PHILIPSBURG:--- Mrs. Etnel said that the claims from SMCU are fabrications, and that SMCU are intentionally trying to tarnish her image and reputation.
The situation with the Surinamese workers was not created by the SMCU. SMCU did not break any laws of country St. Maarten. In connection with bidding for projects, SMCU did not cause Telem Group of Companies to not adhere to their own bidding process.
A good reputation and image comes from following and respecting all laws in the country you live in. As well as respecting methods and agreements set in the company you're working in.
Mrs. Etnel likes to throw rocks and hide. Once again Mrs. Etnel is throwing the blame on others by saying it was the decision of the Chief Technical Officer and the Manager Outside Plant, while she is the chairperson of the management board with the last say. Mrs. Etnel is also the CFO that checks every penny that leaves the company. This is not the first time she is acting as if she doesn't have the final say. She acted similarly pertaining to the purchasing of Telem's latest billing system.
SMCU mentioned that it was rumored that there was a connection between Mrs. Etnel and the contracted Surinamese company. The union cannot confirm this rumor, but it left lots of doubts and questions as to why someone would blatantly violate our immigration and labor laws, without having a personal reason to.
This is not the first time that the management of Telem Group of Companies made mistakes and did not rectify their mistakes.
When Mrs. Etnel mentioned that the SMCU intentionally wants to tarnish her image and reputation she forgot to look at all the wrong doings she did before making that statement.
If respecting and adhering to the laws in our country and respecting and adhering to company methods is too much for Mrs. Etnel to do to maintain her image and reputation, then she should resign from the her position within the company.
In connection with the statement made by Mr. Louisa in the media, this is not completely the truth.
These Surinamese workers, if not mistaken, it is the third time that they came to St. Maarten and they don't have any knowledge of our local network. They cannot work without a local technician besides them for the reason that they do not know St. Maarten.
It's peculiar that Mr. Louisa would claim that the Surinamese workers are needed for their expertise, knowledge and best practices in industry. Our local technicians have the same if not more in expertise, knowledge and industry best practices. Our local network is 85% underground with fiber run all over on St. Maarten. All of this was done by our local technicians and contractors, without any assistance from a group from Suriname, and it is working fine.
Our local technicians even went to Saba to assist with them with their fiber project. The local technicians also assisted a company on the French side in the setting up their fiber network, and connected the fiber between French St. Martin and the Dutch St. Maarten. How can management claim that the Surinamese have all the knowledge?
In connection with affordable pricing of the Surinamese, this is also not true because nowhere can you bring a company to do a project which could be done locally and it will be cheaper.
Telem had to pay for hotel, food, transportation, and the payment for the project. If Telem would used local contractors, they would only have to pay for the work that's being done by the contractor.
