PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VSA Omar Ottley confirmed on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that the draft BIG Legislation is in its final stages.
Ottley said when he took office some seven months ago he was presented with a draft law but draft law does not adequately fit St. Maarten and its needs. This draft was prepared by the Inspectorate in 2017 but was never presented to parliament for approval and implementation.
The Minister of VSA explained that the draft that was presented to him had to be adjusted in several areas to fit St. Maarten’s reality. He said St. Maarten has been sending its patients overseas for treatment and surgery but the doctors that are treating St. Maarten’s patients overseas are not able to work on St. Maarten. He said with the adjustments that are being made the doctors that are now prohibited to work on St. Maarten will be able to come here and treat patients locally.
