PHILIPSBURG:--- Civil servants from various sectors of government packed the head office of the Windward Islands Civil Servant Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) on Wednesday afternoon to receive follow up information from the board of WICSU/PSU on their COLA payments which the unions claim are due to their members for the years 2011 and 2012.
On Tuesday, the Presidents of the two unions namely WICSU/PSU and WITU told reporters that they were going to be updating their members on Wednesday and they would also decide on a way forward on how to deal with government regarding the payment of the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). President of WICSU/PSU Derie Leonard said that the members mandated the board to ensure that they get their full COLA payments for the years 2011 and 2012 at 4.6%. Leonard said the unions under the umbrella of WICLU will meet again on Thursday to further discuss the matter since they all have a mandate from their membership.
However, it was a bit disappointing for the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) who also held their information session on Wednesday afternoon at the WIFOL headquarters on Pondfill Road.
While all members of the WITU board were at the location, their membership turnout was somewhat low. Some teachers said that this is the norm for teachers when there are information sessions because many of the teachers that work for government subsidized schools fear victimization and that is one of the main reasons they do not show up to meetings and or industrial actions.
On the other hand, WICSU/PSU has members from all sectors of government therefore it is expected that they would receive more attendance during these meetings.
Members of the WITU voted on a resolution indicating that the COLA payments must be made in full for the years 2011 and 2012. The board of the WITU also decided to take the resolution to the various schools for all teachers to sign it especially since a large number of teachers did not attend the meeting on Wednesday afternoon. President of WITU Claire Elshot could not be reached by phone for an official comment Wednesday evening.
While the Presidents of the WICSU/PSU and WITU met with their members on Wednesday, it is understood that the NAPB President Carlyle Rogers met with his members on Monday.
It should be noted that Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson and the management of KPSM have to deal with an awkward situation because the President of NAPB Carlyle Rogers is part of the management team of KPSM since he was appointed head of the Simpson Bay Police Outpost by former acting Minister of Justice Roland Tuitt. According to information provided to SMN News, Rogers was appointed based on a court decision that says the Government of St. Maarten has to make an official decision on his appointment which was rejected by former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan who told him that if he wants to become part of the management of KPSM then he has to choose between the union and the police force because there is a conflict of interest with the two positions he is holding. SMN News further learnt that the management of KPSM met on Wednesday to discuss the situation. Efforts made to reach Chief of Police Peter de Witte on Wednesday by telephone proved futile while the Minister of Justice also could not be reached by telephone for a comment.
