Philipsburg:---National Alliance Senator George Pantophlet says that the past government in instituting the new labor policy did not take St. Maarten’s reality into consideration neither the negative effects it has had and will continue to have on the economy. It has created chaos, uncertainty, fear and frustration. The policy will not help reduce illegal immigration and protect locals but to the contrary it will increase illegal immigration. What the past government forgot was that people’s lives are affected and in this case in a very negative sense. Any law regulation or policy that is put in place has to improve not frustrate lives. Government has to be an enabler not a destroyer. Today while looking at the island council meeting on the new labor policy requested by the council members of the Democratic Party I received a call from an employee of foreign nationality who said that they were informed by their employer that they had to pay $900 to renew their working permit. This same person who earns minimum wage had recently moved from their former dwelling because after inspection it was concluded that it was not an ideal place to live. They decided to share a house with a friend for $700 of which each would pay half. Last month the friend moved out and now they are left with having to pay the $700 a month rent. Now in addition to this they are told that they have to pay $900 previously $450 to renew their permit. They have been living on St. Maarten for some 15 years and at their former address for 5 years.
Another person came to my office and explained to me that after living on St. Maarten for some 19 years and working on their 6th renewal it was turned down because their two bedroom apartment with a separate living room kitchen and a porch was too small. They have been renting the apartment along with their partner and two children for the last 7 years and paying $550 a month. While having some 4 weeks to respond this person out of fear of being deported paid $750 to appeal the decision all of this because of the new labor policy. And these are just a few of the many who are facing similar problems. What has to be understood is that these persons will not just leave St. Maarten they have made this island their home. I will again repeat a call I made some years ago for synchronization of working and residence permits. It cannot continue where some employers refuse to request working permits for persons who have are in their employ sometimes for years and these same persons are not permitted to regulate their status on the basis that they are employed and can prove this by submitting the necessary documents. The new labor policy must be withdrawn and a more realistic one presented.