SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) – The Caretaker Minister of Justice Geerlings made a decision on 12 November 2019 ratified in Ministerial Decree, in which the process of Rechtspositie, Function Books and the placement process which follows, concerning the Ministry of Justice is to be coordinated via the department P&O, the Minister of Justice Egbert Jurendy Doran said in a press statement on Wednesday.
“Additionally, a letter was sent to the Governor outlined an account of events from his perspective, to which he concludes, and I quote: English Translation: “Your Excellency, I can at this present moment only conclude that this matter is a chaos. Both the legislation as well as the varying interpretations thereof and the pressure being applied by the various stakeholders.”
Minister Doran’s statement further states: “Further to that, the Caretaker Minister of Justice Geerlings states that it is his opinion that the question regarding the need to rectify these salaries back to 10-10-10 if it is indeed necessary to uphold given the financial situation of the Country.
“Yet a mere 5 days after having submitted this letter, the Caretaker Minister of Justice Geerlings also in his capacity as Minister of Finance proceeded to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 17 November 2019 in which commitments regarding the retroactive adjustment to salaries is to be paid out to the employees of KPSM.
“It was committed to calculate such back to 10-10-10 in the form of an advance, based on their current salary scale, which is to be re-created to include the 16.3% BWT and an indexation of 3.2%, representing a new salary scale.
“What I find is very very disturbing and irresponsible; that this decision was taken also outside of the legal authority of any one or two minister (s) albeit that of the Minister of Finance to commit the Country to such financial obligations. While him himself on numerous occasions pointed out “the JUST BONE Budget” given the reality of the Country’s financial picture.
“I must Emphasis that NO ONE was present when the Caretaker Minister of Justice Geerlings entered this commitment on a SUNDAY in his tracksuit.
“Based on the account of the UNION representatives this commitment was to be paid from the sale of the UTS and 50% of this amount is to be paid out as per DECEMBER 2019. I MUST STATE WE cannot spend a $1 TWICE.
“How can you choose to pay 13 million to TELEM of which the 1st AND ONLY tranche received from the UTS sale all went to this payment. Then commit that same MONEY to the workers of KPSM. UTS SHARES were sold but due to your handling of said sale, we have NOT RECEIVED THE FULL payment and cannot even collect all of said payment until the legislative adjustment are made which you had not finalized. Yet promise funds you already spent to workers of KPSM, which is to be paid out by DECEMBER 2019.
“I WILL REPEAT WE cannot spend a $1 TWICE. I have been confronted with this reality as Minister of Justice and vow to fine a resolution to all the workers of KPSM including that of Border Control division and all the staff throughout this ministry. But WHAT I WILL NOT DO IS COMMIT ILLEGAL ACTS OR MAKE FALSE PROMISES. THIS MUST BE HANDLED THE RIGHT WAY.
“There is currently no legal premise, NAMELY; the legally required valid NEW Salary Table for the calculations made. Nor does the current calculations address all of the workers of KPSM. Nor have I been furnished with any explanation on the method used to justify said amounts.
“SHAME ON YOU Mr. Geerlings for being irresponsible and further causing confusion and frustration amongst the ministry of JUSTICE, while holding this portfolio for mere weeks,” the Minister of Justice Doran statement concludes.
Source: Souliga Newsday https://www.soualiganewsday.com/index.php?option=com-k2&view=item&id=28777:minister-doran-highlights-past-decisions-of-predecessor&Itemid=450
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