Philipsburg:--- Focus should be placed on fixing the existing problems at the Princess Juliana International Aiport (PJIAE) before trying to regulate the issues surrounding labour said President of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union William Reed. Reed said unless these problems are being addressed the situation regarding illegal immigrants on St. Maarten would not change. He said that only last week he met with membership at the Immigration department where these issues were discussed. Reed said the immigration workers are being imposed with a lot of regulations including those that are mandated. The unionist said politics played a very important role in the situation regarding labour since voters are constantly expecting politicians to turn their heads aside in exchange for their votes.
Reed said he intends to put down his foot down so that the central government respects the laws and carriesout the necessary controls regarding immigration if they are to deal with the current situation plaguing St. Maarten. Asked if he felt the Franco Dutch Treaty should be implemented which would assist in controlling the undocumented. Reed said it is the politicians who have refused to have the treaty implemented for their own political gain. The unionists said because of this several policies are being shelved.
Responding to questions posed to him regarding the current vision of expanding the tripartite committee that is currently discussing the revised labour policy and its amendments. Reed said he believes in transparency and said he is the one that recruited advisor of the United Federation Union Willy Haize to be on that committee. Asked if the WICSU/ PSU have a problem having the Comprehensive Business Association (CBA) on the committee. Reed said he would want to know who the CBA is and who they are representing. Reed said Rosario should not represent both businesses and workers in any setting.
CBA Left Out of Negotiations—yet to meet with the Executive Council
President of the Comprehensive Business Association Elco Rosario in an interview with SMN News said to date he has never been invited to discuss the amendments of the revised labour policy. Rosario said he requested to meet with the executive council prior to the island council meeting held last week and to date that meeting was not granted. He said the executive council has chosen to meet with everyone else except the CBA who have given a list of items that has to be amended. He said he has called on the island government to withdraw the policy completely and to make sure the old policy is respected by having constant controls. Rosario said the reason given to the CBA is the lack of a constitution, he said the CBA is a registered association and felt that those rejecting their involvement are total nonsense.
Rosario said the CBA has been representing both businesses and employees, and he shared his information with the labour department. One of the objectives of CBA representation is currently avoiding court cases and undue expenses to both parties.
Rosario said he is amazed with the way the former leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams is speaking. He said when the former leader of government and labour commissioner implemented the revised labour policy she was not saying the same things.
The CBA has made their position clear from day one when it comes to the labour policy, which is they are representing the businesses. He said right now there is much discussion on the labour policy but somehow everyone forgets that the initiative was taken by the CBA.
Asked if the CBA is in favour of the amendments proposed by the executive council. Rosario said he is not totally in favour of the proposed amendments since certain articles in the policy were not touched. One such article he said is article six which he felt must be deleted. He said that article is hurting the already poor economy and it is bent on destroying the island. Rosario said he personally believes that government should stand their ground and withdraw the policy since there are several articles that contradict the civil code. The CBA president said he shared this with everyone including the leader of government prior to the change of government and no one disagrees with him. He said should this article remain effective persons residing on the island especially business owners could file court cases against the island government.
Rosario said revised policy has created confusion and he is ready to debate the issue with anyone including the advisor of the United Federation Union Willy Haize. He agreed that their has been abuse to the old labour policy.
Brooks Tower Accord not Addressing all Issues.
Rosario said while the Brooks Tower Accord, which is to be implemented, next month would address some of the issues surrounding labour and immigration one should not mix up the policies.
The CBA president said more explanation has to be given on the Brooks Tower; he said he wants to know what type of permits those persons who falls on category one will get. Those that are here before 2001 can now sign for themselves but is there a guarantee that the governor is going to grant the applicants a residency permit and if he does what type of permit are they going to get. Is it indefinite, one year, or independent Rosario asked? He felt if the Minister of Justice has to now explain what this policy entails. He said the devil is in the details and that is what needs to be worked out.