Dear Editor,
Please allow me to point out some important questions regarding the recent news that Scotiabank will be taken over by a new banking company.
It is really difficult to predict if this is a good thing for the island and its citizens or not. History has proven over and over again that our overly-lenient labour laws often cause the citizens of this country to receive the short end of the stick. Scotiabank had been planning to minimize its staff for some time now. The question is if the overseas company will also continue with these plans?
My concerns with regard to the employees are the following:
In cases like this, the operation departments are often managed from abroad. Will local employees make up the majority of the staff? Will the top positions be offered to foreign labourers? Will local employees be retrained for their current functions or trained for a higher function to meet the new company’s standard?
Will pension benefits of senior staffers, and other rights such as pension be respected? Will a pay-out option be presented to those who opt for that? Is job security being offered, or will employees be terminated and then expected to sign new contracts with the new owners?
Another point I would like to address is how customers’ assets will be dealt with. What happens if the new bank wants to come in and change previous agreements made with clients? Will clients be left in a difficult position?
I am really curious to know what agreements will be adhered to by the new owners in order to protect our local staff and the clients. The answers to the above questions will determine if there is a smooth transition ahead for a large number of employees and customers on the island!
It is very important that the points above be properly structured and thought through. We cannot allow another group of employees or clients of the bank to be left out in the cold, especially now in one of the most difficult times in the history of Sint Maarten.
I really hope for all stakeholders involved that this will not be another Pelican Saga or Cable TV situation. Hopefully the decision makers will place the best interest of the employees, customers and Sint Maarten at the forefront.
In addition, I hope the decision makers with the power to make or influence legislative changes to our out-dated labour laws do the right thing (Do your job!!!). It is evident over the years that there is an urgency to make these changes now due to the frequency that this is happening and the negative impact it is having on our labour force and their families.
Richinel Brug
Dear Editor,
With the airport in an improving, but much diminished state, with an often-crowded departure tent, mobile toilets, very basic dining and retail opportunities, those of us that live here know how much better it is now than a short few months ago.
That said and appreciated, there are many things that could be done that would improve the departure experience. I will only mention one: Give the departure tent free Wi-Fi.
This small gesture would go a long way and mean a lot to outbound travellers, forced to sit and wait for hours in less-than-ideal or welcoming surroundings. Most departing passengers do not have easy access, and this is so simple.
Additionally, an opt-in database of visitors could be harvested and utilized by our Tourist Office for future campaigns. This is so simple and so easy; my question to PJIA: Why is it not already done?
Disgruntled passenger
The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party calls Minister of Finance Perry Geerlings a hypocrite with selective amnesia for his disingenuous performance during the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday morning. We also advise the Minister to resign if he can’t do the job.
We are flabbergasted that Geerlings “of all people” would cry a river and state that opposition members of Parliament are only busy with “the negative” and are not being positive about the development and reconstruction of the country. Geerlings also stated that “we are our biggest enemy” and “we have to stop fighting each other and need to work together.”
This is very rich coming from a Minister who, during his time in Parliament, was the foremost attack dog of former Prime Minister William Marlin and the former government after the devastation of Hurricane Irma when he and his cohorts were busy scheming to tear government down. Who is this “we” the Minister is referring to? Because he made it clear in the Netherlands recently that he stood alone, not even with his own party leader.
The Minister has the gall to say that St. Maarten is in an emergency situation and the opposition need to get in line? Was St. Maarten not in an emergency situation in late 2017? Were there not calls to do it together? But this Minister in particular when he was an MP called the former Prime Minister all sorts of names and connived his way towards helping in the fall of government. If ever there was a time when we needed to stop and stand together, it was then.
The present government sold St. Maarten a 6 for a 9 and reality has since set it when it comes to governing. The opposition MPs are doing their job by asking questions and holding Ministers (the government) accountable. The Minister is acting as if the opposition is making stuff up. Pertinent questions are being asked in Parliament for once. It is the Minister and his colleague Minister who have to now provide the information to the people of St. Maarten.
The opposition MPs represent the people, they are elected, and as such their right and their job is to get answers about issues in the country. Whether it is 3 questions or 300 questions. Whether is once a week or every day of the week.
If Geerlings and the rest of the Council of Ministers cannot do the job and cannot keep the public adequately apprised instead of hiding and spinning, then he should resign.
The Minister said he doesn’t have the time to answer MPs because he is getting paid to do a job. Well, so are the MPs and part of your job description is to be accountable to Parliament who in turn is accountable to the people of St. Maarten.
Lamenting in a press briefing over MPs doing their jobs, when you did the same and worse as an MP yourself, when you didn’t care about the people of St. Maarten and their suffering after Irma, when you only cared about seizing power, is hypocritical to the highest order. Do your job.
US Party board
Dear Editor,
On a day as special as this one I would like to give recognition and thanks to the children of the Caribbean pearl of Saba. Especially to the honorable ex-Senator of parliament of the Antilles Mr. Will Johnson, for his significant contribution to Antillean politics for all these decades.
Dear Editor,
I just read the wonderful story about the beautiful and important artwork on the Hotel Mercure Wall
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83299-renowned-french-artists-paint-a-wall-of-art-at-hotel-mercure
I have often thought that we should turn our “Mess into our Message” on our beautiful island and recreate our own version of the super successful “Wynwood Walls” in Miami.
Essentially they allowed artists to take over the faded walls in a section of Miami that had fallen apart over decades and was essentially a Ghost Town. Famous artists from all over the world answered the call and flew there to create their own works of art block after block. The town has had an amazing renaissance with travelers from all over the world coming to see the now famous artwork and eat in the newly opened restaurants and bars.
Couldn’t we do the same? What if we had temporary/moveable concrete board walls put up in front of our recently destroyed buildings and allow artists to turn them into works of art?
It would not only lift our spirits, but it would bring in tourists and turn destruction in triumph.
Here is the link to Wynwood Walls:
http://www.thewynwoodwalls.com/
Which officials on each side of the island can help us with this possible transformation?
Marc Chemla
