Belair – TelEm Group honoured its veteran workers during a General Meeting at the Belair Community Center, Cay Hill, Tuesday.
The Jubilees celebration is an annual TelEm Group event and this year tokens of appreciation were presented to a total of 22 employees celebrating 10, twenty and 30 years of service to the company.
A special mention was made of three TelEm Group employees – Billing Clerk Maybelle Richardson; Administrative Assistant Irma Lake and Customer Care Representative Otilia Hoftijzer, who will be leaving the company this year to go on pension.
All anniversary celebrants were congratulated by Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mrs. Helma Etnel, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Mr. Eldert Louisa and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Mr. Brian Mingo. All three singled out for mention the three workers going on pension and two other employees, Alberto Carty and Pedro Croes who both marked 30 years respectively for long term service in the telecommunication sector.
Tuesday’s meeting was called to give personnel an update on company developments in the past months in the Technical, Commercial and Finance Divisions, with all three executive managers making their own presentations.
Personnel were informed about the company’s new 3G launch and the new range of services that can be provided to TelEm Group customers.
Personnel were also informed by Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Etnel, that the company will be proceeding with restructuring plans for the TelEm Group.
"If all goes as planned we could complete the process by November this year ," said Mrs. Etnel.
The TelEm Group executive assured personnel that the restructuring process will be carried out in accordance with protocols already signed. She said the decision to move ahead with the next steps follows consultation with the SMCU union representing TelEm Group workers.
Personnel were presented with a Powerpoint presentation by Mrs. Etnel, outlining the steps that will be followed by management, the time schedules expected and the process for placing or not placing workers into future positions in the restructured company.
Few questions were asked by personnel following the presentation, but Mrs. Etnel anticipates more questions will be forthcoming once the restructuring process actually begins in the coming weeks.
Tuesday’s meeting ended on a high note with personnel putting on a Fashion Show of "hot" new TelEm Group wear to entertain their colleagues and show how personnel are sharpening up the image of their company.
Following the Fashion Show several make-up artists and beauty experts were on hand to give live demonstrations and beauty tips and to offer cosmetic products and costume jewellery for sale to company personnel.
"It was a very serious and important meeting to inform staff of what will be happening with restructuring but it was also very good that personnel were able to have some fun and not worry unnecessarily," said Mrs. Etnel.
She thanked all members of staff who contributed to the success of the meeting and personnel generally for the commitment they are showing to a company-wide effort to improve service and the range of telecommunication products delivered to the St. Maarten public.
"Everyone is very hyped up about the new 3G dongles that provides internet service on the go and the soon to come 3G mobile service which will provide the fastest data on mobile on St. Maarten," said Mrs. Etnel.
She said coming after the company’s successful introduction of pre-paid Blackberry service on St. Maarten, TelEm Group is once again showing that it can lead the way in providing services that customers request to keep up with the technologies of the day.