SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--Interim Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Rita Bourne-Gumbs says the “consequences” to be meted out in the case of the alleged selling of Social and Health Insurance SZV cards “will match the misconduct.”

In a press statement on Sunday, Bourne-Gumbs said SZV management had updated her on the current situation as it relates to the ongoing investigation into the alleged selling of the medical cards. She was assured that the matter was being addressed with urgency and the consequences would match the misconduct.

“The Minister was guaranteed that SZV’s ability to handle the matter is forthcoming, based on the plan of action that was presented to her during an extensive relevant meeting with the management of SZV,” the press statement read. “Management has promised to keep the Minister updated during and after the investigation.”

The alleged card-selling scheme broke after United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers issued a release on the matter last week. Meyers said at the time that an employee was under investigation for allegedly selling SZV cards to persons who are not properly registered or who are not actually paying premiums.

If proven true, Meyers said this matter would have severe consequences for SZV’s viability, for the country and for every hard-working person in St. Maarten who pays premiums every month as the law prescribes.

Meyers said he had been made aware of the alleged card-selling scheme recently and took the opportunity to voice his concerns to SZV representatives in a closed session of Parliament’s Permanent Committee for Public Health, Social Development and Labour last week Monday.

SZV subsequently said in its own statement that it was taking the matter very seriously. The extent of the card-selling scheme could not be determined and reports that a formal complaint had been filed at the Prosecutor’s Office could not be confirmed on Sunday.