MP Lewis: Minister of Justice silence is deafening on Justice workers placement and back pay

GREAT BAY--Nation Opportunity Wealth (N.O.W.) Member of Parliament (MP) and Vice Chair of the Justice Committee in Parliament, Lyndon Lewis, is expressing serious concern over the continued silence of the Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, regarding the placement of active and non-active justice workers and pensioners, as well as the implementation and execution of their retroactive payments.

MP Lewis’s concerns stem from numerous complaints received from employees across various departments within the Ministry of Justice regarding their correct placement and outstanding retroactive payments. “The Minister of Justice is simply too quiet on the issues that matter most within the Ministry she took an oath to lead,” MP Lewis stated.

MP Lewis has also been contacted by several justice pensioners who have expressed their frustration regarding their formal National Decrees (LBs) and the payment of their retroactive entitlements. Some of these pensioners are also dealing with medical conditions. It is important to note that once the LBs are issued and executed, they will result in an increase in the current pensions of the respective justice pensioners. “The group of pensioners is not large, and the Minister should take the initiative and make them a priority, as I have mentioned many times on the floor of Parliament,” MP Lewis stated.

"The Minister’s silence on this matter is deafening, while this directly affects the livelihoods and financial security of justice workers and pensioners. Justice workers have already endured years of uncertainty, administrative delays, and incomplete information concerning their placements and financial entitlements. They deserve more than continued silence. They are entitled to clear answers, concrete timelines, and measurable progress. MP Lewis stated.

“I am aware of an appeal case initiated by the Minister of Justice before the Appellate Court against a group of justice workers who won their cases in the Court of First Instance regarding their correct placements and retroactive payments. It is clear that the Minister of Justice does not stand with the justice workers, as evidenced by her stance against these workers and her overall silence regarding their placements and retroactive payments,” MP Lewis stated.

“The Minister is in office for nearly two years, while her continued approach demonstrates a lack of leadership, transparency, fairness, empathy, and accountability towards the Justice Personnel and by extension the people of Sint Maarten. It further deepens the frustration among justice workers and pensioners and continues to erode confidence in the placement and payment process,” MP Lewis concluded.

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