Marigot: --- Union members and president of the MOCSAM Julien Gumbs at a press conference yesterday said they plan to remain vigilante as they have heard the cries of the people. Gumbs said if they are to be successful the people would have to come out and support them in masses because some of the things they are fighting for can only be achieved when action is taken.
He explained while the US Imports and Royal Food Club has agreed to lower their prices by 8 to 10% for the next six months Match he said is not able to fully comply since that food chain has lost substantial amount of monies due to the strike actions in Guadeloupe and Martinique. The MOCSAM president further explained that the initiatives taken by these supermarkets are completely voluntary since there is no law to force them to do such. He further explained that St. Martin does not even have a price control system in place since there have never been any laws to regulate such in the past. Gumbs said while they are now trying to install such it would take at least six to eight months before this can be fully achieved as they would have to get a database and other technologies in place to work with.
Another suggestion from the MOCSAM is to have the smaller groceries have their prices in the US dollars since these merchants shop on the Dutch side of the island. Gumbs said already the Prefet is not in favor since the legal currency on the French side of the island is Euros. He explained that these smaller groceries already are accepting one euro to one dollar and if they are allowed to have their prices in dollars that would give the consumer more buying power since the euros is already higher than the dollar. The MOCSAM president said that St. Martin is a specific island and if there needs to be changes in the legislation then so be it and those that are elected should get it done so that the people on the French side can have more buying power.
Gumbs further explained that they intend to drop off their first response to the Collectivity sometime today which would highlight their grievances and analysis of the proposals given to them on February 16th. He said while the COM did not answer many of their questions the intention is that they will remain vigilante.
In the meantime the teachers union of the Lycee and other schools Dominique Lousy said that the Collectivity did not fully live up to the calendar given to them on February 16. She said several repairs that were scheduled to be conducted did not take place and as such they intend to meet with the COM to make clear the conditions at the Lycee is unacceptable. Louisy said shortly after the protest march on February 13 several persons visited the schools but now that things have calmed down they are slipping back to the normal attitude of neglect. Louisy said they met with the secretary general from the Rectorat and several of their questions were left unanswered. The regional representative she said promised to regulate the salaries of those teachers who were not paid since November last year.
But questions surrounding the departure of several teachers who would leave for other French territories leaving St. Martin students without teachers for at least half of the school year cannot go unnoticed. The unionist and teacher said that the education system on St. Martin has been neglected over the years and those elected has to take the responsibility to make sure this re ameliorated. She said teachers on the French side have to be able to cope with students that are multilingual and courses and other trainings would have to be provided. Louisy said it is unacceptable for the COM to place the blame on others doorstep since this is not what article 74 is about. She insisted that the people of St. Martin especially the Parent Teachers Association needs to come together and support the teachers in their fight for proper education.
While the union representing the hospital in the person of Julienne Fredon said that there will come a day when doctors and nurses would have to take to the streets since they are working and are not being properly compensated. Fredon said while Medicare is a must there are serious problems facing the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital which has to be addressed. However, the staff of the LC Fleming hospital is still not able to get a meeting with the ARH (Agence Regionale d' Hospitalization" since the strike in Guadeloupe does not make it any easier for them.
She said the French side Hospital was approached to provide maternity services for the St. Maarten Medical Center since that hospital are having problems with gynecologists. Fredon said according to what they are being told is that one of the gynecologists at the St. Maarten Medical Center is due to go on retirement and that hospital seems not to be able to find replacements doctors. Fredon said if the LC Fleming is to provide maternity services for the Dutch side then the LCF would definitely need more beds and other facilities to accommodate the extra work and someone would have to say how they would be compensated. She said while this s difficult task for the French hospital negotiation is presently taking place to determine how the request from the Dutch side will be handled.
