PHILIPSBURG:--- The two unions (WICSU/PSU and WIFOL) that are representing workers of Sonesta Great Bay Resort and Sonesta Maho Resort intend to seek more clarity from the Minister of Justice and Minister of Labor regarding the influx of foreign workers that are coming to St. Maarten and placed in leadership positions while workers on St. Maarten are left behind.
In responding to a question posed to the unions on Tuesday during the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions' weekly press conference, President of WICSU/PSU Derie Leonard said that she received complaints from some of her members and had already addressed the matter, Leonard said that sometimes the workers file complaints with the union and when the time comes for them to face their employers they do not show up. When asked if she believes that the workers don't show up for these confrontations due to fear of being victimized, Leonard said that the days of slavery is long gone and workers have to stand their ground, she said some workers might even lose their jobs but they have to stand up in order to end the abuse in the work place. "Everyone has rights especially if they are paying their taxes. These people have a right to seek representation and I honestly don't think they should be afraid to seek help for their rights. Leonard said she had a number of meetings with the management of Maho and the issues regarding the schedules of workers were solved. However, there are some issues with the workers in housekeeping but those workers are not part of the union. In addressing the issue with the Jamaican nationals, Leonard said she met with the former Minister of Justice to discuss the matter and he was aware of the situation but even after her meeting her concerns fell on deaf ears. Leonard said Jamaicans are coming to St. Maarten as stagers and tourists and the next thing you know they are holding a high position at Sonesta Resorts. "Right now, it is not a pleasure being an immigration officer because immigration officers are being called and told who they have to allow to enter St. Maarten. Politicians went after country status because of self-interest and greed. "When I was working as an immigration officer under the former Netherlands Antilles I felt like an immigration officer without getting a phone call and being told what to do. At times I get very emotional about this issue because I know what takes place at the port of entry. Even though I am no longer working in Immigration, the feedback I get from my colleagues is that they are no longer proud to be an immigration officer anymore. Right now there is no control, just last month I attended the CPS conference in St. Lucia and everyone else is protecting their shores except St. Maarten. St. Maarten is more interested in nourishing someone else's child/children rather than nourishing their own. One of the things you hear constantly is that the youngsters on St. Maarten don't like to work but I want to state here that is not the case. Parents spend monies and send their children abroad to study and when they come back they are over qualified and cannot find proper work. When St. Maarten was part of the Netherlands Antilles, immigration workers were able to execute their duties based on the law. But today they are receiving calls from elected officials and told who to allow into St. Maarten."
Leonard said she did not want to sound as though she was a radical but at some point they have to stand up to what is taking place on St. Maarten. "I am telling my members if they have to lose a few days of pay or even their jobs they have to take a stand in order to stop the abuse for their children in the future."
Leonard said she wants to meet with the two Ministers because there is a network on St. Maarten. "This network involves various nationalities and even takes place in government. As a unionist I intend to tackle this matter. I am busy piling a case on this matter and I don't want to release too much information on this case now." Leonard could not say if the Jamaicans and other nationals that are coming to St. Maarten are coming with the required visas. When asked if their passports are being scanned she said the question should be if the system to scan and store visitors information is up to par.
President of the Workers Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) Theophilus Thompson said he met once with the Minister of Labor and was told that Sonesta Resorts has an agreement with the Government of St. Maarten to bring in workers from Sandals Resort in Jamaica to train the workers of Sonesta Resorts. Thompson said while the Minister of Labor said these persons were coming to train workers on St. Maarten they are being placed in managerial positions. Based on the information Thompson received, he said he is not satisfied because he is of the opinion that Sonesta gave Government an excuse to bring in these foreign workers to St. Maarten. Thompson said this is a matter of concern to both unions. Thompson said that the former Sandals workers were attracted to St. Maarten and they were interested in the working and residency permits for these people that are now working for Sonesta Resorts. Thompson said he is concerned about the working permits that are issued to these new workers. He said government introduced a wrong policy when they agreed to accept Sandals workers on St. Maarten. The WIFOL President said that St. Maarten has been in the tourism industry for some 60 years and government is underestimating the competency and qualifications of the workers on St. Maarten. He said he does not see any need for St. Maarten to bring in these foreign workers while tourism is an industry that is over 60 years old and the island has competent and qualified workers when it comes to servicing clients.
Thompson further stated that he along with the President of WICSU/PSU plan to meet with the two Ministers to discuss their concerns further. Thompson said all the workers that were brought in are in managerial positions and the local workers have to be the ones to teach these people that were brought it. Thompson said even though St. Maarten is in the tourism industry for over 60 years there is still no hotel and hospitality school that can certify workers. He said because of that WIFOL established the CCEF in order to train workers.
