Philipsburg:--- As Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, I am proud that as of 10-10-2010 St Maarten has its own institution for the execution of the social and health insurances for our own people. This institution is named "Uitvoeringsorgaan Sociale en Ziektekosten Verzekeringen" which can be translated as the Executive Body for Social and Sickness Insurances.From 10-10-2010 until the 31st of December 2010 the administration of the social and health insurances is being administrated by the SVB of Curacao, formally the SVB of the Netherlands Antilles.
Meanwhile under the supervision of the Interim Director of St. Maarten's own Executive Body, Mr. Dennis Richardson, everything is being prepared for the takeover of all responsibilities as of January 1st, 2011. St. Maarten's institution will be responsible for the execution of the social and health insurance rules and regulations, foremost of the AOV, AWW, OV, ZV, FZOG, AVBZ and Cessantia.
This means that our Ministry will be able to focus primarily on their policy making and legislative tasks: "the government at a distance so to speak". The reforms for our national health and national pension insurances are examples of the focus points of the Ministry.
This is a very special moment, because a new year is around the corner. With this announcement I would like to inform the people of St Maarten about the tremendous work that has been and is still being done by the Interim Director, his team, the members of the Supervisory Board, civil servants and of course the current SVB and BZV staff to allow for a smooth transition.
In cooperation with our Ministry and the SVB Curacao the executive body is able to maintain services and secure jobs for the people involved. Now the following phase starts. As of January 1st, 2011 all decisions concerning the social and health insurances will be made in St Maarten by the director of the Executive Body of St Maarten. The SVB Curacao has promised full cooperation and will assist with necessary services to transfer all activities to St Maarten. A transition team, set up by the Interim Director will take on all the challenges involved: implementation of the necessary information technology, transfer and training of staff, organizational changes, research into and the implementation of measures for service improvement and much more in order to be prepared for the new developments.
A lot has been done and still has to be done. However I am confident and as Minister of Public Health I congratulate the Interim Director and all the people involved in this transitional phase who strive to make a better and stronger and more service oriented organization for St Maarten.
Most important for now is that with all the work going on "behind the scenes" I can inform the people of St Maarten that the AOV, AWW, OV, ZV, AVBZ, FZOG and Cessentia will be executed as it is presently done. A special information session for the health care providers is scheduled to update them on the developments. For now no changes will be made in contracts and payments. All persons with a BZV/FZOG card or temporary letter maintain their healthcare or benefits. I would like to make it clear however to clients of SVB or BZV that are not entitled to care or benefits according to stipulations by law, that extra controls on cards or temporary letters by staff of the Executive Body on St Maarten will be applicable. Concerning the payment of premiums for employers there are no changes since as of 10-10-2010 only the AVBZ-payments are executed by the receivers office.
The current location of services to the public remains the same. For SVB services, clients are welcome at the W.J. Nisbeth Road # 1. For BZV services, clients are welcome at the A.T. Illidge Road # 56.
