Member of Parliament and Faction Leader of the National Alliance George Pantophlet is asking the people to work with them. The World is going through one its most economical and environmental challenges.
Political turmoil continues in some countries that affect the price of oil. On our beautiful island we see this again resulting in the increase of gasoline prices. Transportation costs to import goods have also increased. There are external factors over which we have no control but we can take some steps internally to mitigate the effects and the suffering of our people. Things are hard extremely hard. The Member of Parliament is convinced that if Government, Private Sector, Unions, NGO’s and the Church can come together we can make it through these trying times. On May 21, 2012 this government took office and we understand that there are many who want to see their individual and collective situation improved overnight. But this is not the reality. The coming together of one and all is of utmost importance. There is so much to address. He will always remain steadfast that the most important thing in any country is the Social and Economic Development of its people. All of us have a role to play in this. What has to happen when we come together is that a list of priorities must be established. Our pensioner have their needs, the unemployed have their needs, the teachers have their needs, the sick have their needs, the law enforcement have their needs, the youth have their needs, civil servants have their needs and the list goes on. But everything cannot be addressed or every problem cannot be solved all at once. Again he repeats that a list of priorities must be drawn up we must work in a cohesive manner to ensure that the steps agreed upon are executed in a timely fashion. One of his major concerns has always been the relationship between Employers and employees. And this came about because of his many years working at the Immigration Department and now as a representative of the people. He gets the impression that some he hopes not too many employers feel that he is against business. This is far from the truth. It is the responsibility of government to create the environment where business can thrive. And business in turn should live up to its responsibilities by providing employment paying proper wages and benefits. And where government is concern he has no doubt that a key to factor to its proper functioning is the civil apparatus and its ability to execute or provide the needed services. To the people of St. Maarten he says work with us.