Philipsburg:--- Minister of Labour, Health, and Social Welfare Cornelius de Weever announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing on Wednesday that the resolution for work permits will now be issued in the English Language. Minister De Weever said the change in policy is to facilitate and provide better services to their clients. The Minister said that the new policy goes into effect as of Wednesday January 9th, 2013. Minister de Weever said government realized that most businesses on St. Maarten use the English Language therefore they translated the work permit resolution to accommodate them.
Minister de Weever also announced that there is a survey on the elderly currently ongoing and he is calling on all the elderly persons residing on the island to cooperate with the interviewers when they knock on their doors for information. The Minister said the AOV was recently increased to Naf. 1000.00 and there are those that have concerns on this but he called on the persons that are criticizing to bring along data with them to substantiate their criticisms. Minister de Weever went as far as saying that those persons who believe that the AOV should be the same as that of the Kingdom should meet with the members of the first chamber when they visit the island. He said the elderly that he met thus far are very grateful for the increase they got. He further explained that if they are to work on another increase in the AOV the concerned persons must bring along data so that they can substantiate their claim because St. Maarten as a country has to do things responsibly.
Mental Health Foundation and Turning Point will Receive Temporary Permit.
The Minister of Health also announced on Wednesday that the Mental Health Foundation and Turning Point will receive a Temporary Permit in order for them to provide services. The Minister of Health said that when someone's rights (someone with an episode of mental health and substance abuse) are to be taken away an evaluation has to be conducted by an independent psychiatrist.
The Health Minister further explained that when the Minister of Justice takes a decision on removing someone's rights he must be provided with a report from an independent psychiatrist. Minister de Weever said the Mental Health Foundation doctor cannot be used solely to evaluate clients at the institution. De Weever said he and the Minister of Justice met with all four psychiatrists on St. Maarten and these persons were informed that protocol has to be followed. He said he hired someone who would be working in his Ministry to deal specifically with these cases. The Minister said he also met with the board members of the Mental Health Foundation to inform them on the procedures to which they have agreed.
Minister De Weever said one things he noticed recently at the Mental Health Foundation is that children and adolescents are not seen by the child and adolescents physiatrist. "I personally met with the doctor from Mental Health Foundation and during the time that doctor was there a child was at the institution and the child and adolescents physiatrist was not called and I recommended that should be done. In the end, the child was seen by that specialist and it turned out that the child ended up receiving treatment at the St. Maarten Medical Center." Minister de Weever said that he is aware that the MHF would like to offer different types of services but government has to ensure that the facilities they have are conducive to provide the services they want to provide. The Minister said that there must be secured space for patients to move around when they need to and especially take fresh air. Minister de Weever said Turning Point has much more space and there are also patients that have dual problems, such as mental and the abuse of illegal substances. He dismissed the idea that St. Maarten wants to send its patients to Curacao for treatment when there are facilities locally. He concluded that government has to protect patients and they intend to appoint a lawyer to these patients because they all have their rights.
