SHTA

SMNN - Philipsburg:---The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association and the St. Maarten Timeshare Association met with Mr. William Brooks and Mr. Steve Duzanson of GEBE yesterday afternoon to discuss reliability of service, the tariff structure, and alternative energy.

Reliability of Service

The SHTA expressed its concern regarding the effect that the frequent power outages are having on businesses' ability to provide quality, reliable service to their consumers and the growing need for residents and businesses to invest in a backup system. The SHTA questioned what the operational setbacks are that are preventing GEBE for functioning optimally. Mr. Brooks explained the challenges that GEBE has been encountering and listed the company's plans to improve reliability of service:

The Daily Herald - ~ Theo says he won't support it ~

PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) is lobbying for a "special electricity tariff" for timeshare, hotel, and guesthouse properties that cater to tourism.

However, Energy Affairs Commissioner Theo Heyliger said a tariff structure is already in place for "large consumers," and he will not support a tariff reduction for hospitality businesses because this would mean a tariff increase for households. He suggested that the hospitality businesses use other measures to combat electricity costs.

SMNN - Philipsburg: ----The SHTA is commending leader of Government, Commissioner William Marlin for obtaining necessary funding to realize the development of a new Secondary Vocational School (SBO) on St. Maarten.
Apart from awarding scholarships for colleges and universities abroad, the SHTA has been encouraging Government to use available EU or Dutch funding to develop a Vocational Poly-technical/ Hospitality Training Institute on St. Maarten that could provide the local population with the training, skills and certification necessary to successfully enter the job market. This, the SHTA believes would not only protect the local workforce, but would reduce the need for businesses to seek foreign labor.

SMNN - COLE BAY—GEBE representatives attended the SHTA General Managers’ Retreat on Friday, November 13 to update Hotel Managers on the challenges that are being faced in the GEBE operations on St. Maarten, Saba and Statia as well as projects and strategic plans that address these challenges on the short, medium and long term.

GEBE Managing Director, William Brooks, was originally scheduled to give the presentation but was out due to illness. In his absence, Steve Duzanson, Commercial Manager, and Giselle Dirckx-Williams, Corporate Communications Officer, outlined the current and future challenges in the company as well as the solutions being worked on in the power supply, to upgrade customer service and to create clarity on the fuel clause.