Dear Editor,
The headline on page 3 of your newspaper, dated November 9, 2018, reads, “St. Maarten Day not a national holiday, persons who work to get 200% pay.” Another article on that same page makes mention of businesses permitted to be open during the holidays.
As a businessman I applaud the opportunity given by government for businesses to trade on these days. We must provide the opportunity for our cruise visitors to shop. It is one of the amenities the cruise lines require from destinations to offer. Because of this, the practice of trade during the holiday seasons is permitted by law and employees are required to work if so requested by their employers.
And besides, additional income is always welcome. Business owners expect to earn additional income during these festive holiday shopping opportunities. Government expects to collect various taxes from this practice. This is additional income that will benefit business owners and government.
The employees on the other hand, get to: 1. be away from their loved ones, 2. work for barely manageable pay, and 3. pay higher taxes due to additional income. 200% may sound impressive, but the reality of this is that the additional earnings are added on the total salary amount for that month, which increases the amount paid on taxes for that month and leaves the employee with nothing much to show for their sacrifice.
If we sincerely seek economic development, it will have to be in such a way that it truly benefits all involved. Therefore, I suggest that government provide incentives in order to motivate the employees. Let the Council of Ministers, soonest, take a decision and introduce a policy that later will be converted into an amendment to the labour law, that no taxes shall be deducted from overtime pay earnings derived from national holidays work performance. This will in no way compensate for separation of families during festive seasons, but at the very least it will somewhat provide better financial compensation for the employees who are obliged to make that sacrifice.
To the business owners I want to suggest sharing a little bit of party atmosphere with your employees on all these festive days if you do not already do so. Some snacks and soft drinks and maybe some music and friendly interaction during work, a cup of wine, a handshake or a hug and a sincere thank you before leaving work, will surely liven the spirit of your employees. In this way, everybody makes sacrifices and everybody benefits.
Now, as my article also makes reference to St. Maarten Day, I take this opportunity to write my opinion on this and another related subject. St. Maarten Day is not a national holiday. Why not? King’s Day is an official national holiday and is celebrated as such in the Netherlands and the rest of the Kingdom, and it commemorates the birthday of kings and queens of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba celebrates the National Anthem and Flag Day. This is also an official national, public holiday and it commemorates the attainment of separate status by Aruba from the Netherlands Antilles. Curaçao celebrates Flag Day and Curaçao Day. Both are officially national public holidays. Curaçao Flag Day commemorates the sighting of the island and Curaçao Day commemorates the actual discovery of the island.
Yet, St. Maarten Day is not recognized as an official national holiday. We have our discovery date, let’s make it official. Let us make it our National Holliday. Many before me touched on this same subject, yet government does not see the importance of this. If for any reason our discovery date cannot be commemorated as an official national holiday, then we must identify another one.
The St. Maarten song is not our National Anthem. Why not? Or why do we not have one? Is this what we consider to be St. Maarten Strong? How can we uphold this slogan when we refuse to accept or create an identity? We have a St. Maarten song that has been debated for a while for its acceptance or not, as our National Anthem. Nothing more is heard of this. Yet we all stand for this song at our official ceremonies and other celebratory activities. Is it really so difficult to make a decision? Either accept the song as our National Anthem, or write a new one.
Do we understand why we get no respect? Do we not understand how these hypocritical decisions or lack of hurt St. Maarten and actually make us St. Maarten weak? For the sake of country and its people, for the sake of our recognition and for goodness sake, please let us build St. Maarten Strong.
Louis R. Engel
