Court case against ISLA workers has ended..

March 10, 2010 6:10 AM

... after signing agreement at Executive Council.
Yesterday afternoon, the court case with all parties involved in the strike of the Isla workers ended around 6 p.m., when Judge De Kort received the agreement signed between parties.

Yesterday afternoon, around 5:30 p.m., Aqualectra instituted proceedings against the Isla Refinery, Curoil, and the trade union PWFC, while Curoil instituted proceedings against the Isla Refinery and PWFC. The Government of Curacao also is a party to these proceedings.
All attorneys were present, together with one or more representatives of the companies. Mr. Virginia was present with a delegation of the staff of Isla Refinery, mr. Murray (SMS Attorneys at Law) and mr. Holland represented Curoil, mr. Mayesi Hammoud (VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne) represented Aqualectra, Mr. Irvin Moenir Alam was present on behalf of the public utility company, and mr. Bonapart (Soliana Bonapart & Aardenburg) was present on behalf of the Government of Curacao, while the secretary and some consultants of the Government were also present in the courtroom.

Around 6 p.m., Judge mr. De Kort appeared in the courtroom and brought forward that parties had signed an agreement at the Executive Council. He received the agreement by fax, and distributed it to the attorneys in the courtroom. The Judge said that, based hereon, he concluded that the workers on strike would abandon the doors of the Isla Refinery. There was no alternative but to withdraw the case, as parties had reached an agreement.

'EXTRA' was able to read the agreement, which states that the Government of Curacao and the Refinery of Curacao will arrive at a solution of the BOO problems at short notice. It is said that this will take place within one week, and that the means will be made available. In this agreement, no mention is made of any amount or any date on which this will take place. The agreement also states that the Isla Refinery and CUC will reach an agreement on an investment plan. It also states that parties will continue to meet in order to arrive at a solution of all BOO problems. Thus, the court case ended yesterday afternoon.

(Source: national newspaper Extra)

5 March 2010