Dear Editor,
Would you consider going to a bank which does not issue cards for withdrawal at ATM’s and for purchases? Would I be wrong in thinking that you and many others would avoid that bank and select another bank who did offer that facility?
Now lets pretend you are a yachtsman who wants to visit different destinations in the Caribbean. You would hear that in almost all territories in the Caribbean you could enter the country by filling in forms online with long waits and complication and have only to do a final signature to declare accuracy and honesty. Would you then not avoid that destination and choose a destination where such facilities exist?
You would also be surprised to hear that law enforcement experts would encourage such online (“pre-clearance”) declaration especially if the data would be integrate with the regional security system that has already proven to be effective in tracking illicit activity through their systems.
If you are not a visiting yachtsman but a Sint Maartener you would want to know why our government does not take on board a system that is cheaper and better and will increase visitor count and spending? This frustrated Sint Maartener has been wondering that for many years and approached multiple Ministers of Justice who listened attentively but did not action.
What is the reason for a government who claims to target digital transformation not tackling this (easy?) win for us all
Robbie Ferron
