SALARY IRREGULARITIES BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19 IN CURACAO

 

COVID FIRST HITS AND THEN GOVERNMENT INDIRECT SALARY SLAPS?

Reading Time: [ 3:30 ] min.

By: JJosephaNews

Twitter: @JJosephaNews

Willemstad, Curacao. The Curacao community got a cold shower from the government when it came out that some irregularities happened where a government official increased the government and parliamentarians salary for August 2021.

SALARY MATTERS

According to reports, the effect of the increase of the salaries would be seen in August 2021 for ministers along with an increase in pensions.

The effects won't be seen for the parliamentarians yet, because the law to deal with their pension hasn't been dealt with yet.

Deceased former president of Parliament for the political party PAR: Mr. William Millerson, wanted to arrange this before Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath would have left office. 

Many international, regional and local political experts believed that William Millerson's intent sounded like a political cover-up and incriminates the dead parliamentarian in abuse of power and misuse of his office to possibly swindle and legally "rob" the people of Curacao blind, if Parliamentarian Charles Cooper is telling the truth about matters! 

If a decision to backtrack the upcoming benefits on the gross salary do not take place before August 2021, the benefits will take effect.

This means that the new incoming cabinet and newly elected Parliamentarians following The 2021 Curacao's National General election would receive these benefits. 

This would be a gross increase of 1,849 guilders.

SALARY MATTERS

This increase would not be seen until next year because, for a period of one year, they need to retain twenty five percent (25%) of their salaries for the fund of solidarity in relations with COVID-19 which they all will get back. 

An international political economist commented; "yes; the fact that their gross salary will have increased means that they will in effect benefit from this as well in the net salary starting in August 2021".

IRREGULARITIES AND ILLEGALITIES! ONLY THE OPPOSITION DISAGREED TO THE INCREASE? 

Different parliamentarians however, did not agree with the decision to increase the benefits.

According to one parliamentarian; the following irregularities happened:

Curacao Parliament President: Ana-Maria Pauletta knew about the matter since the 4th of August 2020 and sent a letter to Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath about the salary benefits and their irregularities without informing the other Members of Parliament about the matter.

The Rhuggenaath cabinet (PAR-MAN Coalition government) decided to increase ministers and parliamentarians salary without the parliamentarians knowledge.

The president of Parliament knew about it and didn't inform parliament.

Parliament as an independent body in Curacao was drag into this matter without its knowledge and approval. This happened because, an official took a decision for the entire body of twenty (2o) or twenty-one (21) members in Parliament illegally. 

Parliament as a body is the only one who decides its own remuneration. Ministers nor the Council of Ministers do not have any power to take that decision for Parliament.

WAS THE GOVERNOR AWARE OF THE APPARENT ILLEGAL AND CRIMINAL ACTS FOR INCREASING SALARIES AND PENSIONS? 

The Governor: Lucille George-Wout didn't react as the watchdog on the matter, because she would be the one who say on the governments decisions and sign it into law.

According to an opposition parliamentarian, Article 52 of The Constitution (Staatsregeling) of Curacao; states that to change anything involving Parliament remuneration you must change the law first and that didn't happened.

In addition; Article 37 of States Agreement (Areglo di Estado) and explains that if there needs to make changes; as an example; on Pensions for ministers, or for the Prime Minister, that must take place by law of the National ordinance (Landsverordening); where parliament makes the changes. 

Apparently; that law was violated; because the parliamentary body was not approached nor dealt with the matter in session.

THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE

Many persons in the political arena and the a large census of the public believes that the Rhuggenaath government, apparently; failed to see anything wrong in this situation and apparently felt disappointed on the way how things came out but that they acknowledge that the Council of Ministers could have communicated earlier.

 According to Minister Armin Konket, "the cut on parliament, government and public workers salaries needed to be made officially into law".

Minister Armin Konket continued; "additionally, the government expressed, that if everything goes well, tomorrow the law would be given to the Council of Ministers to see if it is ok, to go to parliament for it to be treated".

According to Minister Armin Konket; "it isn't true that the salary and pension will go up".

  

Minister Konket stated; "as a government worker, workers have obligations stated in LMA (National Ordinance Material Civil Service Law) and don't go throw things in the streets. Salaries went up, the premiums for pension goes up".

According to Minister Konket, "it is condemned for the thing to be on the streets, because it could have bring something not good".

According to the Acting Secretary General in The Ministry of Finance: Ersilia de Lannooy, "The government has implemented a salary law that was not past, and since 2010 the Government that was in place then needed to tackle and treat that law".

GOVERNMENT PRESS CONFERENCE

TRANSCRIPT - TRANSLATION:

 

Reporter Sharifa Bashir:

It was stated that one to another; things needed to be officialized!

It was explained that at the moment, the SG's (Salary Group - salarisgroep) was also introduced, Scale-18 was obtained.

Now; it will be adapted for the ministers as well for Scale-18.

But, When it is about Scale-18, is it officialized yet?

Because; from what I know Scale-18, isn't formalized yet?

Even though it is being used for the remuneration of officials or in the government.

Is it formalized?

Director of Human Resources of The Government, Mrs. Luz Celeste Johannes:

That is True, mam!

Scale-18 is not officialized yet, for general secretaries.

And that is in the process right now to be included in the Annex of the remuneration scheme”.

Reporter Sharifa Bashir:

Just for clarification; how?

So it means; that since 2010 Scale-18 is being used?

How can it be used, if it is not formalized?

I don't know... Is a … ((inaudible sound) … in this?

Acting Secretary General - Ministry of Finance, Ersilia de Lannooy:

In reality you are not allowed to use it, if it isn't formalized!

So, in reality then, if we go back, the error was made in 2010!

Because; in 2010, you had a concept of law ready, where these things that needed to be put in, and pass it; in Parliament, for you to continue executing it.

But, a management was executed, based on something that doesn't exist!

And then you created a situation; that if this government; also stays without making a decision, you will stay more in a illegality much longer!

**** END of Transcription & Translation ****

WHAT DOES THIS SIGNIFY?

This means that since, 2010 every Curacao government  had applied a scale of salary that was not lawful, because it was not officially entered into law to hence be applied lawfully!

However; Mrs. Ersilia de Lannooy; believed that if the salaries weren't paid, then Curacao would be in greater problems!

She further stated that the government needs to go back ten years (10) to deal with the salaries.

Thank you for reading @JJosephaNews, let us know in the comment section below: 

1.) How do you think the government dealt with the law? 

2.) Do you think that they broke the  laws and does that make them criminals? 

Let us know below!

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