Business View Caribbean | August 2022

47 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8 S . E . L . MADURO AND SONS N. V . government is in power on issues that benefit the island,” he says. “In addition, our code of conduct manifesto prohibits employees from engaging in any partisan or politically motivated business activities in their official capacities within the company.” This neutral position has provided a firm foundation for building lasting relationships with partners and customers. One such relationship is with a variety of cruise lines, which depend on S.E.L. Maduro and Sons providing offshore services like supply of spare parts and equipment, helping the ships avoid demurrage costs. Elens explains, “We deliver almost anything to ships out in the open seas off the island’s shores. Sometimes to the tune of several tons of materials and equipment, saving them tens of thousands of dollars in demurrage costs and time because they don’t have to come into dock.” Most cargo coming into the ABC islands is from the United States and Europe, although some comes from China, Asia, and South America. S.E.L. Maduro and Sons play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth supply of goods through these shipments to the islands, which have to import almost everything due to a lack of industries. “The ABC islands are primarily a tourist destination, so minimal production happens on shore,” says Elens. “This economic aspect keeps us very busy because a lot of imports are coming in constantly.” The ABC Islands had previously attempted to industrialize, although a dormant oil refinery is all that remains of these efforts. The islands are currently mulling over whether to revive the refinery, which would require significant investments and contribute to the further pollution of the environment of the region or decommission it entirely and focus on maintaining a natural and pollution-free tropical paradise. As the islands consider shifting to a more tourist-focused economy, S.E.L. Maduro and Sons