Dear Editor,
Lots has been said in the last couple of months, but the sole reason for our motion of no confidence in the Marlin cabinet was to safeguard this country from spiralling down in craters of irreparable economic catastrophe and human disaster.
Let’s take a step back in time. In 2010 we became a country within the kingdom while the world was still recovering from an economic crisis. However, the UPP/DP-led government successfully managed to increase tourist arrivals, and thus provide income for our people.
While islands around us saw a sharp decline in figures, we managed to remain the leaders in our region.
Then the unfortunate happened, and in 2012 that government subsequently fell. Elections were not called as there was a new majority in Parliament that was willing to work together. This severely interrupted marketing strategies, restructuring of our tax system and dealing with the dump issue, just to name a few.
When we then took office again we found our cash flow severely depleted, a non-existent marketing program for our one-pillar tourism economy, the project offering solutions for the dump halted and our government-owned companies being fleeced for pet projects. We got to work again and decided that we would build a new hospital and make it part of an overall strategy for diversification of our tourism product, including medical tourism and educational tourism (which would be a significant boost for our much-troubled university). However, that too came to an end a little over a year.
Whenever we were given a clear mandate the economy flourished! We successfully built a port, secured new airlines coming to St. Maarten, engaged in strategic marketing partnerships, got link 9 (causeway) built as part of the St. Maarten road infrastructure improvement (which was halted once again when NA took office), and so much more.
More than ever, we need to have a clear mandate from the people of St. Maarten to quickly, yet structurally, rebuild our Island with urgent attention being placed on the immediate reconstruction of homes, re-employment of our people, and a waste-to-energy solution for the dump.
We have done it in the past; our track record shows it. There is no time for experiments, not at the cost of the livelihood and wellbeing of our country!
We have done it before and we will do it again. Therefore, give the UD an outright majority to govern on February 26. Vote for yours truly, Frankie Meyers, number 3 on the UD slate.
Frankie Meyers
Deputy Leader, United People’s party
United Democrats Candidate #3
