~ Project is coming to an end; workers were aware the job was short-term.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Labor Omar Ottley clarified on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that the “ COVID Prevention Project” was signed off prior to his taking office. He said that it is necessary for him to clear his name since questions are being asked while he was on a working trip.
Ottley said that the Covid Prevention Project was funded from the disaster fund for emergency purposes. He said that was decided to allow economic activity on the island.
The Minister explained that persons were hired on a project base, and those that were hired knew from the inception that the job was temporary. He said the advice that was sent to the Council of Ministers in 2020 was for a maximum period of two years.
The Minister said in the beginning it was anticipated that COVID-19 would last for about three to six months but that changed when the pandemic kicked off with the Alpha variant, then the Delta when the numbers surged, and then when it became low the island was hit with the Omicron variant that spiked.
In explaining how the EHAS workers worked he said that they worked on an hourly basis, and they were the ones that sent their invoices to the government of St. Maarten for payment. Civil Servants, he said do not send invoices to the government, but these contracted workers invoiced the government and they were the ones responsible for paying their taxes and medical.
Ottley played two voice notes where the workers admitted that they were aware that the job was short-term.
The Minister said that the government is now faced with backlashes from two of the former EHAS workers who filed a dispute claim because they do not agree with their dismissals.
He said the government sent a letter to the workers in June 2022 explaining that due to budget constraints the EHAS project will come to an end.
Non-vaccinated residents can return home, All non-vaccinated visitors will be allowed entry as of November 1st.
The Minister further explained that as for the EHAS all persons entering St. Maarten must fill out the EHAS form which will be simplified. He said as of now residents of St. Maarten will be allowed entry whether or not they are vaccinated but on November 1st, all travelers coming to St. Maarten will be allowed entry whether or not they are vaccinated.
The Minister made clear that all persons coming to the island must fill out the EHAS form and they will receive an automatic response. The Minister said that the filling in of the form will be mandatory and that all information will be used for data collection.
