Prison union wants to take Minister of Justice to court

September 13, 2010 12:39 PM

PHILIPSBURG--Prison union ABVO (St. Maarten) plans to take Antillean Justice Minister Magali Jacoba to court over what it calls her refusal to ensure guards here receive promotions.

In a letter to the media Friday, the union accused Minister Jacoba of unfairness, and questioned her unwillingness to work for St. Maarten's guards. "Everything has to stay long, but she doesn't take any decision," an English translation of the Papiamentu letter read. "It looks like the workers of Justice Department here don't count."

Prison workers demonstrated their disgust with the delays last November when they all walked off the job for several hours. Meetings with the minister placated the union members, who said they were giving her the benefit of the doubt in securing more than 10 overdue promotions.

The minister was in the Netherlands up to yesterday for talks with the Dutch Second Chamber to secure the October 10 date for dissolving the Netherlands Antilles.

The union chided Prison Director Rudsel Ricardo again for his alleged unilateral decisions and mistreatment of staff. "The workers do not get equal treatment," the letter read. "A lot of time we had to point out the irregular things that happen at the prison."

They accused Ricardo of misleading the minister and convincing her not to approve the promotions. The union also tore into Jacoba, calling her one-year term "lame duck" compared to that of her predecessor David Dick, who had been heading the ministry for more than four years before resigning in August 2009.

The union said the minister had refused to decide on promotions. The federal decree that allows the promotions to take place is contingent on her decision.

"We always are willing to sit with her, but she has to take a decision; otherwise we are ready to go all the way," the union said. "We stand always ready to defend the rights for our members."

(Source: St. Maarten Newspaper The Daily Herald)

11 September, 2010