PHILIPSBURG: --- The government of St. Maarten plans to honor the motion presented by Member of Parliament Egbert Jurendy Doran on October 29th, 2024, where the Parliament of St. Maarten asked the government to provide financial assistance to families of deceased Civil Servants.
Prime Minister Luc Mercelina told reporters on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that the current policy the government has dated back to January 17th, 1996; this was a decision taken by the former Island Council that offers families of deceased Civil Servants a cap of a maximum of NAF 4, 500, this amount is to cover or assist the families of the deceased with the funeral expenses.
Mercelina said on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, the Council of Ministers has agreed to increase the financial assistance for the bereaved families of Civil Servants to a maximum of NAF 9000.
Relatives of deceased Civil Servants would have to ensure they request and provide the relevant documents to the government of St. Maarten before the funeral occurs. Mercelina said that relatives could not wait for years after a person has passed on, is laid to rest, and then made a claim.
