The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) confirms in today’s paper what was already becoming increasingly clear: Without considerable financial aid from the European part of the Kingdom significant recovery any time soon will become difficult if not impossible.
The main representative of Dutch-side employers thinks that if conditions for such translate into an Integrity Chamber and increased border control, “so be it.” One could argue that this is only one opinion, but the organisation speaks on behalf of most of the business community.
SHTA believes these steps are actually overdue. Certainly, the deadline of October 31 for the Integrity Chamber set by the Netherlands (see related story) is nothing new.
When Prime Minister William visited The Hague in July he reached agreement to promote that the National Ordinance to establish and regulate the Chamber would be passed by Parliament per that same date. He did indicate not being able to commit the legislature, but was reminded by the Council of State of his obligation to “make a real effort.”
In fact, Marlin said during a Parliament meeting in Philipsburg on August 3 that a new draft law was near completion. He added that it would be ready for approval by the Council of Ministers at month’s end.
The latter obviously did not happen before Hurricane Irma devastated the island on September 6. Apparently, the Dutch Government feared this matter would now be put on the back burner and with all the investment it plans to provide demanded sticking to the schedule for the sake of maximum transparency and accountability.
As for border control, one needs only to look at the number of criminal cases and detentions involving local Immigration authorities and officials over the years to understand where the concern lies.
Truth be told, it appears St. Maarten needs help in more ways than one.
