Dear Editor,
The Holiday Season has arrived quietly. For thousands of local households this means little or no Season at all. For the first time in a very long time in our social-economic history, to experience that sadly many of our citizens will not be able to sit around their kitchen table to enjoy quality time with their families, close friends and neighbours.
Mind you, many are in this situation through no fault of their own. With the closure of so many businesses that cater to our main pillar of economy the tourism industry, the impact of the devastation of Hurricane Irma is felt deep within the social fabric of our nation. It’s heart-breaking to say the least.
Three months further, many uncertainties remain, many questions are left unanswered. Two examples that keep being raised in the public arena are first: Who will be receiving part of the reconstruction funds from Holland and from the European Union a.o. by extension will any part or some of those funds be qualified as a grant or a loan to Government? Will businesses that qualify be able to tap into those funds? To what extent will the ordinary citizen who needs it most and who qualifies to receive assistance, will he or she or that family be able to receive such and if yes, how much per person or per family?
The second example (there are more) is the question: Why is the gateway to our Island, Princess Juliana International Airport so slow to recover and reopen? The surrounding islands are capitalising on our slow pace of decisiveness. The longer our airport remains in this state, the longer it takes to create trust among the industry to get us back on track and better.
Both questions deserve a direct and unambiguous reply from those in the know and authorities in the decision making process.
Food for thought: Regarding the application of funds to for example our most vulnerable citizens, an idea can be for Parliament, SZV and the social welfare department to establish a temporary unemployment law in collaboration with the community councils for one year. Each employee who is a legal resident of St. Maarten for the past (for instance) five or 10 years, and lost his or her job as a result of Hurricane Irma can be made eligible for temporary unemployment benefit. Assuming that we have indeed 6,000 persons who have lost their jobs or will lose their job in the very near future as a direct result of Hurricane Irma, if those 6,000 persons can become eligible for US $1000 dollars monthly unemployment allowance, this would be an expensive injection, but an injection nevertheless of US $72,000,000 for the year 2018.
Mind you, this would mean, just over 10 per cent of the Dutch recovery funds go straight into the economy of St. Maarten. Families can feed their children and have a dignified period ahead of the more structural decisions to follow by Government, and pending the recovery of our tourism infrastructure. A welcome side effect may well be the prevention of an increase in crime.
At the same time, Government must be a real facilitator and not an obstructionist or competitor to bonafide businesses that are locally established and to those who care to open shop on St. Maarten. Government needs to facilitate the business community to create jobs, not to place unnecessary administrative burden on initiatives; and encourage entrepreneurship, especially in times like these. Cut the red-tape once and for all.
The airport and other critically important infrastructural entities must be up and running soonest. It is completely unacceptable that our airport has not even started its reconstruction process. People must insist on clarity of explanation; nothing less.
In times of crisis and great uncertainty, support is absolutely necessary for all citizens, not only for a select few who qualify regardless of background, and clarity is equally important to give hope and build back trust.
Gracita Arrindell
Leader, People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA)
