Philipsburg: --- The National Alliance/ Heyliger Executive Council has taken yet another major decision regarding labour permits as they have decided to take away the mandate from head of Island Labour Rafi Boasman.
Reliable sources have informed SMN News that the executive council took a decision on Boasman some two weeks ago but kept the information under wraps. The council
already sent a request to the Lt. Governor requesting that he take away the signing of work permits from Boasman since there are a number of allegations against Boasman.
It is not clear who would be taking over the signing of labour permits if the governor goes along with the request of the executive council and if Boasman would be re-assigned. The source said that since the new executive council has not been getting the cooperation from that department and no work is moving forward at Island labour department.
Mostly importantly Boasman was questioned on numerous occasions by SOAB for alleged wrong doings but so far no action is taken. It is not clear if the SOAB submitted a report to the former executive council and if they failed to act.
The source further said the SOAB began investigating the labour department about a week ago. It is understood that the SOAB is looking into the procedures that are being used to process working permits. It is said the SOAB will be investigating all departments that deals with handling and processing of working permits. One of the major concerns for SOAB is the fact that MICHMAR Agency is operated by the sister of Rafi Boasman. It is further said that Boasman never turned down a request for a working permit that is processed by MICHMAR Agency, something that has a clear conflict of interest.
Should Boasman be removed then he too would have to go back to the department he came from which is the island secretariat. Already Gracita Arrindell is waiting to be placed since she won several court cases against the island government.
Already former commissioner of labour Louie Laveist has openly expressed his concerns about the department head. Laveist had also said he had a deal with the former executive council to remove Boasman but the DP led executive council did not live up to the so-call deal during the saga of Maria Buncamper Molanus.
Laveist had said on several occasions that this was one reason he left the Democratic Party and went independent. The Island Council man gave a very emotional speech during the swearing in of the NA/Heyliger government saying that he could not even get his mother doctor card and onderstand renewed. All of which he said was blocked by Boasman.
Louie Laveist also gave his support to the National Alliance/Heyliger government when he withdrew his support from the Democratic Party.