Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--The implementation of "deliberate and integrated policies like the counterpart policy, employability through training and skill building for youth and adults, strengthening workplace compliance and formalization of the informal economy that compliment economic growth and reduce unemployment in order to create sustainable development" are top priorities for the Gumbs Cabinet in 2015.
Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs, in his early New Year's message: "The list of priorities is not a short one. Starting with the completion of the budgetary process, it is essential that we are honest with the public about the scale of these challenges."
Though challenges in 2015 "will be great," Gumbs said he had "no doubt" government and people of St. Maarten "will have the fortitude to rise and meet them."
Government will prioritize measures aimed at sustainable economic growth and high employment level and stable economic development. The completion of a balanced budget for 2015 and beyond is "another priority" related to good governance.
"We will ensure that our economic recovery, based on sound policy, is being felt in all areas and by all our people," Gumbs said.
Good governance and integrity are priorities of government to ensure the needs of the community are met "with the utmost of honesty and fairness." Carrying out the majority of the recommendations from of the various integrity reports, and continuing government's integrity programme will serve as "testimony" to high regard for good governance by government.
Government hopes to demonstrate to taxpayers that "government can work, even in moments of disagreement, if people are willing to work together." In order for St. Maarten to get to where it needs to be, "we need everyone to play their part and be an active citizen."
An active citizen is one who uses professional skills to alleviate a social problem in a sustainable way. "In a time of unprecedented challenges locally and globally, citizen engagement is not a choice; it's a necessity."
With the dawn of 2015, government plans to do its "utmost to regain the trust of the people ... We will strive to set the ship right so that we can continue moving forward to becoming the great nation we all know St. Maarten can be," Gumbs said.
