Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams who has taken over the labour and health Ministry confirmed to members of the media on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that the Pelican Resort Club has requested dismissal for all of its employees on Tuesday. She said there is a process which will be followed however, given the current deadlock between Pelican Resort and the WIFOL union she is strongly considering to appoint an extra-ordinary mediator to see if that person can resume the negotiations with the union and management of the Resort.
The Prime Minister also said she is yet to receive a written report from the labour mediators namely Kenneth Lopes and Derrick Holiday, thus she is unable to say exactly which company filed for the dismissal of the employees. Wescot Williams said the employer and the employees are at a deadlock and the crock is to determine who is the current employer of these employees.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that government already approved the business licenses for the two new companies that are currently managing Pelican Resort Club, namely "Simpson Bay Resort Owners Company BV" and "Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV". The Prime Minister said while she is aware that the permit requests were approved she is not able to say whether or not they were delivered to the company.
Most of the day on Wednesday employees of the labour department including the two labour mediators were in a meeting discussing how to proceed with the Pelican saga, SMN News tried several times to get accurate information on the dismissal request that was submitted to the department on Tuesday by Pelican Resort Club but the labour department has refused to release the information.
No New Labour Minister Selected yet --- Discussions continue with DP Board.
While there is a possible labour unrest pending on St. Maarten now that the Pelican Resort Club has submitted a request to dismiss all its employees. Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams confirmed on Wednesday that her party is yet to select a candidate that will replace ousted Minister of Labour and Health Maria Buncamper Molanus. Wescot Williams said the discussions are continuing within the Democratic Party as to who the candidate will be. A decision she said will be taken in a few days.