When egos get in the way of goals, confusion appears and ultimately egos will win.
With this in mind St. Maarten has had 3 elections in the past 5 years and on average governments don’t last more than 1.5 years.
This political game of musical chairs has thus far been a roadshow to nowhere and caused more harm than good.
The upcoming intended elections are likely to be even more destructive and painful than the previous. This time St. Maarten would face an election in extreme social despair and severe economic downfall. It will make the already hesitant international and national investors more nervous than before.
The magnitude of the current crisis, sparked off by Hurricane Irma, will now actually depend how long it will take before we can play the game again. This unfolding situation makes the future look dark and hopeless and will not change the status quo.
As a matter of fact it will cause even more stress to the already devastating economy and it will fuel a confidence crisis. The so-needed recovery will inevitably be postponed to next year. The Dutch won’t bring in the funds to a government that received motions of no confidence.
On top of that, other opportunities will be lost because investors don’t gamble with their money in unstable governments or unpredictable one-pillar economies.
Even international development agencies would rather wait to see how and when the political games will unfold before committing new funds to programs.
Economic recovery after a hurricane like Irma is already a challenge. Add the cost of the elections caused by the political fallout and the major setbacks to quick recovery. Top that off with a remaining status quo and St. Maarten is guaranteed to be hurt even more as it will deepen the impact of the adverse social and economic factors prevailing after Irma.
Dear political leaders could you please turn of this agonizing music, push all chairs and egos aside and step into the real world to make it work? Elections are not the solution! We all are the solution.
St. Maarten Development Movement (SDM)
