The establishment of Soualiga Employers Association (SEA) by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry COCI (see related story) raises questions. It is said to be part of the process of nominating various representatives to the Social Economic Council SER, with a list of names to be submitted to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs “hopefully” by the end of this week.
The news comes on the heels of the Employer Council St. Maarten announcing it had sent in six candidates for the next SER term. The council formed by St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA), Indian Merchants Association (IMA) and St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) first met on July 10 to formalise their decades-old cooperation into an umbrella organisation.
The initiators supposedly did this “to ensure a collective focal point” for private sector businesses in all tripartite matters. The move was also said to be “consistent with the need recently identified by the prime minister.”
However, COCI Supervisory Board Chairman Benjamin Ortega said they had in fact been mandated by the prime minister back in April to follow a legally sound process whereby names for vacant SER posts would be submitted based on the establishment of an umbrella organisation “to ensure a better representation” of employers. He argued that one of the four associations in the Employer Council has been on the SER for years and is aware of government’s request to establish SEA through the chamber.
Ortega spoke of a “holistic approach” and mentioned consultations with the bankers’ association, insurance brokers association, taxi association and Chinese merchants. However, the council for its part says SHTA, SMTA, IMA and SMMTA are the only International Labour Organisation (ILO) recognised employer associations in St. Maarten and while they are an “inclusive” umbrella organisation, members must meet the relevant criteria.
So, it appears there are two parties vying for the right to nominate three representatives and three substitutes on SER’s board, as do the trade unions and government. It will be interesting to see what position the prime minister cited by both sides takes.
What seems obvious is that this type of discord within the local business community probably does not help when dealing with the current unprecedented coronavirus-related crisis. At times like these, the phrase “united we stand, divided we fall” takes on added significance.
