PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) expressed disappointment over the weekend that several Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) applications have been denied with no further efforts planned to ensure that these individuals are legalised.
In a press release, the SHTA said it was also concerned about the fees collected by the island territory, as it understood that persons would not have to pay these fees unless there was acceptance and validity by the immigration department.
The association asked if these fees would be refunded now that there was no validity.
"While we all agree that the BTA process may not have run as smoothly as it could have, the strenuous circumstances which these undocumented residents chose to undergo in order to become part of the formal economy, pay taxes and contribute to the development of this country should not be overlooked," the SHTA said.
"The BTA process was a solution for the aforementioned residents to become legal on an island that they have called home for years, and more importantly to minimize the large illegal sector on the island and stem the abuse with regard to labour and taxation.
"If several thousand people are going to be rejected, then clearly the primary goal of legalising long-term residents was not achieved," the SHTA stated in its press release.
The SHTA believes a structural solution needs to be found for these several thousand applicants, and recommended that this issue be picked up in a tripartite setting.
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