Valya appointed as STA chairwoman

November 16, 2017

Eunicio Martina, Anastacio Baker, Rolando Brison, Valya Lake-Pantophlet, Jeff Oliver, Cecil Nicholas and Martina Browne with Minister Arrindell Doncher (seated).

POND ISLAND–Caretaker Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher has appointed Valya Lake-Pantophlet as chairwoman of the St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) foundation.
Lake-Pantophlet heads the Department of Economic Licences and is a former Executive Director of St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA).
Holding the vice-chair and treasurer post is St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) Executive Director Anastacio Baker.
Law consultant Eunicio Martina was appointed Legal Counsel on the board.
Commercial airline executive Jeff Oliver was appointed assistant treasurer on the board.
Executive Secretary to the Minister and entrepreneur Martina Browne was appointed secretary to the board.
Cherinah Franken of the Product Development section at St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB), Chief of Staff of the Minister and transportation and logistics expert Cecil Nicholas are board members.
The term of the board is three years.
The STA’s purpose is to assist the STB to carry out Government’s tourism policy, to support the growth of land- and sea-based tourism with “focused, sustainable and productive marketing,” and to enhance visitor experience.
STA will also assist, guide in, and direct all matters related to tourism, whether on initiative from the public sector or the private sector, said the Minister.
Together with STB Head Rolando Brison, the new board was tasked with setting up its operational structure, delivery of an action plan to Government for 2018 to ensure that tourism partners and stakeholders are consulted and apprised of the STA’s role, and formulating a plan that eventually will result in its incorporation as an independent governing body (in Dutch: Zelfstandig Bestuursorgaan ZBO).
The eventual incorporating of the ZBO is “the priority,” said the Minister.
The STA is extremely “important moving forward” due to the severe impact of Hurricane Irma on the country’s tourism product.
“When you look at Aruba and other destinations, they are ahead at all times because of their STA, the elimination of red tape and the freedom to be creative and dynamic in an ever-competitive market,” the Minister said.
To the board, she said: “I have the utmost faith in all of you who come from various professional backgrounds. You are all professional people who love St. Maarten and I expect you will do your utmost to guide the STA into a position that will benefit St. Maarten and, by extension, its economy and its people.”
This is the first full STA board and is the completion of a process “that started months ago,” according to a press statement from the Minister’s office. “The intention was to appoint the board around the same time Hurricane Irma struck the island.”
Meanwhile, the STA Supervisory Council members’ term has expired. The Council comprises a member each from the Airport, Harbour, SHTA and St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA). The Minister will notify these organisations that they have two months in which to nominate new persons or recommend the same ones for re-appointment.