SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) – Current and previous Ministers back initiative to support island recovery with a ten percent salary cut. The Minister of Finance, Ardwell Irion sought and received the support from his colleagues in both the Parliament of St. Maarten and the Council of Ministers.
The Minister of Finance presented his colleagues with the initiative as far back at February, that expressed solidarity with the people of St. Maarten by the top officials of the country. All signatories agreed that legislation will be established to regulate the contribution towards the pension of political authorities and that as of April 1st, 2020 political authorities, pending the formalization of the legislation as mentioned in the previous point, the salary cut will go into effect. Together with the approval of the 2020 budget all requirements to receive the 2019 liquidity support will be met.
Taking into consideration: that after the destruction by hurricanes Irma and Maria, our country is in the process of rebuilding; that resources necessary to rebuild are scarce; that national and international efforts made towards rebuilding the country are recognized; that the political authorities recognize the need to seek alternative solutions to funding the recovery and rebuilding efforts; that one such alternative is found within a pension regulation for political authorities of which the benefits are charged to the budget of the country.
Source: Souliga Newsday https://www.soualiganewsday.com/index.php?option=com-k2&view=item&id=30761:ministers-parliamentarians-agree-to-salary-reduction-in-solidarity-initiative&Itemid=450
They don’t give up 10% of their salary. Is a blatant lie. They give up some of their expense accounts with a value of 10% of their salary and then they change their lifestyle so they don’t have the expense anymore. Sint Maarten indeed spends less, but they don’t make a penny less money. Like that, the pension build up continues and the half pay during future administrative leave remains at original levels. They are a bunch of manipulating crooks.
Don’t you think politicians would understand the suffering of the entire population? and forfeit their entire salary for three – six months to show they truly care – that would be a politician that I would vote for! instead what have we got? And you wonder why Holland doesn’t want to help.
ONLY 10%! Why bother….