Commissioner Wilson speaks out against pension reductions

Commissioner of Social Affairs Rolando Wilson on Wednesday called upon Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk and on State Secretary of Social Affairs and Employment Jetta Klijnsma to reconsider their decision to cut the pensions of members of Pension Fund Caribbean Netherlands PCN.

“As Commissioner of Social Affairs, it is my duty to make a statement on the recent developments regarding the 3.5 per cent reduction of pension benefits by the PCN. This reduction and the expected 12 per cent reduction by 2018 will have immediate consequences for pensioners, who as civil servants were guaranteed a secured pension when they retired. Now, this pension is no longer secure and this is unacceptable,” Commissioner Wilson said in a statement.

He said that for civil servants currently paying into this pension scheme there is now no promise of pension security, only the “promise” of future pension-benefit reductions.

“As Commissioner, I work to improve the social benefits for the people of Saba, and I call on Minister Plasterk and State Secretary Klijnsma to reconsider their decision to allow these reductions to go into effect. We cannot continue to promise a fair standard of living and at the same time rob pensioners and future pensioners of what they are entitled to.”

Wilson said it is the responsibility of the Dutch Government to reassess this situation, “and look for alternative measures to correct what they failed to do in 2010, which was to ensure that the pensioners would not fall victim to the constitutional restructuring – as was promised to them. On a political, party, and human level I will continue to lobby and fight for the interests and wellbeing of my Saba people,” Commissioner Wilson said.

The Daily Herald.