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Pensioners and Unions Seek Audience with Dutch MPs as they Rally for Equal Benefits.

smspameeting09012012Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association (SMSPA) has been strengthening its bonds with the other unions both on St. Maarten and in Curacao to attract the attention of the visiting Dutch Parliamentarians from the first and second chamber that are currently on St. Maarten.
Raymond Jessurun, Vice President of the SMSPA told reporters on Monday that they sent an official letter to the Chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell requesting that she schedule a meeting with them and the visiting Members of Parliament but to date Arrindell has not responded to them.
Jessurun said they also met with several Members of Parliament of St. Maarten to lobby their support in order for the Dutch MP's to meet with them. "The Dutch MP's have so far refused to meet with us while they have agreed to meet and greet with the people of the BES islands." The SMSPA considers the refusal on the part of the Dutch as an insult to the people of St. Maarten.
He said that the SMSPA wants to Dutch to understand that all pensioners within the Kingdom must be treated equally and so far the pensioners and seniors of the former Netherlands Antilles are getting the shorter end of the stick. "We want equal treatment as those pensioners and seniors in the Netherlands, our intention was to inform the Members of Parliament from the first and second chamber of the in-equality and since they have refused to meet with us we have decided to address them through the media." On Monday a meeting was head with the following persons: Alberto Bute President of SUNFED, Claire Elshot of WICLU and WITU, Robert Rawlins - WITU treasurer, Derie Leonard President of WICSU-PSU, Keturah Brown President of ABVO –SXM, Wilfred Manning President of Building Bridges Foundation, Patricia Flanders President of SMSPA / HAFH, Frances Rovelet SMSPA Secretary of Organization, Carl Cooner - SMSPA Secretary of Education, Warno Kartokromo - SMSPA assistant treasurer,Veronica Arndell SMSPA Secretary Contacts with Seniors in Institutions,Raymond Jessurun - SMSPA vice president and 1st president of KOPAMKO, Silvio Dap KOPAMKO Secretary Correspondence / FEPESCU Secretary General (Federation Pensioners Ex-Shell refiinery Curacao), Kenneth George - KOPAMKO board member / FEPESCU board member and Edgar Wanga KOPAMKO supervisory board member ASPD [association of pensioners from the Dry Dock Company) to further discuss their predicament. Jessurun said the Netherlands has to take its responsibility when it comes to Health Care and Social Assistance because St. Maarten is still a young country that lacks funding to properly care for its people.
When asked if the unions and SMSPA plans to demonstrate during the visit of the Dutch Members of Parliament Jessurun made it clear that while they are still meeting to discuss their strategies they have not ruled out demonstration.
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