Philipsburg:--- Teachers and Civil Servants who participated in the meetings called by the unions to discuss and protest against the cost of living allowances booed Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto as he entered the government administration building on Friday afternoon.The teachers and their union representatives marched from the Sports Auditorium where they gathered for the third day to discuss their cost of living allowances. They arrived at the government administration building chanting that they want their monies now, and not part of the allowance but all that is due to them. When the angry teachers and civil servants arrived at the government administration building, none of the Ministers were in office.
A letter was deposited by the unions at the department of general affairs for the each of the Ministers from the Council of Ministers, the Members of Parliament, and copy was also sent to the Governor of St. Maarten.Shortly after giving in the letter to general affairs, President of the WITU Claire Elshot informed her members that she was following the legal procedures by sending in the letter to the Ministers and Members of Parliament. As she was updating the crowd the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams arrived and was escorted by security into her office. Moments later Deputy Prime Minister Theo Heyliger also arrived at the building. Heyliger who is known to be friendly greeted some of the teachers before he entered the building.
However, Finance Minister Hiro Shigemoto who also came during the same period kept his head straight as he too was escorted by security to his office. The Minister of Tourism Franklin Meyers also came to the building but left shortly after.
A meeting was then called by the Prime Minister, deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance with the representatives of the unions.