On Kingdom, Caribbean & Family Ties
Interview with New RVO Caribbean Executive Bernise Stoffer
Today’s Visit St. Maarten / St. Martin visitor highlight centers around a frequent business visitor, familiar to many in economic contexts. Ms. Bernise Stoffer of the Kingdom Enterprise Agency (RVO) was already involved in many projects on the island; now she has recently been promoted to main Dutch Caribbean liaison for this agency, active in all six Caribbean parts of in the Kingdom. It’s long overdue to learn more about the activities of this organization on the island, her projects for enterprises, and other island visitors in the process.
Bernise was born and raised in Curaçao, with roots from Suriname, the Dominican Republic, and France. She brings 12.5 years of experience to the table in the financial industry, both nationally and internationally and 6 years’ experience in project management. She specialized in auditing, business process management, and subsidy instruments. “RVO is an implementing agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, supporting entrepreneurs in innovating and building resilience nationally and internationally. Their focus areas include climate & energy, water management, sustainable agriculture, circular economy, and more”.
Advice is also of a practical nature: “We also promote responsible business practices and help companies meet international standards. RVO provides tailored market information, business partner support, trade mission opportunities, and export funding. Through these tools, RVO helps turn ideas into action and scale projects. We have an extensive international network and a wide range of instruments for entrepreneurs both locally and abroad. Our Dutch Caribbean Partnership program (my department) supports government institutions across all six islands Caribbean part of the Kingdom with advice and facilitation.” Though 6,000+-employee RVO is based in the Netherlands, Bernise’s department focuses fully on the Dutch Caribbean.
Sometimes, these “instruments” are misunderstood. “Many people assume RVO only serve European Dutch entrepreneurs. While we do not have extensive instruments for entrepreneurs from St. Maarten, as it is an autonomous country, we still offer support and have limited instrument for St. Maarten available. People also often think our team coordinates the limited instruments that are available or evaluates their proposals; that is not the case. Our team lecture about RVO’s Dutch Caribbean instruments because we believe it is important that entrepreneurs in this part of the Kingdom know about the opportunities, so they don’t miss out. My colleagues also have a strong commitment to the Dutch Caribbean, and they are eager to serve the islands with their knowledge and are ambitious in developing new initiatives for the region. I consider this a great blessing to be part of this team.”
Running RVO the Dutch Caribbean Partnership Program (DCPP) in my new role (as program manager/liaison), also means investing time in my team members, the program itself, political understanding and into the cultural context to be able in offering customized advisory and facilitation services to governments in the Dutch Caribbean, with a focus on agriculture, livestock, fisheries, nature, economic development, and sustainability. A key initiative is DCALFA (Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishery Alliance), a model collaboration designed, developed, and continuously supported by our team, led by a jointly selected president from Santa Rosa, Aruba and vice president from Department ETT (TEATT), St.Maarten. This is a warm collaboration between the six islands”
That’s a lot to manage—and a lot to travel to. Ms. Stoffer: “They used to say that I am a workaholic. But I love everything about my job, so what others see as overwork doesn’t feel that way to me; it comes naturally. I am thrilled to make an impact and to be there for the islands, giving back to my roots.”
The “Bernise Approach”
Her focus is always practical: “turning ideas into action, creating sustainable business cases, and implementing policies effectively.” A practical approach also leads to adjustments in her own approach. “I noticed that many policies, business plans, and implementation plans fail due to a lack of financial literacy and clear processes, so I expanded my services over time to assist with that too.”
Practicality also aligns with her own results-driven way of doing things. “I am passionate about creating tangible results and real impact. I am known for pushing things forward, being clear about what is possible, and never over-promising. I value respect, equality, and collaboration, always looking for ways to strengthen each other and avoid duplication.”
It is an approach based on her core values. “What drives me is respect, equality, motivating others, and collaboration. I believe in strengthening each other, avoiding duplication, and turning ideas into actionable plans. I am committed to the Dutch Caribbean Islands because I know that the citizens are talented and capable of remarkable achievements when given the opportunity. What they all have in common, including myself, is that they always find a way to bounce back and do not have a give-up mentality. That makes it so rewarding to work with them and to serve them through my work.”
Both her core values and approach are inspired by female leaders. “Lisa Nichols, Oprah Winfrey, and Jacinda Ardern inspire me deeply. I admire their approach to leadership: empowering others, showing respect, and pursuing their work with passion, heart, and responsibility. They give themselves space to reflect, think independently, and stay true to who they are, rather than being influenced by others. I believe the authentic version of yourself is always more successful than a fake version; pretending only cheats your own soul. I truly look up to them because their approach aligns with my values and what I stand for.”
St. Maarten According to Bernise (and her Daughter)
Bernise still remembers the first time she visited St. Maarten. “The first time I visited the island, the experience already started on the plane during the landing, and when you step out of the airport, see the hills and the beautiful blue sky, the Caribbean vibe truly kicks in. My takeaway is that each part you go to has a different ambiance.”
For RVO, she has visited St. Maarten many times, and recently she was able to bring her daughter along for the first time. A passion of hers is doing activities with her daughter between her busy Caribbean travel schedule. “My daughter loves St. Maarten as much as I do; she explores the island freely, using an under-knee prosthetic and wheelchair, showing that limits do not define her or what she can achieve. And yes, she went on the Dutchman zipline, and even I did not do so, so imagine!”
She laughs: “My daughter told me on her first vacation here, ‘Mom, you didn’t sell St. Maarten correctly, it’s more than beautiful… it’s amazing!’ We even joked that luckily I’m not in the marketing industry, because I would definitely fail.”
Mum agrees: “The island offers an incredible variety of experiences. On the French side, you get a mini-French vibe with cozy restaurants side by side. At night, the Dutch side, like Maho, has a bit of a Miami feeling. Driving around the island is breathtaking, with stunning views of the landscape and hills and I could go on!”
When it pertains to where to stay on the island, she has a weak spot for Port de Plaisance. “Out of all the fancy hotels on the island, I really love it there. You’ll always find me on the balcony, enjoying the beauty of St. Maarten, as seen in the picture. The hotel isn’t too busy, giving me time to relax and rethink the next steps for this beautiful island. I call it ‘my balcony’; you’ll find me there for breakfast, dinner, and even sometimes asleep, shocked to realize at midnight that I dozed off outside! For me, the balcony at Port de Plaisance is my secret spot.”
When going out for dinner, the choice becomes more difficult. “I haven’t been to a restaurant on St. Maarten that I didn’t like! There’s such a wide variety, and the food is really good. I especially enjoy Palapa and Secret Seafood House, and Lolo’s. It really depends on what you’re looking for, but visitors shouldn’t worry, there are plenty of options, all with very good quality food. Loterie Farm is nice for a day in the hills. For me, it’s always a bit challenging to stop myself from trying everything!”
What St. Maarten activity should be part and parcel of any visit to St. Maarten according to her? “For me, being on St. Maarten is being amongst the locals and getting the cultural feeling of people. My favorite annual event on the island is Carnival season. I’m not much into parties, but Carnival brings together people of different nationalities in a wonderful display of colorful costumes. It’s also a fantastic experience for tourism, allowing visitors to explore the island’s vibrant culture.”
From her expertise, she also sees limits to St. Maarten’s liveliness in the future. “In my humble opinion, I think attention should be on balancing tourism. St. Maarten is beautiful, and people really need to experience it for themselves—it’s an incredible experience that’s hard to put into words. The people are very friendly; it’s no wonder it’s called ‘the Friendly Island.’ If tourism is not balanced, it can have negative effects, not only on future visitors but also on the local community, increasing the cost of living, raising housing prices, and creating a social impact. Finding a balance is crucial to ensure tourism benefits both visitors and residents.”
The incredible potential of the creative talent on St. Maarten is one example that could provide more “cross-pollination” with the tourism industry. “I’ve had the honor of meeting some of these talented individuals and seeing their work, which visitors really appreciate. There are also many business opportunities on the island, and it would be great if locals could seize these opportunities instead of duplicating the same types of businesses.”
What is it people do not know yet about the new RVO Dutch Caribbean executive? “Fun fact: What people don’t know is that my father, who passed away in 2024, used to do magic show performances in Las Vegas and abroad. I inherited a bit of that magic, so I can do a few tricks to entertain—consider this your exclusive scoop! I also love designing things; one of my main hobbies is cake decoration and interior design.”
On a more personal note: “What I would also like to share, which is personal but meant to inspire others: I am phonetically dyslexic, a challenge I discovered at 28 years after completing my studies. However, I turned it into a strength by focusing on numbers and streamlining processes, as my brain naturally visualizes things, which allowed me to become a successful financial expert. My message to others is: embrace your limitations and fears with pride, turn them into fuel, and focus on your unique talents. Ask yourself what your purpose is, and how your actions impact the world. When everyone does their part without comparison, you will be stronger and more successful than you ever imagined.”