SEPPA/SIMAR Laundry List

So if I published the FTA laundry list, it is only respectful to publish SEPPA/SIMAR’s list of demands in negotiating with GOA, though it is ALL for naught, we’re all wasting our time arguing, we should have argued all along when waste was going on, but so be it, arguing is part of the process of acceptance.

Reality check: We are under strict financial supervision with more stringent demands, conditions and criteria that will reach far into our social, economic, health, finance, GOA apparatus and governance areas. The Rijksministerraat decided on STRUCTURAL REFORMs, and that decision is an integral part of loan possibilities. THE SOONER we accept, the better off we are!!

The SEPP/SIMAR communication is very criollo, I am surprised that they write so informally about serious situations. The part entitled “Morto di un, ta bira Pan di e otro,” is just ridiculous, a political rant that contributes absolutely NADA.

I expected some Hoch Papiamento, a refined and classy version of the language to prove SEPPA/SIMAR are educated and cultured folks, but encountered a very casual communication.

However, some of their proposals are good:

  1. Recall the two ministers from abroad, Washington and The Hague. Not a great initiative, we will need them in the future and remember there are no flights and secondly they will not be able to cancel their office and home leases, and find housing here, just institute PAY CUTS, same as all other ministers and curtail all unnecessary spending.
  2. Reduce number of ministers: Which minister would agree to be fired along with his entire staff? They simply need to take a PAY CUT and curtail all non-vital spending. (I SAY: If you ask any minister for their opinion they would tell you they are the BEST candidates for their crisis management job, they won their seat, in a democratic election. Now what??!!)
  3. YES, reduce all unnecessary expenses, representations, allowances, of Ministers and Parliamentarians. (I SAY: Go thru the list of cell phone holders, crack down on all internet, cable, and phone communications.)
  4. Crack down on the exorbitant number of “coordinators.” Again, firing people doesn’t make sense, now, but across-the-board PAY CUTS serve the same purpose in cutting expenses.
  5. LIFO: Last in first out. With salaries running between 7,000 and 15,000 many are double dippers, they work and collect fat pensions, if someone has a GOA pension income of 4 to 5 digits, they should NOT be taking a salary at the same time, at least not from GOA.
  6. Same as the FTA, SEPPA/SIMAR wants to crack down on the price of renting real estate used by GOA. My learned friends are of the opinion that killing companies is not the answer, the negotiation of rent reduction, is reasonable. Sure, some “sweetheart deals,” gotta go, they should NEVER have been made, but there is no objective/legal way to differentiate between good and bad leases, so all must be negotiated and REDUCED.
  7. My learned friends are in agreement, that costs of cars in GOA’s service must be reduced. This is not an option. It is a must. But on the other hand we do not want to kill our car dealers, they are not selling any cars, so leases might be very important for their survival and thus the future of their employees, and they pay taxes, and make repairs possible, but all excesses must be TRIMMED and all leases REVISED.
  8. And sure, wherever possible, GOA officials should drive their own cars, and provide their own transportation to work just like the humble workers do! I say: Kiss your bodyguards and drivers good-bye!
  9. Cut, Cut, Cut, fully agree, reduce salaries, this is an austerity measure and GOA has to serve as a role model for locals. Pay Cuts at more than the suggested 20%, are required.
  10. Yes, Yes, all board members of nationally owned companies should NOT be compensated, it is an honor and duty to serve ones’ country as a board member and contribute expertise. In this case, the prestige should suffice, no compensation, the way it once was!
  11. Indeed GOA needs a salary ceiling, where according to SEPPA/SIMAR ministers may earn maximum possible, Awg 12,000, and no other consultant should top that ceiling. Good suggestion. Gone are the high five-digit consultant fees.
  12. Cut all travel, of course, there are no flights. What travel needs to be cut?? Once the airport reopens only truly vital travel should be allowed, and the incessantly travelling Minister of Transportation will just have to stay put.
  13. Drastic reduction in lawyer fees and consultant firms is de rigueur.
  14. Eliminate the 25% allowances. (Wow, that was insanely generous at my expense.)
  15. Eliminate overbruggingstoelage, some kind of crazy benefit of former parliamentarians, my learned friends agree, Aruba is the only country in the universe where having worked for four years you then get an allowance for life. if the former Minister/Member of Parliament has an income, he is not eligible to another allowance, and that should be the norm going forward.
  16. Stop renting expensive equipment and machinery. As much as possible, some things need to continue of course, but less digital copiers, and simpler coffee makers are recommended.
  17. All celebrations, parades and manifestation stopped. We are in an austerity mode.
  18. No more computer purchases, car purchases, cell phones, and phone service purchases – it should be limited and controlled as much as possible.

The unions conclude with a request in the name of transparency, to be allowed to review GOA’s expenses by department.

Good job!

 

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April 21, 2020
Rona Coster