On Wednesday September 21st 2011 at 10.00 a.m. the "Back Office" at the Immigration Department at the Princess Juliana International Airport was officially opened. This office is where all suspicious travel documents used by travelers to get into or leave Sint Maarten illegally will be investigated. It is also where the investigation will commence in regard to where these illegal documents are obtained and who the persons are that are responsible for the issuing of these false documents.
In a short and simple ceremony held in this office Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte gave a small speech stating that this office is a beautiful co-production of the colleagues of the local Immigration Department and members of the Royal Marechausee. The planning of this "Back Office" was finalized with a presentation to the Police management team and after a positive decision was made this "Back Office" was quickly realized and put into operation.
A "Back Office" is very instrumental and fits international requirements to intercept travelers with fraudulent documents at the borders. "Safety is our core business and it starts at the borders". The knowledge and quality remains mostly at the front-office and that is mainly to be able to detect fraudulent documents. Expertise and capability have been put together in this "Back Office" to properly carry out these investigations.
The existence of the "Back Office" and the good cooperation between the "Front and Back Office" has already shown positive results in the first investigations that were done.
Special thanks go out to the management of PJIA and the Customs Department for providing the necessary space to set-up this office. Also to the "Workgroup", colleagues at the Immigration Department and the Royal Marechausee.
Also present during this ceremony were, Commissioner Denise Jacobs, Chief Inspectors Geronimo Juliet and H. Giterson, Inspector R. Henson, Public prosecutor G. van de Wulp, Comm. Of Royal Marechassee ( Caribisch Nederland) W. Mennen, J. Ploegstra, E. Ruijter and other members of the Royal Marechaussee and Immigration Department