Dear Editor,
I am very pleased with the response we have being getting so far, to the problem we are trying to bring to the attention of the general public concerning the refusal by SZV Bank to pay the old aged pension to persons they claimed did not reside on the Dutch side during the time money was collected from their pay checks.
I do not, however, want us to make this an issue between the French side and Dutch side.
We were very happy for the opportunity to work on the Dutch side of the island for there was not much happening on the French side at that time; I am talking about in the 60s. However, from those of us that worked there wage taxes came out of our pay check, also contributions to the SVB social bank and a pension fund.
Now that most of us have reached the pensionable age, all of a sudden we can't be found ln the system. Is this just an excuse not to pay us what is due to us? If this is so, we are calling on the present SZV to make the necessary investigations and right this wrong in the name of justice to those past workers. For we have all worked and we have all contributed, so it is not fair to pay some and leave others in the cold.
Our problems are not with the Dutch side nor with the government; we are simply asking SZV to respect our human rights as workers who have contributed to the system. It is as simple as that. Thank you very much for your kind understanding.
Raymond Helligar
