National Alliance Senator George Pantophlet said the coalition met on Monday August 2, 2009 to discuss some very important issues.
The discussions surrounded the millions UTS has been experiencing in losses over the last years up to 2007. Thus far some 30 million guilders has been lost on the International markets while on the local markets (Netherlands Antilles) according to the Minister of Telecommunications
things have gone extremely well. Government is waiting on the financial report for 2008 to determine the way forward. There are times when in the beginning a business starts to lose money but then recovers and becomes profitable in the future. However, we need to see the plan of action of the company to see how they plan to solve this problem.
Another point discussed was persons who were insured by SVB and upon reaching the age of 60 lose their insurance card. Of course when they meet the required criteria they can receive a PP card from government. One being, collecting less than the minimum wage. What I found out during the coalition meeting was that since 2001 government was working on legislation to deal with this problem. Draft legislation has been submitted for advice in January of this year to the Advisory council.
We are awaiting their response. What should be noted is that Parliament is trying among others to include sole proprietors in the legislation. It is the intention that as many pensioners are covered by this insurance.
An additional agenda point which was added had to do with a Brazilian Airlines that is trying to establish themselves in the Netherlands Antilles specifically on Curacao. However there is a problem with the issue of reciprocity and whether local persons will be employed. Furthermore if this airline is given the authority to fly it will mean a change in our open skies policies. The US has already expressed their concerns. What has added to the dilemma is the fact that there is a matter of difference of approach between the central government and the island government of Curacao. A meeting will be convened with both parties in an attempt to synchronize matters.