We were more than pleased on Thursday when we learnt that the Coast Guard and a number of other entities – including the police, Immigration Department and the Economic Affairs Ministry Shipping Inspectorate and Maritime Affairs Inspection Unit – had bestirred themselves earlier this week and had conducted a joint control exercise in the Great Bay Beach area targeting vessels used for transport, recreation and amusement of visitors and residents.
According to the report on their activity (see Friday paper), they focussed on the validity of registration cards, licences for crew, certificates of seaworthiness, other vessel documents and the presence of obligatory lifesaving and fire-fighting equipment for safety of crew and passengers.
We are not at all sure how frequently these and similar exercises are conducted by the relevant authorities, but we have the impression that though very important for protecting the integrity of St. Maarten's critical tourism product and guaranteeing the safety of all users and consumers, this is an activity that needs to be revved up. This is an area that cries out for more robust policing that can end up saving lives and might have saved the life of a young lady who perished in Great Bay Harbour a few months ago.
In fact, we are convinced that one of the weaknesses in St. Maarten's overall approach to the sustainable development of its tourism industry is to be found in the area of inspection and quality control. We believe that for a country whose destiny is inextricably linked to the soundness of its tourism industry too scant regard is paid to this issue of inspection and quality control in its myriad manifestations.
We proffer this view against the backdrop of the knowledge that the governments of some of the successful tourism destinations in the region and elsewhere, in recognition of how critical this activity is, have instituted special mechanisms and arrangements to ensure that certain minimum international standards are set and maintained.
In one Caribbean destination, for example, there is at least one empowered roving inspector responsible for visiting resorts and other properties at any time of his or her choosing to ascertain that the physical plant is in top shape with a view to guaranteeing as far as possible the safety and security of all guests. The said inspector is vested with authority to recommend corrective action and enforce compliance.
When we hear some of the horrible stories to which we have been exposed of late about the failure of one or two resort properties to maintain their premises properly and ensure that certain basic amenities, facilities and services are in place for their guests 24/7, we can only conclude that until such time as more attention is paid to guaranteeing minimum international standards, St. Maarten will continue to shoot itself in the foot.
This is a matter that the Tourism Authority would do well to address as a matter of top priority whenever it is finally established.
