St. Martin News Network

Great Bay:--- Marcellina Loblack of the Mediator's Office recently returned from Aruba where she worked with the mediator's office there for a period of one week, where she was introduced to various aspects of the mediation on the island of Aruba.
Loblack on her first day was explained the entire process of requesting a referendum, which was followed by a meeting with President of the Chamber of Commerce on Aruba, as they explained their views on various socio/economic topics.
On the second day of Loblack's trip, she met with the new Government Mediator of Aruba Anselmo Pontilius where he explained to her their approach as it relates to mediation between the employers and the unions. Pontilius also explained that the mediator's office will be coordinating education and information programs for union board members as well as employers' associations.
The remainder of Loblacks trip was filled with meetings and presentations, such as a meeting with the General Manager of Divi resorts, which has over one thousand employees, as he shared his longtime experience working with trade unions. The Labor Department made a presentation on a labor market survey that will be conducted on Aruba, and the different programs they are executing.
On her last day, Loblack met the president of a local trade union and other board members, as they shared their experience with the Mediator's Office.
"It is extremely important for the development of St. Maarten that Ms. Loblack applies the knowledge that she learnt, each exposure in Aruba, I believe was worthwhile and will help St. Maarten grow. I hope that businesses and trade unions find the common the ground with government to make the system work efficiently," said Minister of Public Health Social Development & Labor, Cornelius De Weever.