Dear Editor,
At times, choosing the person of the year could be a challenging enterprise, while on other occasions it does not need much probing, because the evidence is crystal clear. But what is it that really determines who gets this title? Most likely, it depends on where the focus is directed.
Thus, the decision is made after evaluating the impact that the individual has had on the population throughout the year. He or she may not be a favourite among colleagues or the community in general, but the validity of the end product, far outweighs personal sentiments.
My choice for this coveted title is none other than our Minister of Finance Richard Gibson. Many may not have liked his approach in the way he handled the budgets of 2016 and 2017 respectively. The questions that come to mind are: Where would the island be at this present moment and three years from now, if government were allowed to continue its reckless spending? How much debts would be incurred then, and would the island be under Higher Supervision by the dreaded Dutch, because St. Maarten has plummeted into total bankruptcy?
The reality is that our Minister of Finance was appointed to carry out one essential task, which was to re-establish financial discipline in government. Without a doubt, he has proven that he has the knowledge and temperament to execute this dignified and momentous commission. One of the traits that make this Minister stand out is that he manages his emotions extremely well, so that they do not interfere with his decisions. Despite the many challenges, he remained consistent, disciplined, focused and determined to carry out his mission – qualities that are woven into the philosophy of good governance.
Another outstanding feature of this Minister is that, no matter how much his colleagues try to deride him; he never sees the need to engage in refutation and lose his dignity in the process. Instead, he listens attentively, takes mental notes of their concerns, analyses them carefully and responds from the premise of expanding their vision of the situation. This excellent orator seldom needs notes for his presentations. So, when he delivers the message, he commands the attention of the public, because one never knows what he would say and to what degree he would extend his thoughts.
This level of certitude gives him the courage to make decisions that are unpopular, but very realistic, based on his knowledge of the global economy – information that his colleagues have yet to comprehend. Repeatedly, he has expounded on the situation of inequality, or the gross imbalance of wealth distribution among the rich and the poor. If his colleagues could understand the degree to which this disparity is dictating the spending power of guests to our shores, they would give the Finance Minister all the support he needs to keep the country afloat.
It is quite easy to lament on the stringent measures that are in place to restrict unnecessary spending. This is because the Minister is using wisdom to comply with the instruction from Holland. The CFT has been extremely firm with its objective to hold St. Maarten accountable for clearing up its debts and bring financial stability to the country. Some persons view this directive as an intrusion and have objected to this unwelcomed guardianship, but the Minister of Finance welcomes the challenge. This gives him the opportunity to scrutinize the entire government apparatus, locate all the defective areas, with the expectation of improving its services and revenues.
It is a very difficult situation to please both CFT and the community at the same time. Again, Minister Gibson does not take the demands personally. He uses the philosophy of fairness, where each group gets what it needs under the current circumstances. Whenever there is a need for CFT to interject, Minister Gibson welcomes their comments. As an alternative, he revisits the documents, detects the areas of concern and adjusts the budgets to attract a favourable response.
Consistently, the Minister has stressed that government cannot spend monies that are not available. Due to being disciplined and focused, he was able to balance two budgets in a row – financial statements that are realistic. Outside the budget debates, the Minister has set a road map for his ministry, of which he always informs the public of his plans and the steps to get there. He even shares the shortcomings of his Ministry and does so to notify and seek positive feedback.
In short, the Minister’s responsibility is to overhaul government’s financial structure, plain and simple! To reinforce his approach, each minister was given a directive to stay within his or her allotted budget, which is a major step in restoring financial integrity, both locally and on a global perspective.
Bravo to our Minister of Finance Richard F. Gibson!
Joslyn Morton
