CUPECOY--Former Governor of St. Maarten and current President of the Holiday Institute, Drs. Eugene B. Holiday on Wednesday unveiled his comprehensive national roadmap, “Vision 2035” at the Governor’s Symposium 2025.
Framed around the theme “Fulfilling the Promise of Country Status: A Vision-Driven Journey,” Drs. Holiday’s plan sets a course for St. Maarten’s 25th anniversary as a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. His central message was clear; that by 2035, St. Maarten should not simply mark a milestone, but redefine its identity as “the gold standard for progress, governance, and innovation in the Caribbean.”
“Our vision for the silver anniversary is to turn silver into gold,” he said. “We have the potential to become a more self-reliant, climate-resilient island, powered by the energy, creativity, and knowledge of our people.”
Holiday described Vision 2035 as a multidimensional roadmap based on sustainability, innovation, and collaboration between government, businesses, and civil society. He emphasized that this journey must leverage technology, human capital, and the island’s natural resources, its land, sea, and sun, to build a more resilient and equitable society.
He outlined seven strategic pillars to achieve this transformation:
𝟏. 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲
Drs. Holiday underscored that human development must be the cornerstone of national progress. “The true wealth of St. Maarten lies in the minds, skills, and health of its people,” he said. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of the national education system to align school curricula with the island’s most urgent social and economic needs. This includes strengthening STEM education, digital literacy, and civic education so that students are equipped to participate meaningfully in society and the economy.
He proposed a permanent national training and development program to support lifelong learning, workforce upskilling, and entrepreneurship. He also recommended a “Return Home Incentive Program” to encourage young professionals studying abroad to come back and contribute to nation-building.
Cultural development, he said, must be tied to education. He called for a Cultural Education Program to promote unity and national pride, adding that this should begin with a national referendum to establish an official anthem for St. Maarten in 2026.
“It is time that we enshrine our identity in song,” he said, describing the anthem as a unifying symbol of belonging and shared purpose.
𝟐. 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲
Drs. Holiday urged immediate investment in data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence to drive smarter governance and innovation. “Without reliable data, you cannot make sound decisions,” he stated.
He outlined a plan for digital governance reform, accelerating the digitization of all government services to improve efficiency and public accessibility. He emphasized data governance and digital literacy as essential to improving transparency, accountability, and service delivery. A digitally fluent population, he said, is the foundation of a modern economy.
Holiday stressed that the private sector must also lead in adopting e-commerce, digital payment systems, and innovation ecosystems that can attract regional investment and create new industries in technology and creative services.
𝟑. 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲
Addressing energy independence and climate resilience, Dr. Holiday proposed an ambitious solar energy roadmap that positions St. Maarten as a renewable energy leader in the region.
By 2030, all government buildings should operate on solar power, he said. He called on utility company GEBE to begin a phased rollout of solar microgrids in communities across the island, with capacities between 5 and 10 megawatts and full completion targeted for 2035.
“The sun shines here 365 days a year. It’s time to turn that gift into power, literally and economically,” he said.
He also proposed that solar energy programs include vocational training for local technicians and engineers, ensuring that the energy transition creates jobs while reducing dependence on imported fuel and stabilizing electricity costs for consumers.
𝟒. 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲
Holiday called for a diversified and sustainable economic model that balances growth with environmental protection. “Tourism remains vital, but resilience depends on broadening our economic foundation,” he said.
He proposed a comprehensive upgrade of tourism infrastructure, airports, marinas, and cultural sites, combined with mandatory sustainability standards for hotels and tour operators. He stressed the importance of embedding smart conservation policies to protect St. Maarten’s beaches, reefs, and wetlands, which are the foundation of its tourism economy.
Holiday said new growth sectors must include technology, education, creative industries, and health care. He identified Cay Hill as an ideal hub for developing a regional health-care center that can serve both the local population and neighboring islands, generating new employment and export income.
He also emphasized investment in disaster resilience, improved waste management, and climate-adaptive infrastructure as central to sustainable economic progress.
𝟓. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲
Dr. Holiday called for deeper engagement with the wider Caribbean, saying St. Maarten must act “not in isolation, but as part of a regional ecosystem of innovation.”
He recommended that St. Maarten seek associate membership in CARICOM and position itself as a regional leader in digital transformation and sustainability. To strengthen this role, he proposed that the island host an annual Caribbean Digital and Green Technology Conference, bringing together experts and investors to share ideas, launch partnerships, and promote solutions for shared challenges such as renewable energy, waste reduction, and disaster preparedness.
“Our future will depend on how well we connect with others. Regional cooperation is not optional — it is essential,” he said.
𝟔. 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠
To fund Vision 2035, Holiday called for a modern and disciplined fiscal strategy. He urged government to reprioritize spending, improve efficiency, and broaden the tax base.
Among his specific recommendations was the introduction of a US $20 sustainability fee on the electronic immigration (ED) card for all non-resident air passengers beginning January 2026. The revenue, he proposed, should go into a Sustainable Development Fund earmarked for long-term national priorities such as renewable energy, education, and infrastructure.
Holiday said fiscal reform must also include enhanced public financial management systems, stronger auditing mechanisms, and data-driven budgeting. “Financial independence is the foundation for policy independence,” he said. “Without it, self-governance remains symbolic rather than real.”
𝟕. 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Holiday closed his framework by emphasizing that St. Maarten’s progress ultimately depends on effective, efficient, and exemplary governance. Institutions must be guided by data, discipline, and integrity, not politics.
He called for a renewed commitment to good governance principles, transparent decision-making, and strong leadership. “Strong institutions are the anchors of a strong nation,” he said. “Vision 2035 stands or falls with the quality of our governance.”
He urged policymakers to prioritize merit-based appointments, training for civil servants, and the depoliticization of key institutions. “We must move beyond slogans and take decisive action,” he said. “Sound institutions, fiscal discipline, and human development are what will make autonomy meaningful.”
Drs. Holiday was also reflective during his address, describing Vision 2035 as both a continuation and correction of the country’s journey since attaining status in 2010. He acknowledged the progress made in infrastructure, income growth, and institutional development but warned that instability, limited capacity, and unequal growth have slowed St. Maarten’s true transformation.
He cited key social and economic challenges, youth unemployment, poverty, high living costs, and outmigration of skilled professionals, and urged renewed investment in human capital and stability. “We cannot be satisfied with high-income status if opportunity is not shared,” he said.
Yet his message was deeply hopeful. “We have inherited a history that was not always ours to choose,” he said, “but the future is ours to create. The choices we make in the next decade will shape the next half-century. Let us move forward united in purpose, fulfilling the promise of country status and transforming St. Maarten into the gold standard for progress, governance, and innovation in our region.”
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