The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) has thrown down the gauntlet to Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority (SLAC) requesting it to respond to SMMTA’s latest release of figures that it says show “measurable proof” of the decline of marine industry business in Dutch St. Maarten.

In a letter sent to SLAC on Monday, the association asked how the authority intended to act to achieve “your statutory goal of planning, stimulating, executing, facilitating, coordinating, and improving on a social economic basis, the management of the infrastructure and facilities for recreational boating in the area of Simpson Bay Lagoon, the number one goal of your company.”

Having reviewed figures of companies that have a presence in multiple territories, SMMTA maintained the decline of yachting in St. Maarten far exceeded that of other territories.

The negative branding is starting to play a role,” remarked Budget Marine’s group manager Robbie Ferron in an invited comment. “Grenada is up by 14 per cent and Antigua is up by 7 per cent. Comparative destinations are doing great, but St. Maarten is dropping like a stone.

“And it is not because of the economic recession. The economic recession has not had a big effect on the yachting industry in the Caribbean, which is driven by passion. St. Maarten is going down because of exorbitant fees and yachts are clearly going elsewhere.”

SMMTA stated in the letter that the figures “make it abundantly clear that the decline in our industry is as a result of the fees collected by your corporation and not as a result of the global economic downturn.”

Providing more evidence to support its arguments, SMMTA said yachting writers were advising yachtsmen to avoid long stays in St. Maarten due to these high fees. It said a very influential and highly regarded writer had written recently in Caribbean Compass that “St. Maarten fees are punitive for long-term visitors.”

Negative articles currently being written about the St. Maarten marine industry are the opposite of articles that in the past were responsible for our growth, SMMTA said. “This is a reflection of the generally decreased confidence in Sint Maarten as a destination.”

SMMTA predicted this sector of the economy would decline further next season, which it said would inevitably lead to business closures and job losses, not only in the immediate sub-sector, but in the services surrounding it. Only a marketing campaign executed well ahead of time can halt this positive decline, it said.

SMMTA further accused SLAC of misunderstanding the marine sector by announcing a two-week bridge closure just three weeks before it took place.

“Large yachts make itineraries far in advance and when they are confronted with such sudden changes in access to a destination, they are very likely to avoid that destination if it poses a risk to their activities.”

Source : The Daily Herald

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