Establishing a temporary marketplace and beach vending area at Kim Sha (see related story) is an interesting idea. It also shows that tourism stakeholders, including cruise lines, are working together in a creative way to get the island’s hospitality industry back on track.
Especially with many French-side attractions, including Orient Beach facilities, still largely out of commission and most major Dutch-side resorts closed, some type of alternative to entertain the passengers in addition to Great Bay Beach was needed and found. Perhaps in granting the necessary permits local vendors who lost their income, such as those of the Philipsburg market stalls, can be considered first.
Ultimately, it’s the economy that must recover to bring the quality of life back to what it was before Hurricane Irma struck, but for now getting help to the victims who need it most is just as important. That up to Thursday 2,000 persons had braved long and often restless lines to register for the food voucher programme of the Labour Affairs and Social Services says a lot.
It might have been more were it not that numbers had to be given out and people told to return another day because the crowds at the Government Building just couldn’t be processed. The plan is consequently to switch the location to community centres next week.
Keep in mind that this considerable demand exists despite a similar programme of the Red Cross and multiple food donations being made by several organisations and groups on practically a daily basis, following the distribution of emergency goods shortly after the disaster struck.
It is therefore no wonder that the Anti-Poverty Platform started a petition and signature drive to be presented to visiting King Willem Alexander. They want a more structural approach to relief, especially for the elderly, but also for the roof repair project and utility rates, including six months of vouchers.
To be sure, of the 550 million euros in reconstruction assistance made available by the Netherlands, about 40 million euros will already go to cover St. Maarten’s expected 2017 budget deficit due to less income and increased expenses for, among other things, providing much-needed aid to the population. Such efforts are thus ongoing, whatever some may claim.
