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Maria in support of more controlled development
by The Daily Herald
Posted: Apr 3, 2006 15:35 UTC
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PHILIPSBURG - St. Maarten Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament Maria Buncamper-Molanus made a case on Sunday for more controlled development and regulated import of labour of new construction projects.
“Illegal immigration is against the law and cannot be accepted, not here as in any civilized country. We have to take charge of our development and not resort to adjusting our policies to accommodate the present situation that has gotten out of hand,” she stated in a press release on Sunday.
Being grateful for the growth of St. Maarten’s economy, she said, doesn’t mean that the island shouldn’t be more selective in its choices and pace of investments, taking into account the effects it has on all the other aspects of the people’s existence, she said.
Buncamper-Molanus stated that in determining the island’s capacity the consequences of any particular investment had to be measured for short-term and long-term effects for the island and its people.
She explained that if an investor was interested in constructing more condominiums or a hotel, several things had to be evaluated, such as the availability of labour, the types of jobs that would be offered, for whom the new property would be built and the long-term benefits for the island.
She said the first question that had to be asked was whether the labour force was available to build the project. “If we don’t and other projects are ongoing, it would be advisable to wait until the ongoing projects have been completed and then the same workers can move to the new project. This will guarantee work to the same workers, local and foreign, for a longer period,” she said.
This would prevent having to go through the work/residence-permit process again, having to deal with the shortage of workers. Also, she said, it would prevent over-population and the construction of shantytowns that increase the appearance of poverty and as a result deteriorate St. Maarten’s beauty. She reiterated that St. Maarten’s beauty was important for tourism, the island’s main source of income.
Additionally, it would important to ponder the types of jobs that would be offered in the project’s operational phase. Questions such as minimum wage, middle income or high-income jobs, and is the labour force available to operate the facility, are valid, she said. She said the question should also be asked whether it would be worthwhile to import labour, taking into account the added pressure on the island’s social structure.
Buncamper-Molanus said it was also important to consider who would be the consumers, who would be occupying the new property, and whether the investment would have long-term benefits for St. Maarten and its people.
She said she was pleased to see that Justice Minister David Dick was “connecting the dots” and showed he was aware of the importance of immigration.
In a reaction to Dick’s statements last Thursday, Buncamper-Molanus said she was satisfied with the Justice Minister’s intentions shown at the start of his second term. She said she was happy to learn that police, as stated by the Minister, were showing willingness to cooperate on the issue of immigration. “I dare say we’re halfway there,” she said.
Buncamper-Molanus said the economy, infrastructure, educational sector, public health sector, social sector, safety and security, development of our children, quality of life of our elderly, and immigration were all linked. De facto they determine the quality of life for all of us, she added. She said sustainable development would require concentrating on connecting the dots.
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