PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Under the theme “The Role of Entrepreneurship for the Local Economic Development” the Philipsburg Mutual Improvement Association (PMIA) held its 18th annual L. B Scot Memorial lecture.
The event, which had as its keynote speaker, the former Executive Director at the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anastacio Baker, took place at the Headquarters of PMIA on the Back Street Tuesday night, and attracted the attendance of many persons of various back grounds.
During this year’s 18 edition of the “Lionel Bernard Scot” Memorial Lecture, the organizers also recognized and awarded three business persons with the PMIA outstanding Sint Maarten Entrepreneurs Award for their contribution to the economic development of Sint Maarten.
Those persons recognized were the Managing Director of the Voice of St. Maarten Donald Hughes, the Managing Director of Photo Gumbs, Junior Gumbs and Jean Arnell of Computech on the French side.
Meanwhile, In addressing the audience on Tuesday, the keynote speaker of the evening and former Executive Director of at the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anastacio Baker expounded on the significance of small businesses in the development of the economy.
According to him, 88 percent of the entire economy is made up of small businesses. “That is a lot. That tells you how powerful small businesses are to our economy,” Mr. Baker said, adding that Sint Maarten economy runs on small businesses, period.
