Pro bono lawyers pay strike St. Maarten continues

September 10, 2016 11:13 AM
PHILIPSBURG--Attorney-at-law Geert Hatzmann will no longer be alone in his bid for timely and better pay for pro bono lawyers. His colleagues Shaira Bommel and Sjamira Roseburg of Sulvaran and Peterson Law Office will be joining him in the strike on Monday. Hatzmann announced his strike at the Court of First Instance on Wednesday.
 
“After ample consultation and weighing all interests, including those of the Investigating Judge,” the Penal Law Subdivision of the St. Maarten Bar Association announced that the Sulvaran and Peterson Law Office will also be laying down its work on pro bono criminal cases, from Monday, September 12.
 
The strike will continue until the Minister of Justice commits himself to a reduction of the backlog in payments up until and including the end of July 2016, and commits himself to award the promised indexations, Chairman of the Subdivision attorney Cor Merx said Friday afternoon in a communique.
 
The strike was called to force Government into action as it is months behind where it concerns the payment of services to Government-assigned lawyers to crime suspects who cannot afford payment of legal assistance on their own. The action is also for an increase of the fees for pro bono lawyers, which have not been indexed since 1993.
 
In support of their striking colleagues, it was agreed that all lawyers including those who are not a member of the Subdivision will not be handling any Government-assigned cases from Monday.
 
These will include hearings by an Investigating Judge and the handling of Government-assigned criminal cases at the Court of First Instance. Criminal cases on St. Eustatius and Saba do not fall under the strike.
 
Merx said the strike will be terminated as soon as the Minister meets the demands, but only when the Subdivision’s Chairman is “convinced of the concreteness of the proposals.”
 
The Subdivision said it was very pleased with the support of the Dean and Board of the St. Maarten Bar Association. Dean Aernout Kraaijeveld was present at the Courthouse on Wednesday when Hatzmann called the strike. Kraaijeveld immediately pledged the Association’s full support and said the situation was “very unpleasant.”
 
The Subdivision called for the public’s understanding for its actions, and said it was hopeful the situation would not escalate any further.
 
In total, lawyers who provide legal assistance to the less fortunate are entitled to compensation of approximately NAf. 900 per case, disregarding the number of work hours or the interest of the case.
 
Hatzmann said Wednesday he would continue his strike until he has received payment. He announced talks with his colleagues, which he said could lead to a general strike of Government-assigned lawyers next week.
 
The Daily Herald

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