Philipsburg: ---- Head of island labour Raphael Boasman has sent a letter to leader of government commissioner William Marlin telling him that he wants to be the head of the labour department when St. Maarten gets it country status. Even though the labour portfolio is not under Marlin, Boasman sent the letter directly to the island's leader and bypassed commissioner of labour Hyacinth Richardson. Sources say Boasman did not send his communiqué to the commissioner that is dealing with labour because he is being pressured by the labour commissioner to vacate his seat. Normally when civil servants send letters to the executive council they would carbon copy their letters to the commissioner in charge of their department. Boasman also suggested to the commissioner that he is willing to leave social affairs to the commissioner's office and to become a policy worker.SMN News has learnt that the "Dear Commish" letter sent by Boasman last week to Marlin was discussed in the executive council and a decision was taken to interview Boasman this week. SMN News learnt that a decision might be taken as early as Thursday this week since Boasman outlined several tasks he is working on regarding the transfer of tasks in the new setting.
It is further understood that the department head is suggesting that that Marlin separate labor from social affairs when the island gets its new status. The source said based on the current drafts the two portfolios must remain under the same Ministry.
Sources say that Richardson's office has been putting pressure on Boasman since he is allegedly not executing his duties at the labour department. According to well placed sources commissioner Richardson is experiencing the same difficulties as Laviest when he was commissioner of labour, and thus Richardson has made it clear to the executive council that the so called dead beat employee must be removed from that department.
According to information reaching SMN News advisor to commissioner, Richardson, has been trying to get Boasman to process files regarding social affairs and labour but the files are being delayed when they reach Boasman's desk. SMN News also learnt that the commissioner's office already indicated that they are ready to take harsh measures against Boasman since they are not able to get their work done.
The executive council already took a decision where they would remove Boasman from his position at the labour department. Already Boasman does not have the power to sign off on working permits but to date the executive council is not making good on the decision they took months ago to remove Boasman.
In an invited comment last week we asked Boasman if he sent in a letter to the executive council and if resigned from his position as head of the labour department. Boasman denied sending any letter to the executive council. Asked if he resigned the department head he did not resign instead he was busy with the transfer of tasks as the island prepares for its country status. "Even though the executive council took several decisions about me they never spoke to me directly, we never had any discussions" Boasman said.
SMN News contacted commissioner Marlin on the new developments surrounding Boasman but the island's leader said he was not aware of any letter. Sources say both Marlin and Richardson are trying to thread cautiously when dealing with Boasman or the labour department since they are not looking for another flare up from the opposition. SMN News was told that the commissioners do not want the media to take anything out of proportion as they did with the new labour policy when it was revoked.
