16 Years Later: What Has Improved?

We have been “enjoying” separate status for 16 years now. Can we honestly say that things have improved?

In the beginning, we suffered through a set of immature politicians who, for purely personal reasons, kept bringing down governments and forcing us back to the polls. I always wondered: if an alternate eight were willing to govern, why did the Governor allow new elections? But that is a topic for another article.

Let us consider one of the main reasons we sought separate status: to control our own destiny. Yes, we control our government. We spend millions each year on salaries for ministers and members of Parliament. But what do we get in return?

If this small half-island is to improve, we voters must do a better job of choosing who we send to Parliament.

Take a look at the top positions on the island. Who really holds them? TelEm – not a local. The Airport – a retiree. Even some top government positions are filled by non-locals. To clarify, my definition of “local” is anyone who has lived here for 15 years or more. GEBE was special – had locals, removed locals, put foreigners, foreigners failed. Put back same local.....temporary. Make it make sense.

If we look deeper and investigate the private companies hired for projects by the government and government-owned companies, we see that most contracts go to foreign companies, even when local companies are capable of doing the work.

NRPB is one of the main violators. How many local companies were hired by NRPB? How much of the 550 million was actually spent on St. Maarten? An injection of that size should have boosted the economy for three to five years. Where was the boost? It seems the World Bank and NRPB benefited more from money that we, as taxpayers, may have to pay back.

One of the main reasons top jobs go to foreigners is that government and government-owned companies hire international consultancy firms to headhunt. These firms search the world for the best candidate, with no advantage given to residents. What is wrong with finding the best local resident?

Just a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister was recruiting students to return to the island. Why would they return if they can only fill middle-management positions? The Prime Minister and his cabinet would do well to pay attention to this point, if he truly believes in what he says.

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