~ Austerity measures is not in violation of the Constitution pf St. Maarten.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Constitutional Courts delivered its verdict on Monday morning in which they ruled in favor of the government of St. Maarten regarding the 12.5% cuts to salaries of civil servants. The case was filed by the Ombudsman citing that the austerity measures imposed on St. Maarten were in violation of the country’s constitution.
Attorney at Law Jason Rogers said that the court states that the national ordinance with the three austerity measures was not in contravention of the constitution of St. Maarten, Rogers further explained that the court credited the Ombudsman for taking the legislations before the courts for them to be reviewed, however, the court acknowledged that the measures will have far-reaching effects on the people of St. Maarten bringing with it a heavy burden. Despite that, the measures were not found to be disproportionate because the government of St. Maarten was placed between a “rock and hard” place to obtain money from the Netherlands for the survival of its people during the pandemic.
The court also expressed hope that both the government of St. Maarten and the Netherlands will take into consideration the human dimension and the effects the austerity measures will have on the people as time progresses.
The judgment rendered on Monday is a 30-page long document that will have to be further analyzed Rogers said.
Click here for the verdict delivered on Monday morning by Judge Bob Wit.
