Commissioner of Tourism Roy Marlin minced no words in re-iterating yesterday that St. Maarten and its residents expect to see action in the coming days in relation to additional man-power in law enforcement in order to ensure a feeling of increased safety in the holiday season and to take a bite out of crime.
The Commissioner’s comments were directed towards Minister of Justice David Dick whom he said has the necessary requests and premise from which to make the necessary additional manpower available to St. Maarten. Marlin explained that the Lt. Governor of St. Maarten in a letter dated November 10, 2008 sent a request to the Minister of Justice in which letter the governor stressed the need that during the upcoming tourism season the police force should be strengthened with at the least 25 persons of which 15 will be placed in the function for extra surveillance (More blue on the street).
This request from the Governor was made in conjunction with and after collaboration with the Public Prosecutors Office and the Commissioner of Police. "The request from the Governor in his capacity as local chief of police who is charged with the combating of law and order does not necessarily needs to be substantiated by a second request from the force in order for the Minister to make additional manpower available," Marlin said.
"Fact is that we are all aware of the shortage of manpower. In a functioning jurisdiction such as ours, a request from the highest authority in charge, the Governor, should form the basis for action. Now that it is confirmed to us that the management of the force has sent a formal request to the Minister, we expect him to act on this front," Marlin stressed.
Marlin’s comments were also triggered by Dick’s denial on Friday last that he (Dick) failed to deliver on his promise to provide St. Maarten with additional police assistance for the tourist season which began on December 15.
Marlin said he had a meeting on Sunday December 7th 2008, with Minister Dick at PJIAE, together with Commissioner Doran. Discussed during this meeting was the possibility of having extra police patrols during the Christmas Holiday season and also during the tourist season. "It was agreed upon that when a request of the management of the Police Force to the Minister is sent the Minister would make additional manpower available," Marlin said.
He added that an agreement was also reached for the accommodation of the extra officers during this period. In his capacity as Commissioner of Tourism, he would approach the local hoteliers to issue complimentary hotel stay in order for this cost not to burden the budget of the police force. Several local hoteliers have since consented and have pledged their support for this venture.
Additionally, the Commissioner of Police in a separate letter dated December 8th 2008, the date after his meeting with the Minister, informed the Minister that in order to increase visibility on the streets and in connection with Operation Trust II for the period December 15 2008 to February 15, 2009, assistance with 15 extra officers is needed. The Commissioner of Police also requested in the same letter the use of 6 rental vehicles during this period.
"We should remember that in the final accord signed in November of 2006, it was stated that all parties agreed that the justice chain on St. Maarten will be brought up to par. To date we have seen very little action in terms of bringing the police force up to par which is one of the requirements for a smooth transition for St. Maarten to become a country," Marlin stressed.
"While we appreciate whichever efforts are made by the Minister in terms of strengthening the police force with additional detectives, police visibility on St. Maarten is of the utmost importance and this can only be achieved by having more personnel available in order for the management of the force to be able to have extra patrols during this Christmas Holiday season," Marlin concluded.