PHILIPSBURG:--- The Windward Islands Teachers' Union is calling on the Government of Sint Maarten to come clean and deliver on its promises regarding the 2% indexation (retroactive to January 2025) and the new 2025 salary scales.
While government press releases in January and June 2025 stated that funds had been allocated and transferred to subsidized schools, teachers’ August payslips do not reflect these payments. Instead, the Ministry of Education later informed school boards that “decision-making is still ongoing and was not finalized in time for the August funding.”
This contradiction has left teachers feeling deceived.
Our members are tired of hearing one thing publicly and experiencing another in their paychecks. Teachers deserve honesty, respect, and, above all, timely payment for their hard work.
The WITU has formally written to the Minister of Education requesting:
The Union therefore demands:
• Immediate confirmation of whether funds for the 2% retroactive indexation (Jan–Jul 2025) and the new salary scales have, in fact, been transferred to the subsidized schools.
• A written timeline specifying when these payments will be executed and reflected on members’ payslips.
• Accountability for the contradiction between official government announcements and the current reality experienced by our members.
• Clear communication going forward to prevent the recurring cycle of confusion, misinformation, and uncertainty that directly undermines the morale and welfare of educators.
Teachers can not continue to shoulder the burden of administrative delays. Rising living costs make it unacceptable for promised adjustments to be withheld.
