The New Year started on a positive note, as two cruise ships made their maiden call (see related story) to Port St. Maarten. It reflect the island’s tourism economy’s continued recovery.
For example, many might not realise that only in 2025 did the number of arrivals at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) surpass those of pre-Hurricane Irma in 2016. COVID-19 obviously contributed to this achievement taking nine long years.
During these two major crises, the Netherlands jumped to the Dutch side’s assistance. In the prior case, a Trust Fund over half a billion US dollars was made available primarily for rebuilding its devastated infrastructure.
Sure, there were complaints about channelling related grants through the World Bank with its strict procurement rules that especially local contractors found hard to comply with. Nevertheless, one can only imagine what things would have have been like without the projects involved.
After the 2020 pandemic, in addition to extremely valuable immediate free medical help, the government in The Hague provided financing to maintain crucial employment and earnings in both the public- and private sectors. They also tied it to a “country package” of reforms to reduce vulnerability, guided by a Temporary Work Organisation (TWO).
While zero-interest, these were so-called bullet loans that originally had to paid back fully when they expire. However, it was meanwhile agreed to refinance them under favourable conditions in order not to place too much pressure on the national budget, as recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Financial Supervision Committee CFT.
No doubt with all this in mind too, Prime Minister Luc Mercelina (URSM) recently announced that instead of seeking full independence via yet another constitutional referendum as many have called for, he would like to make St. Maarten a stakeholder rather than just a member of the Kingdom, sitting at the table when important decisions are made affecting its Caribbean parts.
His politically bold statement, also considering colonial history, did not please everyone, including leader of the biggest opposition party National Alliance (NA) Egbert Doran, who said said he wanted no part of such. But it has become clear as well that funding healthcare and coverage, social welfare including old-age pensions and education is a big challenge, so tapping into the Netherlands’ vast related resources could offer a bit of relief at least short-term.
No matter what people might think of the latter, the value of being part of the Dutch Kingdom particularly in emergency situations was clearly proven time and again over the past decade. This remains something to be thankful for and sparks hope that – with the necessary backing from The Hague – a more secure and balanced overall development may indeed be realised going forward.
