That the Netherlands will transfer NAf. 19.3 million for St. Maarten to fund the corona payroll support of June is obviously good news. The assistance to companies suffering considerable turnover loss in May will be disbursed rather late, near mid-August, but it is very welcome for employers by now struggling to make ends meet.
So far, the wage subsidy programme to prevent widespread business closures and mass layoffs seems to have worked well for the most part. However, the amounts many recipients get will – depending on their financial result – probably be comparatively smaller due to the adjusted guidelines.
Moreover, the future of the programme is unclear, as the Dutch government has set various new, far-reaching conditions, including restructuring measures for continued liquidity loans covering the third quarter that make it possible. Aruban Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes (see related story) nevertheless remains optimistic about reaching agreement, while her Curaçao counterpart Eugene Rhuggenaath indicated that he sees the – much contested – related Caribbean Reform Entity proposed by The Hague as an added value, provided this supervising body is established properly with input from the islands directly concerned.
Either way, it was evident that St. Maarten could no longer afford delaying reopening to the main market of its tourism economy the United States (US), as Aruba already did since July 10.Ten new infections were reported there in two days that could have originated from a COVID-19-positive visitor, but there is no talk of again refusing entry to guests.
St. Maarten’s border was still closed to the US when the current local outbreak occurred, but at least one case reportedly could be traced back to a repatriation flight. The reality is that a passenger can always get infected after their test and slip through or disobey quarantining rules after arrival.
This is a risk all vacation destinations will have to live with for their hospitality industries to survive. Still, it can be greatly minimised by social distancing, wearing a face mask especially inside where that is not possible and frequently washing hands.
The virus is going to be around for some time and few or even zero cases should not lead to any false sense of security as apparently happened, judging from some of the videos of folks partying on the island shared via social media.
There is no reason whatsoever to let one’s guard down.
