Today’s news that cruise ships won’t be back until mid-December is no doubt disappointing, especially to businesses that cater to their passengers. It means that rather than early November as reported earlier, they will have to wait for more than another month.
This development again illustrates the extreme difficulties facing the local economy, with stayover tourism expected to remain down by at least 50 per cent due to the closure of most large resorts for the entire upcoming winter season. It also shows once more the absolute necessity of financial aid sooner rather than later.
Reaching agreement on such is fast becoming increasingly imperative. Even Government otherwise risks running out of money before many may realise.
Prime Minister William Marlin (NA) spoke of a “Plan B” during Monday’s press conference, but failed to elaborate, as he did during Tuesday’s continuation of the Parliament meeting on disaster management and reconstruction following the passage of Hurricane Irma. Without further explanation, the Netherlands and European Union (EU) realistically seem the only viable short-term options.
UP leader Theo Heyliger in any case says there is no time to lose (see related story). Despite at one point believing he was a “poster boy” for the proposed Integrity Chamber, the opposition member under these trying circumstances has no problem with its establishment as a requirement set by the Dutch for assistance to help St. Maarten recover.
Putting people above politics is clearly called for at this stage. If the conditions are truly considered unacceptable, that battle can still be waged after the worst of a looming social-economic crisis with dire consequences has passed.
