Coast Guard visits to our friendly island.
As U.S. forces are reduced in many parts of the world and the U.S. again begins to recognize the importance of its Caribbean and Latin American neighbors, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ship visits to our region are expected to increase significantly in the months and years ahead. And, St. Maarten/St. Martin has a second chance to become the U.S. forces liberty port of choice in the Caribbean.
On Friday, May 24 (less than two weeks from now), the U.S. Coast Guard Training Ship EAGLE will arrive in Great Bay Harbour for a three-day visit to our friendly island.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo of the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies said the EAGLE visit is very important to St. Maarten for several reasons. First, because the EAGLE is considered "America's Tall Ship" and the oldest (77 years old) active ship in the U.S. fleet, it is recognized all over the world.
Second, the young cadets and officer candidates aboard this ship as well as the training officers aboard the ship will spread the word about their experiences on our friendly island. Finally, Mingo said, this very high visibility visit can help to reestablish destination St. Maarten as the ideal liberty port in the Caribbean not only for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard but also for naval vessels of other friendly nations.
Harbour CEO Mingo added, "While most St. Maarteners recognize the positive contribution that cruise ships and mega yachts make to our economy, not as many recognize that visits of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels can give an additional boost to our economy.
Jack Stevens thanked Mingo and his team at the Harbour Group of Companies for their support of the Navy League which has played a key role in promoting ship visits in the past. Stevens said that there was no guarantee of large Navy ship visits in the future but that we can greatly improve the possibility of future ship visits by making sure that the crew of the EAGLE has a pleasant and successful visit to our island.
Jack Stevens further explained that the four factors that determine where a ship makes a liberty visit are (1) the needs of the country or service, (2) the safety and security of the ship and the crew members, (3) costs associated with the visit, and (4) last, but certainly not least, the wishes of the crew.
Mingo said that we can promote future business for our Country St. Maarten by making all visitors feel safe and secure, keep our prices competitive with other ports, and by helping every visitor have a great time on our friendly island.