Philipsburg:--- Commissioner Roy Marlin said at yesterday's press briefing that he is somewhat disappointed with the way Minister of Personnel Affairs Roland Duncan is handling the situation of the employees at the Inspectorate of Taxes. Marlin said that the workers do have rights and the Minister should not just sit there and not represent them. Workers of the Inspectorate of Taxes has requested a 25% salary increase after they learnt that there colleagues in Curacao received the increase.
However the Minister of finance has denied the St. Maarten based workers saying they are not performing optimally. Marlin said the Minister gave Curacao workers the increase because she felt the work load at the tax inspectorate was visible. Marlin said directorate on St. Maarten also motivated his request since the workload here is also heavy.
Marlin said the Minister is not the one to make the decision alone since this decision has to be taken by the council of ministers where he Duncan is a member. Duncan should put down his foot and deal with the Minister of finance. Marlin he also believes the two senators from St. Maarten should get involve in the matter so that St. Maarten tax inspectorate employees can get what they deserved.
Marlin said Duncan should not just sit back and say it is not his responsibility since he is the Minister of personnel affairs instead he should be looking out for these employees. Marlin said these employees do deserve this increase and if the Minister does not comply then the island government would have to give the additional monies to the employees when they request it.