Minister Wycliffe Smith with Voices founder Nkosazana Illis this past weekend.
PHILIPSBURG--Former Member of Parliament (MP) and now Minister of Culture Wycliffe Smith honoured the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) campaign pledge to donate 15 per cent of the MP’s salary to worthy causes, at the Emancipation Day celebration on July 1 hosted by Voices Foundation at Emilio Wilson Heritage Park.
Currently the Minister of Education, Youth, Culture, and Sports, Smith sat for three months as a representative of the people in Parliament. He presented the first month’s deduction of NAf. 2,914.45 to foundation president Nkosazana Illis.
SMCP is of the opinion that given the financial predicament in which the country finds itself post-Hurricane Irma, MPs ought to be sympathetic to citizens who are suffering and in a gesture of empathy should demonstrate their care and concern for the people of St. Maarten.
The party has always said that in the event Parliament does not pass the motion to reduce the MPs’ salaries by 15 per cent, the SMCP MPs agree that they will voluntarily give 15 per cent of their gross salary to a social-cultural foundation established for the purpose of administering these funds. SMCP’s MPs can recommend to individuals and/or families in need that they apply to the foundation for financial assistance. Neither SMCP board members nor its MPs may be on the board of this foundation. However, the foundation has not yet been created.
Voices seeks to promote self-awareness, empowerment, and prevention of all forms of abuse and violence. The foundation has held annual cultural activities each Emancipation Day, paying honour to the island’s ancestors and the unsung heroes of today.
