Philipsburg:--- Several workers working for the Blend-In Security Company that is owned by the former Chief Commissioner of Police Derrick Holiday told SMN News that they are not being paid by their boss. The workers said that Derrick Holiday is the mediator for the Department of Labour Affairs and complaining to the Labor Department does not yield them any justice because the person violating their labour rights is the Government mediator and a former Chief of Police who is also the brother of the Governor of St. Maarten, drs. Eugene Holiday.
Lola Morgan told SMN News on Wednesday that she was not paid for the month of September and that GEBE almost cut her light and water on Monday because she did not pay her bills. Morgan said she is also late on her rent payments and each time she calls Neville Mars, the person in charge of Blend-In Security payroll, she is told that the company does not have any monies as yet. "I have a son whose birthday is on Friday and I don't have one cent to buy him anything for his birthday. GEBE was at my home on Monday to cut my water and light and I had to cry and beg them to give me a chance because I am not being paid by my boss. I never saw Holiday face to face to discuss this matter but this morning I spoke to Neville Mars and he told me the company has no money." Morgan said she plans to wait until Friday and if she does not get paid for the month of September she will take further actions. 
Another employee who has since been dismissed Arthur Godett said that he began working for Blend-In Security since December 2011. Godett said ever since he began working for the company the workers have been encountering late payments. He said he was dismissed from the company when he began fighting for his rights as worker. Godett said he already visited the Minister of Labour dr. Cornelius De Weever and an attorney who will be representing him in court. Godett further explained that the former Chief of Police has been giving the companies he has contracts with a bad name by claiming that he is not being paid by them. "One of the companies that is getting a bad name by Holiday is Bobby's Marina and I can assure you that Mr. Robert Velasquez pays Blend-In on the 23rd day of each month. I don't want to drag Mr. Velasquez into this mess but I need to say this because it is what I am told. Furthermore, there was a theft at Bobby's Marina and Holiday has been deducting $125 each month from the salaries of the workers. This is an illegal practice because Mr. Holiday, a former Chief Commissioner of Police, should know his actions are illegal and that he should have liability insurance in place to cover the thefts. Holiday has no respect for the workers who are working 12 hours a day for him."
Another worker whose light and water has been cut due to non-payment is Isidira Blijden. Blijden said she works for Blend-In Security at the Princess Juliana International Airport and she too is not being paid. Blijden said she is very frustrated because she goes to work every day but at the end of the month she cannot see her paycheck. The mother of four school aged children said even though she is working she has no money to put food on the table for her children when they return home from school. "I live around family members and they are the ones that have to buy a bread and Caprisun juice for my children to take to school while they also have to give them meals when they return home. One of the family members that has been assisting Blijden with her children is Maria Hunt-Blijden.
Ms. Blijden said besides owing GEBE she also owes school fees and her children need after school lessons but she simply cannot afford to pay for it.
