Philipsburg:--- The Minister of General Affairs and Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that the placement of civil servants has been finalized. Wescot Williams said 102 persons had contested their placement and they were each heard. Wescot Williams said the government of St. Maarten received the final report on the placements which was reviewed by the committee that was installed to review the complaints that were filed. Wescot Williams said of the 102 cases only three of the objections were sustained. The Minister responsible for General Affairs said the process took some time but now it has been finalized.
Discussions to start on COLA Payments and Solutions.
Wescot Williams said now that the 2013 budget has been approved she will resume discussions with the GOA on the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) that is still outstanding. Wescot Williams said that for the year 2011, government has to index the civil servants salaries by 4.6% but government only budgeted half of that which will be paid out this year. Instead of the 4.6%, government will be paying 2.3% but that will be done after negotiations are completed with the GOA. Wescot Williams said the 2.3% will be paid as a lump sum payment. She said she intends to send a letter to the GOA to inform them of the first trajectory and then they will discuss the second trajectory which is to find a better solution on the indexation of salaries because the government of St. Maarten simply cannot afford to maintain the current procedure that is being used to calculate the COLA.
When SMN News asked the Prime Minister if she has been making inconsistent statements regarding St. Maarten's financial status, Wescot Williams said she does not know what statement the WICLU Vice President was referring to. Regarding the letter sent by the unions and the ultimatum on the payment, Wescot Williams said that government has to restructure the indexation because some years they are not able to make the payments.
