According to the Workers Institute for Organized Labor (WIFOL) President Theophillus Thompson the Labor Department is not functioning while the Government of Country St. Maarten has abolished the tripartite committee. Thompson said for the lack of the tripartite committee collective bargaining is hampered.
The Prime Minister said the tripartite committee was not abolished but it had to be reorganized due the transition. This committee she said was established under the island territory and now that St. Maarten is a country some changes had to be made. She said the Minister has informed the cabinet that he is working on these committees and he hopes to have them up and running by January 2012.
Wescot Williams also indicated that the Labor Department has a labor policy to work with since the last labor policy that was amended and ratified by the former Island Council is still being used.
Democratic Party Yet to Discuss with Coalition the Jules James saga and double functions.
When asked by the SMN News if her party (faction) discussed with their coalition partners the possible conflict of interest regarding Member of Parliament Jules James. Leader of the Democratic Party and Prime Minister Wescot Williams admitted that the party met last week. However, she said the labor situation is constantly discussed with the members of government. She said the matter of MP James was discussed between her and the Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Heyliger.
The Prime Minister said one cannot forget the rulings of the court but she feels that parties need to get around the table to further discuss the Pelican labor affair since she does not see a final verdict or court decision being rendered anytime soon. She said right now she is considering having the parties around the table to further discuss the Pelican saga since the issue is quite frustrating for the workers.
When pressed on the issue of the Member of Parliament Jules James wearing several caps and if there is some sort of misconduct or conflict of interest having an MP as a General Manager while he is being paid for a full time job as a legislator. The Prime Minister said she has not looked into approaching the issue even though one of her Ministers was forced to resign when she was caught in a conflict of interest situation. Wescot Williams said the Members of Parliament have their own responsibilities and they also took an oath and she will not give her opinion on how the Members of Parliament should execute their duties.
