Workshop 2007 “Making a development policy”

In this workshop 4 sectors worked on their development policy. The goal for this development is
to increase the wellbeing of the people of Statia. These are these 4 sectors: 1 Education, 2 social
welfare and social housing,3 economics with tourism as the most important sector, and 4
revenues (how to levy taxes and how to cut expenses)

For the sake of the spatial plan and the social economic development plan (SEDP) that is in the
make now, in 2010, we will not investigate what has been researched in the sector education and
in the sector tax. These sectors will be the responsibility of Holland. Social welfare will be also a
Dutch responsibility, and social housing is maybe something for a later date.

But the SWOT analysis made during this workshop however, is worthwhile studying. The blue
words are what I think are being forgotten in the SWOT analysis made for the recent SEDP and
are of importance for a re evaluation of this draft SEDP; I also added some purple words, that are
not in this SWOT, but did appear in the SEDP SWOT, but are not sufficiently worked out. The
green words are what I remembered that were mentioned in the SEDP SWOT analysis and are in
my opinion not sufficiently worked out. The words that remain black are self evident, or being
taken care of by Statia already between 2007 and now, or will be taken care of by the
Netherlands in the future, or not relevant for the SEDP.

SWOT

Strengths:
• Its geographical location
• Its climate,
• Its natural, historic and cultural attractions
• Coral reefs and shipwrecks (diver’s attraction)
• The Quill (+ tropical rainforest) and Boven Subsector and other natural parcs
• School of Medicine (since 1999)
• Oil transhipment facilities of Statia Oil Terminals
• Harbour
• Airport
. The quietness

Weaknesses/Bottlenecks:
• Limited resources
• Limited insight in economic activities
• Unreliable and incomplete statistics
• Insufficient infrastructure
• Unfavourable first impression of Statia
• Erosion and deterioration of water fronts
• Lack of dynamic business environment
• Inadequate link between Statia construction firms and large construction works
• No sustained marketing / promotion of Statia’s tourist attractions
• Low degree of economic diversification
• Insufficient hotel accommodation
• Limited number of restaurants, shops and construction firms that can supply the hotel
and tourism industry
• Agriculture and manufacturing are almost non-existent
• Inadequate enforcement of environmental regulation
• Environmental and ecological situation on the island jeopardises he cultural heritage
and attractiveness of Statia for tourists (free roaming goats and cows)
• Unemployment / youth unemployment
• High aeroplane fares
• Responsibility of government and private sector are not well-defined
• Government has little capacity to fund and execute economic development plan

Opportunities
• Visiting shoppers from St. Kitts (since 2003 220 per month)
• Day-trippers (from St.Maarten)
• Stay-over tourism (what kind of ??)
• Sailing visitors
• Art related visitors (painting)
• Investors interested in Flying School
• Investors interested in beach creation
• Fishery sector
. Agricultural sector
. Medical school
. Terminal
. Pensioners
. More

Threats:
Zwaktes om tot Good Governance te komen:
• Huisvesting (van de overheid)
• Vertrouwen in de overheid
• Communicatie tussen Bestuur & Ambtenarij
• Stand personeelsontwikkeling & loopbaanplanning
• Staat van automatisering en informatisering.
. More threats?

As said: For the sake of the spatial plan and the social economic development plan that is in the
make now, in 2010, we will not investigate what has been researched in the sector education and
in the sector tax. Social welfare will be also a Dutch responsibility, and social housing is maybe
something for a later date.

With the list below, that only handles economics and tourism, I will do the same as with the list
above: Blue is forgotten in the draft SEDP, Green is not worked out enough, Purple is what is
missing in this list, and important for the SEDP, black is not relevant for the sake of this purpose.

Problems related to socio-economic policy development of Statia

• Lack of vision
• Development of policies
• No general policy on Statia
• Lack of policies on:
- Education
- Zoning
- Taxation policy
- Finances
- Preventive programs for the youth
- Law on ground policy (PB voor uitgave terrain)
- Tentoonstellings akte etc. (notaris)
• Synchronisation of policies
• Knowledge of existing policy
• What are the issues?
• Involved catering to your needs
• No statistics
• Expertise in drafting of policy papers
• Politics changes all the time
• No adequate functioning of government organisation
• Inconsistency in implementation
• Lack of enforcement of rules and regulations
• Monitoring existing policies and keeping it up
• Shortage of qualified personnel
• Getting the right people
• Lack of personnel needed: social work, psychology, psychiatry
• Lack of responsibility
• Lack of co-operation
• Lack of personal involvement
• No distinction between personnel and job related issues
• Small size of island – few inhabitants
• Economy of scale
• Underdeveloped private sector
• Insufficient economic activity
• Insufficient labor market

IV. Economically the visionary well-being includes adequate work with an acceptable
income for all in a blooming economy that is productive and sustainable.

The necessary services to ensure such economic well-being intend to be as follows:

• Improve and expand the tourism sector
• Increase medical school and continuation of Valero activities
• Flexible and balanced immigration policy
• Attraction of local and foreign investment
• Create public private partnerships
• Co-ordination of education related to economic development
• Improve infrastructure
• Small-medium business development
• Zoning plan
• Shifting of workforce by for instance privatisation
• Re-migration of Statians abroad

SWOT economics and tourism

7. Identify constrains/challenges of actors to fulfill their role

Government
. Lack of finances. Tax collection is poor, government apparatus is
too big, high cost personnel, medical care
. Human resource capacity is insufficient. Under-qualified
personnel on certain positions, key positions like island secretary,
head of finance, economic affairs are vacant.
· Inadequate work environment of civil servants
· Non functioning economic affairs department

· Patronizing politics.

· Lack of pre-set policies

· Lack of clear vision

· No multi-annual development plan

· No zoning plan

· No enforcement of existing laws and regulations

· Insufficient internal communication

· No delegation of responsibility by BC to department heads (micro

management)

· Lack of cooperation internal and external

· Work ethics personnel

STEBA · Lack of finances; financial situation of members not able to carry

organization;

· Attracting of investors/developers hampered by red tape and

lengthy license/permits requests procedures, non-transparent

government; no clear policies;

· Slow decision making process of government;

· Underdeveloped private sector;

Hotel sector · No funding for expansion or improvement;

· Work ethics/qualifications personnel;

· Small properties; very limited marketing budget;

· Statia is unknown destination;

· Insufficient room capacity;

· Problematic and insufficient airlift;

· Limited activities for visitors.

Other business owners

· Economy of scale;

· Lack of IT knowledge;

· Work ethics/qualifications personnel

Potential investors /developers

· Government bureaucracy;

· Location, many undivided properties;

· Limited and poor infrastructure;

· Limited available HR;

· Limited accessibility by air and by sea (persons and cargo);

· No suitable beach for tourists;

· Limited healthcare system;

· Immigration and lobar laws.

STDF (tourist foundation)

· No adequate budget;

· No management of own budget;

· Not independent from government;

· No significant marketing and promotion budget;

· Low quality Statia’s tourism product;

· Insufficient hotel capacity;

· Lack of cooperation private sector;

· Insufficient HR (quantity and quality)

Valero/Statia Terminals

· Environment protection;

· Available local HR;

· Immigration/labor laws;

· Air connectivity;
ref: Final Report St Eustatius.doc RK Page 48 (62) www.mdf.nl Ó MDF copyright 2009

· Health and safety, calamity preparedness.

Medical School

· Lack of proper facility (campus);

· Facilitating by government;

· Accreditation;

· Immigration/labor laws