Philipsburg:--- The postal workers along with members of the management team and their union gathered outside of the Philipsburg Post Office on Thursday morning before marching over to the Government Administration Building where they met with Minister of Labour Cornelius de Weever and Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams.The Prime Minister also met with the chairman of NPNA and other members on Thursday afternoon.
Members of the St. Maarten Communications Union (SMCU) Ludson Evers and Sherman Serastcs told members of the media that the union and the workers need straight forward answers from the NPNA shareholder representative Sarah Wescot Williams who is also negotiating with NPNA and PSS. Evers said that the union was part of the working group and each time they met parties were speaking about becoming a member of UPU and how the government of St. Maarten is trying to acquire monies from Holland for PSS (Postal Services St. Maarten). Evers said at no time was the working group addressing the transfer of the 38 workers of NPNA to PSS and when he requested information from the chairman of PSS Mr. Pantophlet he was asked who told the union that PSS was going to take over the NPNA workers.
Evers further explained that he found the statements of the PSS chairman to be bold because PSS was set up for the transfer of the NPNA workers and postal services when St. Maarten attained its country status. While the union and its membership were waiting in front of the Government Administration Building Chairman of NPNA Franklin Sluis contacted the union and informed them that he received a letter from Minister Charles Cooper who basically asked NPNA to continue its services on St. Maarten until December 2011. However, NPNA was only willing to assist St. Maarten until December 2011 if it's a "win win" situation for NPNA, Sluis indicated to Minister Cooper. The NPNA board members including its chairman traveled to St. Maarten on Thursday where they met with the Prime Minister and PSS.
However, the workers were adamant when they heard what their union representative said. They all said that they were not willing to go back to work unless they know what agreement NPNA and PSS reached.
The protesting workers wrote placards at the back of their shirts saying "there is money for carnival and the regatta but to hell with the postal workers." While expressing their dissatisfaction, Member of Parliament George Pantophlet was seen among the workers as they vented their frustration. When the workers arrived at the Government building security was immediately beefed up. Two workers from the control unit were seen guarding the door of the government building while they also assisted the security guard with escorting the Prime Minister to her office.
The St. Maarten Communication Union members said that as of Monday next week the postal services on St. Maarten will cease its operations and the workers need to know what will happen to them. Evers said while they read in the media that the Prime Minister is taking the discussions to a political level to date she has not told the workers anything concerning their job security.
When asked about the agreement the union signed with NPNA in Curacao on behalf of PSS and the government of St. Maarten. Evers said the union signed a protocol that was being discussed since December 2010. Evers said the union was waiting for NPNA and PSS to come to an agreement before they signed the protocol but sometime in between, the Prime Minister of St. Maarten sent a letter to Mr. Franklin Sluis informing him that he must reach an agreement with the union on the transfer of the employees separately. Besides the letter sent by the Prime Minister, Evers said Denicio Richardson the Director of PSS also indicated to Mr. Franklin Sluis that the transfer of the employees has to be handled separately. Evers said when Sluis presented those letters to the SMCU they decided that they will continue the negotiations with NPNA. He further explained that the protocol signed between NPNA and SMCU is a draft document that did not commit PSS to anything. That document he said was presented to PSS and they requested that PSS give their comments on the draft document but so far they have refused to enter into negotiations. Evers said while PSS refused to begin negotiations they are requesting more information about the workers benefits.
Evers said he does not agree with the idea that NPNA will keep the non postal services to themselves but that aspect of the negotiations lies in the hands of the shareholder representative of St. Maarten.
The Operations Manager of Nieuw Post St. Maarten Clinton Gumbs informed the workers that the Prime Minister eventually invited the management team to a meeting at 6pm on Thursday but that meeting was later called off. Gumbs and all the workers entered a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour when the Prime Minister arrived at the Government Building on Thursday morning.
NPNA to begin Non Postal Services on Monday.
SMN News has been reliably informed that NPNA will begin operations as early as Monday for non postal services. The source said that Franklin Sluis rented a property belonging to Michael Ferrier which is located on Cannegieter Street across from the Kadaster's Office. When contacted on Thursday Ferrier admitted that he rented his building to Franklin Sluis. "Yes, my building was rented out to some people from Curacao who will be offering e-zone and other monetary services there. The contract was signed by Franklin Sluis but he did not sign the contract on behalf of NPNA," Ferrier said.
In the meantime, Minister of Economic Affairs Franklin Meyers said on Thursday that government has not issued any licenses to NPNA on St. Maarten. "As a matter of fact, I met with Economic Affairs on Wednesday and there is nothing on file at Economic Affairs for that business. Also, I was in contact with the director of Bureau Telecommunications to see if they issued a concession to the company without government advice and I was informed that no such concession was issued," Minister Meyers said.
