PHILIPSBURG :--- The WIFOL on Friday blasted the University of St. Martin (USM) Board's decision to reduce staff by non-renewal of contracts and called the manner in which the board is operating hypocritical and discriminatory.One Antillean, with a specialized function, has already received notice while other non-Antilleans, whose contracts have expired, continue to work and their contracts have been renewed. Those include Chief Financial Officer Ken Nolan and Librarian Mark Paul. Nolan, 68, who is well over retirement age, has a salary of over NAF. 10,000 a month, while Paul's is over NAF. 8,000. They also receive benefits, such as car allowance, health insurance for Nolan and his spouse, housing allowance, and other perks. There are also employees who do not have proper working papers. Nolan's contract ended on July 31, 2010, yet he continues to show up to work every day and fire local persons who do not require working papers, signing off as acting president of USM, at the same time, while Joyce Watson, who is said to be on vacation, is sending directives as acting president.
"No wonder the institution is in a mess," said Thompson.
Furthermore, the Board is misinforming the public because the USM Board did not meet with Commissioner Blackman as reported on Friday, August 6, 2010. Actually, the Board reportedly met with some civil servants in an effort to obtain more financing for the tertiary institution.
According to the USM Board, USM will be forced to close its doors as of August 15, 2010, should monies not be received. In the meantime, the USM Business Office is open and collecting funds from students for the upcoming semester which is scheduled to begin on August 16, 2010.
The USM Board is trying to gain favor with faculty, the majority of whom are part time. Faculty at USM only gets paid for classes that are taught, and classes can be cancelled if class enrollment is not sufficient. The salary for instructors has remained at $30.00 per hour since 1994. While the USM Board is cutting back on administrative staff, instructions have been issued for more faculty to be hired.
"The USM Board is providing misinformation and trying to gain political favor with this matter," said Theophilus Thompson.
The USM staff is incurring undue stress due to lack of transparency and communication regarding the future of USM.
The WIFOL is reiterating the call for the USM Board to do the honorable thing and resign while making way for capable and qualified locals to run USM, the island's sole tertiary institution.
