Duty-free shops with their exclusive tax-free merchandise are open and welcome tourists. Hotels are not only open, but also filled to capacity. The more than 300 exclusive restaurants are unsurpassed in the Caribbean for their service and quality. All of these amenities and more enhance the island where the number of beaches equals the size of the island in square miles - 37.

Any visitor to "The Friendly Island" couldn't agree more. Shiploads of tourists bustle about on Front Street of Philipsburg. The Dutch capital is where Caribbean tourism as we know it today was born and also where Richardson has left his mark.

"I have been a catalyst of change in many areas," the governor said. As he approaches his final six months in office, he reflects on some of the triumphs and challenges of his term. The official representative of the Dutch queen, the governor is also the local chief of police and chairman of the island council, a position he takes very seriously.

The island has been through much during his term, but he considers a few areas to be especially important. Establishing new laws and financing government are two areas he considers vital.

In the past, on every matter under consideration, the island government had to get prior approval from the Netherlands Antilles Parliament based in Curacao. With only three representatives to this 22-member body, St. Maarten was not able to achieve its immediate needs.

Hurricane Luis of 1995 created a crisis that finally forced the issue. St. Maarten had been spoiled by 30 years of minor storms, and was not ready for the devastation Hurricane Luis wreaked on the island.

Richardson worked out an agreement with the Dutch government that allowed St. Maarten to work directly with them on issues related to the hurricane emergency. Thus, years later, St. Maarten enjoys a better relationship with their Dutch homeland on emergency assistance matters.

Strategic planning is also now the norm rather than the exception. "My greatest success was seeing the most recent mini summit happen. This was not my initiative," explained the governor. The mini summit is where Dutch St. Maarten government officials work to approve the Strategic Plan that will direct the focus of the island for the coming year.

Richardson felt that such an annual session would help the island better focus operations.

Local officials agree. Vance James, founder of the National Progressive Party told the local newspaper, The Daily Herald, that he was impressed with the efforts of the mini summit. "You have to have goals and you have to see how you will achieve those goals. I think that is what was clearly spelled out today," he said after attending the 2000 meeting.

Richardson is also optimistic about increasing cooperation between the Dutch and French sides of the island on a variety of issues. He explained that the Dutch side of the island developed the Caribbean tourism market in the 1960s and 70s, but it is the French side that has honed the market into offering Europe in the Caribbean.

"Dutch St. Maarten has a closer relationship with the United States, while French St. Martin has a closer tie with Europe and France. The French side of the island is more European and these guests usually come in the low season, whereas American guests come in the high season.

The governor also pointed out that the tourism-dominated economy has great potential to diversify into other areas. The location of Princess Juliana International Airport in the northeastern Caribbean allows it to service all islands.

"Regionally, our stores are the best connected to the United States and Europe," he said. "Transshipment is another viable option for us. We have a natural harbor and we will be able to do this on a regional level with the completion of the harbor project. In the electronic commerce area we are well positioned, as tourism demands a high level of technology. Tourists prefer to have access to the Internet, fax machines and voice mail and these services are installed in hotels based on competition. So, why not build around this?" he asked.

Discussion is also under way to establish an e-commerce stock exchange to further diversify the economic sector. Richardson said it is also important to keep the young St. Martiners in St. Maarten, rather than losing them to the United States or Holland after they complete their university studies. "Without the young, educated professionals, a country cannot develop in the way in which it must to compete," he said.