I read the labor policy and I have yet to find lots of things wrong with it but I did find a few things wrong with it.
1. if Gov't will only give permits for skilled workers what about jobs for unskilled workers like car washer, domestic help and other jobs that traditionally are not usually performed by locals.
2. How did Gov't expect businesses to implement these measures in such a short time. After reading the document, it is clear that a period of two to three years had to be put in place in order to fully implement these measures. It is simply not possible to implement it so soon. Need proof, the measure was implemented since January 12th have you seen any difference in the workforce? Of course not, it can't be done with such short notice.
Advice would be to give a realistic period as to when the measures can go into place. Giving the businesses time to make the required adjustments. The measures will have a serious financial impact on our society because labor cost will be higher and no doubt the business will pass on the higher cost to us raising the cost of living. Something I have not heard anyone comment on as yet.
Another important measure is to construct a Polytechnic school as was suppose to be done 15 years ago. That way, St. Maarten would have the skilled construction workers, maintenance men, plumbers, air conditioning repairs etc. to fill the void left by departing foreign labor. Not to mention the change of mentality necessary in our young people to actually take the jobs that are available on in this market.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Education on St. Maarten
I always accuse people on St. Maarten of exploiting others, our entire economy is based on this exploitation. I have intimate knowledge that this is occurring to immigrant students at various schools. Now I am not accusing this educational facility of doing this as this may be the exception to the rule but I still do not support Government subsidy to these so-called immigrant schools.
If Government wants to provide subsidy to these children, they should construct more schools and allow these children, as the compulsory education laws states, a place in a recognized school. in this environment at least we, tax payers, know or at least suspect that they are getting a good education. The same cannot be said of uncontrolled schools. I have a problem giving my tax money to an institution when the results are not even remotely guaranteed.
Now the real problem is immigrants, sometimes illegal bringing their children to St. Maarten and not being able to get them in a recognized school. I got a solution for this, make the bringing of children and having them overstay as a reason for revoking someones residence permit. So if you bring in your child, even is you are legally residing on St. Maarten, and your child is illegal you would lose your legal status.
What also puzzles me in this entire situation is how much was the monthly rent to have an outstanding of over 70,000. It looks to me like a mortgage might have been a better solution.
If Government wants to provide subsidy to these children, they should construct more schools and allow these children, as the compulsory education laws states, a place in a recognized school. in this environment at least we, tax payers, know or at least suspect that they are getting a good education. The same cannot be said of uncontrolled schools. I have a problem giving my tax money to an institution when the results are not even remotely guaranteed.
Now the real problem is immigrants, sometimes illegal bringing their children to St. Maarten and not being able to get them in a recognized school. I got a solution for this, make the bringing of children and having them overstay as a reason for revoking someones residence permit. So if you bring in your child, even is you are legally residing on St. Maarten, and your child is illegal you would lose your legal status.
What also puzzles me in this entire situation is how much was the monthly rent to have an outstanding of over 70,000. It looks to me like a mortgage might have been a better solution.
Laugh Out Loud Government
To call St. Maarten a Banana Republic is a gross understatement. They have to invent a new word to describe the foolishness of the Government on this island. In any other Island in the Caribbean even the suspicion of wrong doing would be enough for a Minister to resign. In St. Maarten a Commissioner is actually arrested and held for 9 days and charges are pending against him but yet he is allowed to maintain his function as a Commissioner.
How is this possible you ask? Well in St. Maarten, we have a political party that has the idea that they should remain in power no matter what. So since this entails compromising and in some instances eliminating principles, the island is suffers.
I don't however blame the Commissioner, I blame the leader! It was the leader who after the Commish was arrested went to him only to ask him to resign, not only his Executive Position but also his Elected position. Now after he resigned from the party and shook the Government led by her, he is the best thing since slice bread.
It was this same leader whose slogan was Country above Self, what a joke THAT turned out to be.
How is this possible you ask? Well in St. Maarten, we have a political party that has the idea that they should remain in power no matter what. So since this entails compromising and in some instances eliminating principles, the island is suffers.
I don't however blame the Commissioner, I blame the leader! It was the leader who after the Commish was arrested went to him only to ask him to resign, not only his Executive Position but also his Elected position. Now after he resigned from the party and shook the Government led by her, he is the best thing since slice bread.
It was this same leader whose slogan was Country above Self, what a joke THAT turned out to be.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It's About Time
It took long enough but there are now some serious action being taken by the Opposition. Frans Richardson was in the media explaining that the Opposition was bringing a motion to the Island Council for the Board of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) to either give instruction to Cr. Scot to allow Dr. Friday to open his clinic or be removed from the Board.
I applaud this move but it has taken far too long for the Opposition to make this serious step. This step should have been taken one week after the so-called opening of the clinic, not 4 months. After all the DP Commissioners were there supporting Dr. Friday.
It was time to put Government to the test. To many time politicians say things that they don’t really mean, and in my opinion it is the duty of the opposing politicians to call them out on it. The NA doesn’t seem to understand this or don’t like to do it.
I applaud this move but it has taken far too long for the Opposition to make this serious step. This step should have been taken one week after the so-called opening of the clinic, not 4 months. After all the DP Commissioners were there supporting Dr. Friday.
It was time to put Government to the test. To many time politicians say things that they don’t really mean, and in my opinion it is the duty of the opposing politicians to call them out on it. The NA doesn’t seem to understand this or don’t like to do it.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
New Labor Policy
I finally read the new labor policy (the english version) and I really don't see how this policy will put small businesses out of business. What small business got to do is hire legal residents and pay them a decent salary. If you ask me a lot of business people on the island take too much money out of their business for themselves leaving little for the employees. Not because you own a business does it mean you have to be rich, as long as you can live a good middle class life you can be considered successful.
I see business people on St. Maarten living the high life while their employees live in shacks, swimming through sewage and sending their children to poorly equipped schools. Locals (read legal residents) never keep these jobs because of the lack of benefits and proper payment.
The one thing I don't agree with in the labor policy (English version) is the fact that long time residents have no provision to become permanent residents. Having the employee be dependent on the employer for their papers is not good. Some employers use this as a form of coercion to exploit the employee. The policy should have included a provision that if the worker is terminated before the work permit expires that the employer would have to take care of the cost for repatriation to the country of origin. Also the employer should be held accountable if the employee becomes illegal. Some sort of a fine should be put in place.
I see business people on St. Maarten living the high life while their employees live in shacks, swimming through sewage and sending their children to poorly equipped schools. Locals (read legal residents) never keep these jobs because of the lack of benefits and proper payment.
The one thing I don't agree with in the labor policy (English version) is the fact that long time residents have no provision to become permanent residents. Having the employee be dependent on the employer for their papers is not good. Some employers use this as a form of coercion to exploit the employee. The policy should have included a provision that if the worker is terminated before the work permit expires that the employer would have to take care of the cost for repatriation to the country of origin. Also the employer should be held accountable if the employee becomes illegal. Some sort of a fine should be put in place.
Holland says no!!!
The discussions in Aruba with the Parliamentary delegation is not going as planned. In fact, Holland is telling both Curacao and St. Maarten that they are not ready. St. Maarten must admit that this is not a surprise. The Kingdom is responsible for good governance and as such they have to make sure that law and order is in place before any status change among other things.
We all must admit that for the past 10 years, laws have been stretched, corruption has been rampant, and the people have been neglected. We should all be happy that Holland is not just allowing the politicians to implement lackluster controls and ambiguous laws. Could you just imagine what chaos we would be in if the current gov't was allowed to continue to operate as they have been doing the last two terms.
If you ask this blogger, there are not enough measures put in place to guarantee proper governance. A few aspects that are not mentioned enough are, public financial records of incoming and outgoing Ministers and Senators, election finance reform (no public vote buying), small claims court, constituent electoral system etc.
We all must admit that for the past 10 years, laws have been stretched, corruption has been rampant, and the people have been neglected. We should all be happy that Holland is not just allowing the politicians to implement lackluster controls and ambiguous laws. Could you just imagine what chaos we would be in if the current gov't was allowed to continue to operate as they have been doing the last two terms.
If you ask this blogger, there are not enough measures put in place to guarantee proper governance. A few aspects that are not mentioned enough are, public financial records of incoming and outgoing Ministers and Senators, election finance reform (no public vote buying), small claims court, constituent electoral system etc.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
