PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs Cornelius de Weever in response to a question posed by SMN News during the Council of Ministers' live press briefing on Wednesday said he has no knowledge about the work exchange agreement between Sandals Resort and Maho Group of Companies.
SMN News has been reliably informed that the management of Maho Group of Companies sought permission from the Ministry of Justice and got residency papers for Jamaican nationals to work for Maho Group. The source said that most of these foreign workers are placed in top positions while locals that are working for the company for more than 25 years cannot get their promotions.
Some two weeks ago, inspectors from the labor and health department visited Sonesta Great Bay Resort where they checked documents for all workers at the establishment. SMN News understands that this raid was conducted because a local employee went to the inspectorate to report one of the Jamaicans that are giving local workers a hard time on the job. One of the inspectors told SMN News that they were conducting a general control but the raid was geared towards the Jamaicans. Minister de Weever said that the only discussion he had with Maho Group was to encourage them to train local students during the slow season in order for them to get experience. He said there are a number of students in the hospitality trade in Sundial and other schools that need to get training at the local hotels and this was one thing he personally discussed with the management of Maho Group. The Minister further explained that the inspectors have their jobs to do and if they get tipped off of illegalities they have to carry out their duties.
During that same control one of the inspectors was overheard telling some workers that persons that are of French Nationality cannot work on the Dutch side claiming that the law has changed.
When SMN News contacted the inspectorate back then they confirmed that certain laws have changed but the inspectors do not have the right to stop French citizens from working on the Dutch side as yet since the Government of St. Maarten still has to work on its own legislation and consult with stakeholders.
When asked about this, Minister de Weever confirmed that his Ministry is busy reviewing the legislation and they are also in consultation with their French counterparts. Minister de Weever said years ago when the "work book" for French citizens was implemented the situation was much different. "Back then it was only for native St. Martiners but today you have people that are naturalized and those coming from Europe that are working on the Dutch side. We have to review this policy and also see if we would still issue those workbooks and at the same time increase the fees for them because when it was implemented years ago and the fee was very low."
Another topic the Minister was questioned about is the taxation for brothel workers that are working on the island. Minister de Weever said that his Ministry is in touch with owners of the brothels and are in discussion on how to tax brothel workers that come to St. Maarten to work for a period of six months.
When asked what the Ministry is doing to ensure these brothel workers (dancers) leave the island when their time is up, Minister de Weever said that the owners of the brothels have to show proof that the workers that had to leave left the island before they are given entry and work permits for new ones to come to St. Maarten. Currently several dancers and brothel workers are leaving the establishment that brought them in and are hooking up with businessmen, lawyers, and top civil servants in order to stay on St. Maarten/St. Martin. Several of these dancers even got married to prominent people in St. Maarten.
Government to host Luncheon for Social Workers.
Minister de Weever also announced during the weekly press briefing that his Ministry stands committed to assisting social workers on St. Maarten. He said the Government of St. Maarten will be hosting all social workers at a luncheon in recognition of social workers worldwide. The Minister had with him a bag with certain goodies he planned to distribute to all Members of the Council of Ministers in recognition of social workers. However, the Minister could not execute his plan because he was the only Minister that attended the Council of Ministers' press briefing on Wednesday.