SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--Social and Health Insurances SZV official Reginald Willemsberg is confident that an agreement will be reached with government on the outstanding arrears owed to the insurance service provider by the May deadline set by the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.

Willemsberg said parties have been meeting on the matter, but declined to go into details on the discussions. A meeting was held last week and another is set for this week.

"We are talking. A deadline has to be met so government and SZV are doing all that is necessary to meet that deadline," Willemsberg said in an invited comment on Tuesday. "We are positive and look forward to reaching an agreement."

One of the issues of contention between parties is the exact amount government owes to SZV in arrears. Government has one figure and SZV has another. "There are different opinions on the amount. We have to reach an agreement on the correct amount. That's one of the points of discussion. We have an opinion and government has an opinion."

Regarding settling of the arrears, Willemsberg said there are some proposals on the table that will be looked at. "I think that we will reach an agreement by the deadline."

CFT has given government until May to substantiate that it can bring in the necessary income to cover the NAf. 445 million income set for the 2015 budget and settle the long-standing payment arrears of NAf. 200 million owed to SZV and General Pension Fund APS.

CFT had earlier described the situation with government's arrears to SZV and APS as "disconcerting." The arrears have been long pending and are causing persons to get "scared." It will "undermine confidence" in authorities and will cause people to question what will become of their pensions. CFT hopes that a lid can be placed on these issues when it returns to St. Maarten in June.