The St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) in marking nine years of existence (see related story) rightfully noted its coordinating role in the Collective Food Programme led by the Red Cross that provided warm meals, grocery boxes and e-vouchers for supermarkets to the needy, but ended in April. However, SMDF confirmed that it will be continuing the Dutch-funded relief with its partner non-government organisations (NGOs).
That is no doubt good news for some 4,800 households reportedly reached, although for many relying on such aid the phrase “in the coming weeks” might sound far off at this point. Nevertheless, there is at least the prospect of more on the way.
SMDF also took on the challenge of unemployment and income support as part of the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan (SSRP). This helped hundreds of persons in need due to the COVID-19 crisis survive.
Make no mistake, both that and the payroll subsidies for businesses with thousands of workers handled by Social and Health Insurance SZV depend on liquidity support from the Netherlands. The Jacobs Cabinet is therefore doing the responsible thing by maintaining the cost-cutting measures in the public sector agreed to as condition for the soft loans, despite three related draft laws having been submitted to the Constitutional Court for review by the Ombudsman.
The local tourism economy is finally recovering in earnest, but the country must buy time to get back to even near pre-pandemic levels of prosperity. Until then, meeting the requirements for continued financial assistance seems like the only realistic option.
