Minister De Weever: Effective law enforcement and community involvement necessary to disrupt and prevent serious crime

There has been a number of gun related incidents over the past months within the community. Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever says crime must not be allowed to eat at the foundations of the Sint Maarten society.
“We have zero tolerance for crime. I appeal to the public to assist investigators with respect to a number of criminal activities that have taken place. Police needs your assistance in order to solve these crimes.
“Fighting crime is everybody’s responsibility. We all have a vested interest in this fight for the sake of our children, family, friends and society overall.
“If you know something say something, as law enforcement cannot do it alone. Community assistance is essential in apprehending those who commit these vicious crimes,” Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever said on Monday.
Minister De Weever added that Government is determined to do all it can to break the cycle of crime within a small society like Sint Maarten.
Minister De Weever added that criminal activity is focused primarily in crime circles such as narcotics and gang-related, but overall Sint Maarten is still a safe and secure society for residents and visitors when compared to other developed countries.
“We need to work together to break the cycle of violence that distresses the lives of individuals and families in our communities. Effective law enforcement and community involvement and engagement will go a long way in combating this scourge to society and is the heart of any successful approach in disrupting and preventing serious crime.
“There can be no prosperity without safety and security. We have to ensure the protection of those who assist the police with crimes. There must be trust between the community and the justice departments, if not trust needs to be earned in order for all to feel more secure. Let us ensure that Sint Maarten remains a safe destination,” Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever said on Monday.