SXMElections.com

~ government still working with unions to seal an agreement.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VROMI Egbert Jurendy Doran and Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion met on Tuesday to begin putting a task force in place that will go after delinquent businesses that have not been paying government years of lease land fees. SMN News asked the Ministers if they were looking at alternative ways to collect money that is owed to the government to improve the governments liquidity problems.
Minister of VROMI Doran said that since taking office he has seen a number of businesses that are not paying their dues for lease land. He said after the businesses that owe government has been contacted then the task force will also go after private residents that also owe government money lease land.
It should be noted that while the Government of St. Maarten was given a take it or leave it option from the Dutch Government for liquidity support the Chamber of Labor Unions that are representing civil servants are not willing to take any form of cuts.
On Monday, the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion proposed to cut 50% of the vacation allowances for the years 2020 and 2021, while other cuts are travel expenses for government and cost for uniforms. This proposal was also rejected by the unions. The unions are expected to present another proposal by Thursday.
In the meantime, Aruba and Curacao who also accepted the conditions given by the Dutch Government for liquidity support already began the process to cut personnel costs by 12.5% as suggested by the Dutch Government.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs made clear that she already sought legal advice on how to move forward regarding the cuts civil servants have to endure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jacobs said the government has to show that they tried to reach an agreement and that government is dealing with a financial crisis. She said the government is planning to hold an information session with the civil servants where they will be given the opportunity to ask their employers questions. Jacobs said that she wants to make sure the civil servants get the necessary information from their employer and not only from the unions.