Philipsburg: --- The new and revised labour policy that was introduced by the former executive council on January 12 has defeated the purpose of an upgraded policy; those were the words of former commissioner of labour Louis Laveist just prior to voting against the motion presented by the Democratic Party Faction. Laveist said the former executive council to which he was part of personally withheld the policy from him even though he was the commissioner of labour under the Democratic Party led government. He further explained that had he seen the policy prior to it being implemented it would not have seen the light of day. Laveist said while in the past executive council he repeatedly asked for the policy so he could have examined it but he was not allowed to see the policy. He said as far as he is concerned he was never the commissioner of labour. Laveist further explained he wanted to make sure his visions for a new policy was in the policy but he was deprived of that opportunity, reasons why he said the policy was introduced after he left his office. The former labour commissioner said the reason he championed a new labour policy was to address the problems with the minimum wage, which was increased. He said an agreement was made on these increases and when it was to take place however, they were not able to escape the abuse of the short term contracts, and other matters such as having the permits issued in a more timely fashion, none of which is addressed in the new policy and the motion presented by the Democratic Party with some amendments on Monday. Laveist said one of the problems of the working permits is that it is activated months before it is granted or picked up. Another issue that had to be addressed is the synchronization of the work and residency permit, which was also not addressed. Laveist said there are several persons living on St. Maarten for as much as 40 years and they are not properly documented, these he said included persons who were born here and have gone to school on St. Martin, the former commissioner with a passion said those were the reasons he championed having a new policy. He said while business and building permits were being issued like peas the labor permits were stagnated. He said another idea was to have an inventory taken on all sectors including education. The idea was to see what kind of foreign labour is needed on St. Maarten. These inventories were to also assist in directing not only the labour policy but also that of education and health. Laveist said the policy was rushed and implemented before proper analysis was made which does not address the issues that are facing the island. ‘
The National Alliance, Heyliger, and Laveist government has already agreed to several amendments to the policy. Articles amended are 4, which stipulated that the old fees for the processing of domestic personnel would remain at Naf. 800 since such jobs do not generate revenue.
The reason the current executive council did not reduce the other fees because it would drastically affect the budget. Article six of the policy that deals with the moratorium on skilled professionals. The council has decided to remove masons, carpenters, and mechanics from the moratorium since such tradesmen cannot be found locally. Amended also is article 7 which deals with the duration of the permit and the fact that these permits will not be issued for more than three years. The amended version now states that the three-year period is only applicably to non-professionals, while professional migrants can have permits for a longer period, those include teachers, nurse’s doctors, and professors. Persons holding a bachelors degree are considered as added value to the St. Maarten community and as such, they can be part of society as nation building. Articles 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 17, 18, 20 and 21 were also amended.
Commissioner William Marlin and leader of the current government said the Democratic Party faction should shut up when it comes to the labour policy since they are the ones that created the mess today. He said the DP faction while they have a right to speak should not be the ones to cry out loud now that they are in opposition. The island leader said his government does not need any assistance from the DP faction since they already voted on the amendments and it will be sent to the governor general for ratification. He said the former executive council members should remember that the tripartite committee with whom they dialogued wrote them a letter on May 12 asking them to remove the revised labor policy. The committee wanted this policy revised and amended. Marlin said the leader of the Democratic Party felt ashamed of herself as a former labour commissioner and thus she did not present a motion against her own policy instead she asked “one of her boys to do it” he said he believed the island council lady purposely left the meeting before the motion is tabled for voting simply because she could not stand voting on such a motion. Of the nine votes cast, two was for the amendments proposed by the DP faction while seven voted against. The statements made by the island leader caused some confusion at the end of the island council meeting as island councilman Roy Marlin tried to set the records straight. Leader of government William Marlin objected and called on chairlady Millicent De Weever to close the meeting since there was no more agenda points on the floor to be discussed. Marlin made sure he cautioned the chairlady about the constant abuse of the rules of order, which he said, is not acceptable.
Marlin in his presentation explained that the current policies that are still in use have caused a number of problems. He said his government has decided to strike off the acculturation simply because it does not fit into the policy. Housing requirements that is under 11 is also stricken since regulating housing issues cannot be in a labour policy. Marlin said this has to be regulated by properly implementing the building code. Government would also have a study done to determine the exact quotas, which will vary per business. Another article that has to be stricken is 16, which deals with the abuse of the labor policy and the system. Government feels that this can be rectified by controls. Persons caught breaking the law can face jail time or pay a fine of Naf. 100,000. Also revoked is the mandate that was given to department head.
Marlin said it is obvious that the policy was not working favor of the island and those that created the problem are the ones shouting the loudest. He said those who are not aware of the change of government would believe that the DP faction is trying to save immigrant workers. He said the former government denied immigrants and their children even those that were born here access to education. Marlin said the policy was geared at ensuring that immigrants no longer become a permanent part of society. He said living on the island five or ten consecutive years would give people the right to permanent residency.
Presenting the amended portions of the amended policy was the commissioner of labour Hyacinth Richardson, Richardson also answered a few questions in the first round of the island council, but during the second round the labor commissioner did not address any of the questions posed by the DP Faction. Richardson said the executive council has met with the tripartite committee on at least three occasions and they have taken a decision on amending the policy. The commissioner also attacked some of the statements made by the DP faction some of which he said is not true. He said the only reason the DP is throwing wild accusations is because they want to cross the isle and be in government. He criticized the DP faction for not visiting the Blue Mall, which he visited with some workers and the media.
Richardson said his government is there for the people and they are looking out for the people of St. Maarten, while the DP government did nothing in the past to benefit the people. Richardson also refuted certain statements that were published in one of the newspapers when he visited the Blue Mall.
The commissioner said he noticed the DP has slogans 55 years and moving on, he said he wanted to know where the DP is going because they have lost two of their strongest members namely, commissioners Louis Laveist and Theo Heyliger.
