SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--Senior policy advisor of the Social Economic Council SER Arjen Alberts has filed a petition with the Civil Service Court against Minister of General Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams.

In the petition, which was filed Wednesday, Alberts seeks the annulment of his suspension from his job as per April 29, and payment of study and travel expenses.

Alberts has been senior advisor with the SER since February 1, 2012, and drafts SER advice to the Government of St. Maarten on social and economic matters.

According to Alberts, his suspension followed a conflict with SER Chief Secretary Gerard Richardson, who accused him of insubordination.

The already troubled relationship between Alberts and the SER secretary became even more disturbed in April 2014, when Alberts was informed that the Department of Social Development of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour had filed a complaint against him.

In the complaint it was stated that Alberts had allegedly made condescending remarks about the Department and its workers. Following an investigation into the complaint, Alberts received a letter in which he was informed that he would be suspended from April 29, "for the duration of the current investigation into the afore-mentioned complaint."

Not only was there a complaint filed against Alberts, but also against a colleague of his, but only Alberts was suspended.

According to Alberts, the SER Secretary and the SER Board were not authorized to suspend him. According to Article 11 of the National Ordinance Social Economic Council this requires a government decree. However, Alberts never received such a resolution.

In his petition to the Court, which was filed on his behalf by attorney-at-law Cindy Marica, Alberts is stating that he had requested the intervention of Minister of General Affairs Wescot-Williams to solve the impasse and settle the matter amicably.

According to Alberts, he is in possession of an impeccable two-year track record with the SER and had always received good assessments. He claimed he did not have the opportunity to defend himself against the complaints and said he also never received any complaints from his SER colleagues and said the cooperation had always been good.

In the legal action, the embattled policy advisor also seeks payment of allowances in connection with his studies for a doctoral degree in the Netherlands.

Because Alberts did not receive any proper response from the SER Board or the Minister he sought legal assistance of a lawyer and turned to the Court. The case is expected to be heard by a judge in October or November, said Marica.