PHILIPSBURG--Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) and the ABVO St. Maarten Union jointly “demanded” on Thursday that the Council of Ministers, Parliament and the supervisory board of directors of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) work together “to secure much needed funding” for the airport.
Addressing government and parliament, the two unions said now is not the time for party politics and self-interests.
“The last thing our members and our economy need right now is instability within government. This will further prolong the much-needed injection of cash that PJIAE NV [the airport operating company – Ed.] needs in order to make payroll for February, and to begin the reconstruction process,” the unions said in a joint press release signed by their respective presidents Sophia Rismay-Peterson (WICSU/PSU) and Sharlon Catalina (ABVO).
“This has been recently confirmed by the CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of PJIAE NV Mr. Brian Mingo. The ripple effects this vote of no-confidence will have on our members and our fragile economy, which is currently struggling to strengthen, will be profound.”
The two unions will be attending the Parliament meeting on Friday where two votes of no confidence are expected to be handled – against Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Stuart Johnson.
“We would like to witness for ourselves all the members of parliament that do not have the best interest of the 270 employees at PJIAE NV and the pillar of this economy at heart,” the unions said.
Friday’s meeting will be the continuation of the discussion on the decision of the Council of Ministers to go with the Dutch government and European Investment Bank (EIB) financing proposal of US $100 million for the reconstruction of PJIA.
