Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Mr. Chairman, Members of Parliament, Good Morning,
As stipulated in our constitution, I now staND before you on this secoND Tuesday in September, to set out the policy to be pursued by the Government in the coming parliamentary year 2023-2024.
Since 2021, reform measures have been established as part of the mutual agreement with the NetherlaNDs in exchange for fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial sUPPort, as a result of the Covid-19 paNDemic. Structural reforms for the improvement aND restructuring of government are in the areas of FiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial Control, Cost aND Effectiveness of the Public Sector, Taxes, FiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial Sector, Economic Reforms, Health, Education, aND Strengthening the Rule of Law.
From the very beginning, the Government of Sint Maarten has stressed the importance of the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Vision as instructions for all of Sint Maarten's development, inclUDing these reform measures. The areas for reforms connect with the development themes in Sint Maartens SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Vision.
The SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Vision harmonizes the pursuit of the SustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble Development Goals aND the Small IslaND Developing States development ageNDa. In order for St. Maarten to be better eSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAbled to monitor aND evaluate the achievement of these goals, the sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble development goals sUPPort identifying aND guiding development priorities for St. Maarten through the development of a SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Plan. The first steps towards developing Sint Maartens SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Plan uNDer the current SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Vision have already started. There is agreement that anchoring all ongoing projects uNDer the umbrella of the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Vision, resulting in a SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Plan, would improve Sint Maartens chances of anchoring a sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble future. Further, with fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial- aND capacity sUPPort through the mutual agreement between the NetherlaNDs aND Sint Maarten on priority reform measures, this is the opportune moment for this development. It is the Governments aim aND priority to present the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Plan in the first part of the year 2024.
In achieving these goals, donor relations also remain a priority of the Government. FuNDing has been secured, mainly from the EU, for several projects aimed at achieving the goals of the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Vision. In addition, the Department of Interior aND Kingdom Relations in the Hague continues to build direct partnerships with stakeholders that are imperative to sUPPorting the sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble development of St. Maarten. By building these relationships, advocacy aND awareness is brought to the developmental needs aND ambitions of St. Maarten.
Further in this context, although we live on an islaND, no man is an islaND as is proverbially said. As a small islaND, the capacity to achieve our goals, unilaterally, is limited. With this in miND Government will continue engagement with regioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl organizations aND discussions are ongoing aND will intensify in the latter part of 2023 with CARICOM, particularly in aND arouND climate, sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble development aND fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncing, aND social affairs, as well as the Caribbean Development Bank aND the Organization for Eastern Caribbean States. This engagement will uNDerscore aND build sUPPort for issues that are important for Sint Maarten interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly.
The government has moved to establish- aND where already existing- strengthen relationships with regioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl governments. The most important of these relationships is with French Sint Maarten aND by extension the French Republic. The government along with its relevant partners in the Hague believe that development will be a-miss without inclUDing French Sint Maarten. For the first time, Dutch aND French Sint Maarten have convened to develop a high-level cooperation strategy. In addition, the Government recognizes the need for a comprehensive aND overarching strategy that harmonizes, aligns, aND synchronizes the development of the islaND as a whole. The government believes that collaborative actions will have more impact aND allow for the pooling of resources, thereby enhancing common advancement for the people on the Northern aND Southern sides of the islaND.
AND make no mistake about it, enhancing the advancement aND progress of the people aND our country is much needed at this time aND is at the top of the priority list for the Government. In this context, Government plans to execute balanced macroeconomic fiscal policies aND initiatives that aid in the expansion aND diversification of Sint Maartens economy, provide fiscal sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAbility, aND be the catalyst for innovation.
The state of the economy in Sint Maarten for 2023 has shown promising signs of recovery aND growth. The continuous aND gradual increase in visitor arrivals, particularly in stay-over tourism, has contributed to the expansion of hotel occupancy, resulting in positive impacts on employment rates aND government revenue. Furthermore, we see new developments in the hospitality iNDustry iNDicating confidence in the economy aND in the tourist iNDustry. Unemployment is on the decline, signifying progress in job creation aND workforce participation, providing more opportunities for the local population.
The prices for, fuel aND electricity had an upward pressure on the general inflation rate. The Central Bank of Curacao aND Sint Maarten has projected that inflation will reach a level of 3.7% in 2023, following a decline to 2.2% in 2024. Over the medium-term inflatioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAry pressures are expected to stabilize arouND 2.0%. This decrease in inflation iNDicates improved economic stability aND purchasing power for consumers. However, it is essential to address the recent decrease in GSPArty/21/democratic-party'>DP after an initial upward treND, as well as to continue monitoring economic iNDicators to sustain growth in the long term. This decrease can be attributed to an increase in imports of goods aND services from both the public aND private sectors. Notably, Trust FuND-related imports have played a role in this treND, as the country aims to catch up on construction delays, specifically in projects like the Princess JuliaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NA InterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Airport Expansion aND The Sint Maarten General Hospital. This increase in the economic outlook is due to an increase in activity in the hotels & restaurants, transport, storage & communication, real estate, renting & business activity, aND the construction sectors. While hotel room inventory will remain comparable to 2022, a slightly higher occupancy rate is expected in 2023. In addition to this, the short-term rental of alterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtive accommodation has also accelerated in 2023. As it pertains to cruise tourism, the Central Bank of Curacao aND Sint Maarten expect that this will approach its pre-paNDemic level.
The latest Article Four staff report of the IMF it shows, that the projected real GSPArty/21/democratic-party'>DP for 2023 has substantially recovered, with a growth projection of approximately 3%. Over the medium-term growth will ease, with pre-hurricane output now expected to be achieved in 2024. This will also lead to an increase in income for the Country for the coming years.
Although we see an improvement in the fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial situation of the Country, the two main objectives in this regard of Government are to better control fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnces, by improving fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement. AND secoNDly to modernize its tax legislation laws aND systems in order to generate more revenue, taking into consideration that the CFT is expecting to see surpluses starting in 2024.
The latter is also driven by the fact that everyone wants an improvement in their staNDard of living, from those of us who have to work for our money to those whose money works for them. Improvements such as smooth well-kept roads to drive on, environmentally clean aND safe neighborhoods for our children to grow up in, quality education, a sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble aND stable electricity grid, aND a healthy economy in order for us to make a good living, do business etc. etc.
AND we all hold Government, as the one responsible for ensuring this improvement. AND possibly rightfully so, its debatable. The government tackles these wants aND needs of the people via the fuNDs coming into its coffers. This poses a challenge to the Government because tax compliance, which makes up for the brunt of the Governments income, is low aND has been low for some time now. Whats also debatable, is the reason for the low tax compliance, Nevertheless to improve compliance aND address the wants aND needs of the people Government has set in motion, plans to transform our current tax administration, which also inclUDes the acquiring of portals aND a new tax system. Besides the transformation of the tax administration, the Government is also looking at adjusting the current fiscal laws aND is also in the process of making the necessary fiscal adjustments to register at the Organization for Economic Cooperation aND Development, in order to collaborate on domestic aND interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl policies that will stimulate the economic progress for Country Sint Maarten.
The governments efforts in stimulating economic progress by diversifying the economy beyoND traditioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl tourism, focusing on renewable energy, information technology, aND agriculture, present valuable opportunities for future economic growth aND sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAbility. The government plans to continue to strategically leverage the orange, green, aND blue economy.
The government, through the Tourist Bureau, is actively seeking ways to diversify the tourist iNDustry.
First, via sUPPorting the orange economy by organizing aND sUPPorting various cultural events that provide opportunities for local artists to showcase their musical talents aND visual arts talent.
SecoND, the Government is also focused on promoting sports tourism by sUPPorting a variety of events that attract tourists from neighboring Caribbean countries. This not only boosts our tourism receipts but also increases awareness about our destiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtion as a sports tourism hub.
Last, culiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAry tourism is another area of growth & opportunity for us, with several activities throughout the year that highlight our diverse culiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAry offerinSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS.
The governments efforts have been multifaceted to boost tourism in our region inclUDing a comprehensive marketing strategy, which involves a number of Co-Op campaigns with Airlines aND Online Travel Agents.
AdditioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly, the Government has engaged a number of public relations services in the various regions to market the destiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtion. Collaborating with content creators, the Government has focused on producing captivating aND informative material to highlight the islaNDs unique offerinSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS.
The government has plans to commence aND fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlize the upgrading aND reconstruction of the Philipsburg Market Place, Bus TermiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl, aND Beautification of the Philipsburg area.
The government via the Tourism Bureau will continue to focus on airlift development aND develop a multi-year airlift development plan in collaboration with the Airport. The focus will be on existing airlines to increase frequency, as well as new airlines from various regions such as the USA, CaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAda, aND Europe.
Government in collaboration with the Airport is in the fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl stages of the official Immigration Entry Form for the country which will improve the Countrys data collecting tremeNDously as well as the ability to market more effectively. The launch is set for the fourth quarter of 2023.
In the area of Agricultural development governments plans are:
Small businesses are the engine of our economy because they are strong economic growth drivers. The government recognizes this aND therefore sUPPorts this sector in the following manner.
The government is also paying keen attention to the developments in the cruise iNDustry regarding lowering their carbon footprint by consuming more sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble energy, aND the possibilities this may offer the Country by providing this sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble energy to the many cruise vessels that visit our port.
Despite these positive developments, Sint Maarten still faces significant challenges. The vulnerability to exterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl shocks such as SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtural disasters aND global economic downturns, demaNDs continued focus on disaster preparedness aND building resilience. Emphasizing sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble tourism practices will be crucial in preserving the environment aND ensuring the tourism iNDustrys longevity.
The governments plans for sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble tourism practices aND preserving the environment are as follows.
The government plans the establishment of a SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAture park encompassing the islaND of Little Key in the Simpson Bay Lagoon.
The proposed establishment of the Little Key SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAture Park aligns with Sint Maartens Draft Development Plan for Simpson Bay, which desigSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtes the islaND as SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAture aND the surrouNDing waters as Water-SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtural Value. These desigSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtions emphasize the commitment to conserve, restore, develop, aND maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAge the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtural aND ecological values of the area, with restrictions on construction aND emphasis on SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAture-oriented recreatioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl activities.
In Partnership with the St. Maarten SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAture FouNDation, the Government developed the CORESPArty/23/national-alliance'>NA project Coastal Resilience Needs Assessment, for fuNDing through the Resilience, SustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble Energy aND Marine Biodiversity program.
The goal of project CORESPArty/23/national-alliance'>NA is to advance progress towards the sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble aND resilient area-based SPAtial maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement of the marine aND coastal environment of Sint Maarten. The project will achieve this by executing a number of stUDies arouND the marine aND coastal environment, inclUDing baseline biodiversity assessments, socio-economic valuations, aND an assessment of coastal aND marine risks aND vulnerabilities.
Through this project, Government staff will also receive capacity training in basic aND advanced GIS (Geographic Information System) aSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlysis, sUPPorting the future development of evidence-based policies for the sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble development of Sint Maarten.
Furthermore, the project will carry out a targeted education aND awareness campaign aND coNDuct research into effective behavioral change interventions. Project CORESPArty/23/national-alliance'>NA is currently beginning its formal implementation aND is projected to run until the eND of April 2024.
In addition to this project, the Government has collaborated on aND co-fuNDed with the Harbor aND the Sint Maarten Marine Trade Association, an Economic Impact StUDy of the Maritime INDustry.
In order to improve the maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement of solid waste, the Government has initiated the Integrated Solid Waste MaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement Sint Maarten project. The objective is the establishment of a Solid Waste Authority that will be responsible for all elements of the solid waste maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement system consisting of the introduction of tariffs, the collection of fees, aND the subsequent maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement of the solid waste, through a solid waste authority in the coming five years.
The project is on track to deliver among others:
A proposed legal form for the solid waste authority;
The necessary draft legislation aND;
A Vision on Solid Waste MaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement for Sint Maarten in 2030.
The governments policy plans on disaster preparedness aND building resilience encompass a varied range of areas from disaster maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement in itself, fostering resilience learning to building codes aND ICT.
Preparations are in process for a MemoraNDum of UNDerstaNDing between Saba, Sint Eustatius, aND Sint Maarten to strengthen the working relationship in the field of disaster maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement. It has been realized that the depeNDencies between these three islaNDs are such, that such an MoU is vital.
Recently, the Kingdom Council of Ministers has approved the accession of Sint Maarten to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency MaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement Agency as a full-fledged Participating State. It is expected that this accession will be formalized during this parliamentary year. This will allow Sint Maarten to further integrate into the regioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl disaster maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement community, as well as share experiences aND build capacity.
The government is embarking on a project that will secure the development of the framework for the institutioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl structure of the Office of Disaster MaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement.
This will inclUDe implementing processes, administrative procedures, roles, aND responsibilities for the proposed Office of Disaster MaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement in keeping with regioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl aND interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl best practices. This will ensure that a harmonized aND comprehensive approach to resilience is taken to better address the challenges posed by climate change, new diseases, aND changing socio-economic contexts.
The Fostering Resilient Learning Project, which has received a fuNDing allocation of 26.8 million USD from the Trust FuND, is making steady progress. The project is actively engaged in three main components: Rebuilding Inclusive Schools, Restoring Library Services, aND Strengthening the MaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement Information System in education, culture, youth, aND sports.
Moving on in 2023 aND into 2024, the project aims to coNDuct workshops to build the capacity of stakeholders in developing mainteSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnce plans for the newly constructed facilities.
Overall, the Fostering Resilient Learning Project seeks to improve the resilience of the education sector aND enhance services in education, culture, youth, aND sport for the betterment of society. The situation aSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlysis aND target group assessment have been fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlized aND will be incorporated in the special needs policy that will inform the special needs program for the newly to-be-constructed schools, anticipating the opening of the doors in 2025 for the Sister Marie Laurence school aND in 2026 for the Charles Leopold Bell School.
The Child Resilience aND Protection Project with an allotted amount of 5 million USD continues to be implemented by UNICEF-NetherlaNDs in close collaboration with the Government. The projects focus is on building child resilience aND strengthening the systems aND institutions for child protection.
The government is currently in the fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl stages of having the new SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl building code implemented aND inteNDs to do this before the eND of this year. Once the building code is implemented, Sint Maarten will build in accordance with new building regulations that are aimed at reinforce our built environment aND make buildinSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS more safe, resilient aND sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble to withstaND higher-category hurricanes aND other SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtural disasters.
From an ICT perspective, Government will continue with its focus on:
First, strengthening the organizations infrastructure,
SecoND, increasing the cybersecurity environment, aND
Third, digitizing business processes for various departments.
In focusing on these three key areas, for the remaiNDer of 2023 aND the start of 2024, emphasis will be on:
Improving the efficiency of service delivery for interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl aND exterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl stakeholders is a priority for the Government this Parliamentary year. In addition to improving service, the following policy initiatives should also go a long way towards elimiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAting the plaguing issue of different departments within the Government operating as organizatioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl silos aND the people being pushed from pillar to post.
The phased launch of online services for Business Licenses marks a significant step forward in streamlining the process aND improving efficiency. Through careful restructuring of work processes, Government aims to achieve higher levels of productivity aND effectiveness, aND faster processing times for business owners. Ultimately improving the level of service.
The government will be implementing Change MaSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement as a catalyst to improve service staNDards. Several key sUPPort divisions will be uNDergoing processes of change maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement within the coming months. The purpose of these initiatives will be to focus on capacity building & training, establishing staNDards, policy evaluation aND implementation, improved shared services (interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl aND exterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl clientele), asset maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement, digitalized work processes, aND the implementation of souND procurement & HR practices. The ultimate objective of this trajectory aND part of the wider institutioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl reform initiatives is to ensure a collaborative, compassioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAte, service-miNDed, tranSPArent, effective, aND cost-efficient operation.
With the Digital Government Transformation Project, the Government envisages a digitally eSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAbled public sector that provides resilient, secure, aND high-quality services that are easily accessible by all citizens aND businesses in SXM. The governments strategy guiding this process is fouNDed on six core principles.
In applying these principles, the government proposes an ambitious plan of activities for the next seven years, built arouND four strategic objectives.
These objectives are:
In addition to this Government will be digitizing key historical government archived records to create a virtual archive, which will be accessible to the public.
This Digital Government Transformation Project is fuNDed by the Trust FuND.
Another project fuNDed by the Trust FuND is
The Housing Project
Sint Maarten has long faced a crisis in affordable housing, a situation that was significantly intensified by the widespread destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma aND Maria in 2017. To combat these difficulties, the Trust FuND Steering Committee has desigSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAted a bUDget of 20 million USD for a comprehensive Housing Project.
The scope of this project inclUDes the following objectives:
The operatioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl relationship between the Government aND the SMHDF is dictated by a Performance Agreement signed in June 1997. Both Government aND the SMHDF recognize the current Performance Agreement is outdated aND requires a comprehensive review.
The revision of the Performance Agreement is anticipated to occur during the projects preparation phase aND fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlized by December 2023.
The government is also aiming at carrying out, the following social programs.
Government is committed to strengthening aND expaNDing the safety nets available for the vulnerable population. This is done through the execution of various programs, a few of which are:
the Social Registry,
the home repair program,
women empowerment, aND
an Alzheimers conference.
The government is focused on collecting data aND spreading awareness of specific social ailments that affect the population as a whole, with a keen focus on the most vulnerable.
The intention of the social registry is toSPArty/5/movement-for-advancement-of-the-people'> MAP the most vulnerable households within the community, aND proactively provide assessments aND assistance with existing social programs aND services in order to improve the delivery aND quality of services. This system will ensure that those who need assistance will receive such assistance in an effective aND efficient manner. This system will complement the existing digital systems aND will synchronize information sharing between the different departments in public health, social development, aND labor. As a result, the data received through this system helps shape future policies aND legislation, plan for new projects aND programs, aND plays a vital role in disaster risk preparedness or response. The expectation is to roll out the pilot this month.
In addition, Government plans the following Social Reforms:
The Home Repair program, which is a continuation of the Department of Community Development, Family & Humanitarian Affairs 2017 recovery program, targets the most vulnerable groups (elderly, single parents, unemployed) in our community, who do not have the means to repair their homes. After completing the home repair project in 2022, it was revealed that there was still a group of clients whose homes had not been fixed due to their fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial aND social circumstances. The homes of these clients are severely damaged, aND there are currently no other home repair projects to which these clients can be referred. Hence, the Government has fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlized the approval of the implementation of a secoND phase of the project.
In response to global issues such as domestic violence aND violence against women aND children, the Government executed empowerment programs that focus on women. Government in collaboration with The Listening Companion, facilitated a community-based sUPPort group for single parents to improve their parenting aND life skills. This will be achieved through empowerment, inspiration, aND interactive life coaching, as well as through encouraging the expansion of their village aND network of relationships, aND the mainteSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnce of responsible parenting practices.
On the topic of Alzheimers aND Dementia, Government is sUPPorting the activity of local aND interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl organizations to better educate, professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl aND informal caretakers on how to better deal with these diseases. A conference on this topic will take place this month.
A new list of maximum prices for the Basket of Goods has been released in the third quarter of 2023. Enforcement of this list is sUPPorted by an online platform in which the community can report any violation. Thus far while both verbal aND documented warninSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS have been issued, fines have not been imposed yet as the Government is allowing businesses to adjust to the new system. However, active enforcement along with fines will commence later in 2023 as sufficient time has elapsed for these businesses to comply.
Although this measure may not completely elimiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAte the high cost of living, it will improve the purchasing power of the people.
Which brinSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS me to Labor
The government is tackling labor issues through the implementation of policy as outlined in the Country packages.
E1- labor market policy,
E3- Illegal employment of foreign workers, aND
E4 Social Security
From the research coNDucted on labor market policy aND social security, several recommeNDations have been highlighted that the Government aims to carry out. Some of these are:
modernizing the current employment permit system,
further ameNDments to curb the abuse of short-term contracts aND strengthen job security, regulating temporary employment agencies, aND
further increases to the pensioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble age.
An inter-ministerial pilot project is currently being carried out which allows for the regulation of illegal foreign employment. This project will eND in the fourth quarter of 2023 after which an evaluation of the project will take place.
In addition, the Government has developed an online job portal. The job portal will serve as the primary tool for the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Employment Service Center aND will aid significantly in boosting the job matching process between employers aND suitable job seekers.
While the impact of COVID has significantly decreased, the Government still provided vaccines on request for those persons who would require such.
Presently, the focus is placed on
1. Better uNDerstaNDing of the impact of non-communicable diseases NCDs,
2. Mental health, aND
3. Healthy lifestyle choices.
The government is presently carrying out the PAHO/WHO non-communicable diseases STEPS Survey.
The information gathered via this survey will help prioritize aND develop relevant prevention programs such as:
The government has continued to make it a priority for appropriate steps to be taken to execute the necessary improvements needed to sUPPort the mental health sector in Sint Maarten. These steps inclUDe but are not limited to
The government is aiming to execute a healthy breakfast program that will impact healthy lifestyle choices for youth, to be further carried out within their adult lives.
Healthy lifestyle choices of the general public will be an important aspect of the success of the General Health Care Insurance. The government aims to have this legislation passed before Jan 1, 2024.
On the topic of youth
For the remaining months of 2023, Government will focus on fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlizing aND implementing:
Following the completion aND posting of the sports facilities policy in 2021, it has provided guidance for planned repairs being executed by the NRPB at the school gyms aND sports facilities as well as the planned upgrades of the field aND the track at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex through Capital Investments.
The government continues to sUPPort sports organizations through the development of child safeguarding guidelines. During the 4th quarter of 2023 child safeguarding traininSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS will be coNDucted in collaboration with Government aND UNICEF with the coaches.
In collaboration with NGOs aND the private sector, the Government is striving to establish aND promote Philipsburg as a Cultural Capital. This eNDeavor will be in close connection with organizing the creative iNDustries as a viable alterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtive to the tourism iNDustry. Intertwined with this uNDertaking is the aspiration to participate in the upcoming CARIFESTA aND bring CARIFESTA to Sint Maarten before 2030.
The repair work in schools, for both stUDents aND staff, has been ongoing, albeit at a gradual pace. Out of a total of 19 schools that required repairs, 6 of the most severely damaged ones have been successfully fixed. The remaining 13 schools are currently uNDergoing repairs aND improvements.
AdditioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly, the government has planned the construction of 2 new education facilities aND these facilities are being designed with an inclusive education approach in miND. The focus is on retrofitting the new buildinSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS to cater to the needs of even the most vulnerable stUDents with diverse requirements.
The government aims to establish a new learning institute that will serve to provide courses aND training to its Law Enforcement professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAls through established aND recognized curricula. Continuous learning aND lifelong learning which will help foster a culture of perpetual professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl growth aND development will be the pillars that the Law Enforcement Institute of Sint Maarten will rest upon.
In 2023 the ProfessioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Development Program for Teaching ProfessioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAls continued. The program assists school boards in providing opportunities for schoolteachers with dispensation, to qualify as a teacher on Sint Maarten within 2 years. To improve the careers of teaching professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAls further, the Government will continue reviewing the Education Functions aND the compensation in 2024.
The development of the fleet tracking system for stUDent transportation aND the implementation of Policy Change for a more efficient aND effective School busing service leads to the implementation of the digital system aND the introduction of new bussing agreements in the fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl quarters of 2023.
A few of the policy aND research topics the Government continues the develop of are:
As the Government continues its efforts to promote care aND well-being in elementary aND secoNDary schools, in order to identify distress among stUDents, a digital screening tool was developed aND is currently uNDergoing a pilot phase in four schools.
Promoting care aND well-being as it relates to safety aND security is high on the Governments list of priorities.
Safety aND security or the lack thereof has a negative effect, actually a double whammy effect on our people. The lack of safety aND security has a negative effect first on the well-being of our people aND secoNDly on our tourism product which in turn negatively affects our economy which again negatively affects the well-being of the people. With this in miND, the persistent capacity issues at our prison are a top priority for Government. As a result, the Government has been working on a new facility.
The Project consists of two phases with phase 1 having officially started with the signing of the Host Country Agreement at the beginning of the secoND quarter of 2023. The first phase of the project will cover a timeSPAn of approximately 20 months. The United SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtions Office for Project Services has been tasked to carry out the activities to meet the goals aND objectives of the new prison project.
The government is in the process of fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlizing a policy aND strategic action plan for the Violence Prevention Program, which will cover schools, Day Care Centers, aND afterschool Programs. AdditioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly, a Communication Strategy is being developed for the program. This program aims to ensure the safety aND well-being of children aND youth in various educatioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl settinSPArty/9/general-solidaire'>GS.
With the gaming aND gambling reform Government aims to establish an iNDepeNDent gaming authority. The goal is
This in addition to the fuNDs that will also contribute to the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl treasury as a result of the legislation introducing fees for lottery booths that will soon go into effect.
FiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly, worthy of note are three topics that have been plaguing the Government aND the people for some time now that the Government is respectively, working towards aND working towards fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlizing.
First,
In the pursuit of enhancing the road infrastructure, the Government is dedicated to realizing a road network that not only attains high staNDards of quality but also effectively accommodates the necessary volume of motor vehicles on the islaND.
This will be done via the resurfacing of key main roads aND the transformation of numerous dirt roads into durable concrete surfaces. This will be made feasible through a dedicated Capital ExpeNDiture bUDget.
The government is working on establishing a dedicated road fuND as prescribed in the motor vehicle tax ordiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnce, which should have a significant positive impact on Sint Maartens infrastructure. Key general benefits of implementing this road fuND aND how it can particularly aid Sint Maartens infrastructure fuNDing challenges are:
Focused Investment aND SustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAbility: A road fuND ensures that a portion of resources is consistently allocated solely for road infrastructure projects. This prevents the diversion of fuNDs to other sectors aND ensures a steady stream of fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial sUPPort for development aND improvement.
Improved MainteSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnce aND Safety: One of the critical aspects of road network sustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAbility is regular mainteSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnce. With a dedicated fuND, resources can be specifically used for upkeep aND repair, preventing the deterioration of roads aND reducing the need for more costly repairs down the line.
The expansion of roads, the development of alterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtive routes, aND the possibility of the development of public transportation systems. A major challenge that St. Maarten currently faces is heavy traffic congestion due to insufficient road infrastructure. Adequate fuNDing from a road fuND could alleviate this congestion.
SecoND,
The government has embarked on the strengthening of corporate goverSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnce of the public entities, via but not limited to:
The Airport, which is the focus of the Corporate GoverSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAnce Improvement Plan is currently in the process of reviewing aND gradually implementing the recommeNDed changes. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2024.
AND third,
The government expects to conclUDe the ongoing work to complete the legislation regulating the legal position of the personnel in the justice chain within a short. A bUDget ameNDment to that effect will be presented to Parliament for approval. Once this process is fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlized the commencement of the issuing of the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl decrees can take place.
Mr. Chairman, Members of Parliament,
Our Economy is recovering well aND we are seeing a positive impact on the revenue of the country with pre-hurricane Irma output now fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly expected to be achieved in 2024, leading to an increase in income for the Country for the coming years with the CFT expecting to see surpluses starting from 2024. This, in great part due to the Governments commitment to souND fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement, to the measures as outlined in the Country packages, aND the fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial injection through liquidity loans aND the trust fuND. But also due to a stable aND consistent Government for soon to be a complete governing term, due in part to the commitment of Government but also the commitment aND sUPPort of this esteemed body.
But we are not there yet, Although the outlook is positive this has not yet trickled down to the average Joe aND Jane on the street, so much remains to be done. It will take the continued effort of the Government, Parliament the private sector the IGOs, NGOs, service clubs, aND all the people of Sint Maarten, the entire village, to achieve, maintain, aND sustain a brighter tomorrow for us all, aND for generations to come.
In this new parliamentary year, the Government will once again present you with various legislative initiatives towards the execution of its plans aND realization of its objectives. As representatives of the people of Sint Maarten, the Government looks forward to fruitful, efficient, aND effective dialogue as well as your committed participation, with the aim of garnering your sUPPort to serve the public interest on behalf of the people of Sint Maarten.
I wish you much success this new Parliamentary year 2023-2024 aND I sincerely pray for your wisdom aND discernment.
Thank you, God bless you aND yours, aND God bless our great village Sint Maarten.
