Marigot: --- The President of the Collectivity of St. Martin Frantz Gumbs presented the new Director for the Territorial Police who began working on October 2. During the presentation the management team consisting of all local police officers was also present as they intend to work together in the best interest of St. Martin. The members of the management team are Albert Conner, Alexis Carty, and Alain Jermin who would be working directly with the new director.
Gumbs said he is conscience that the image of the territorial police has deteriorated over the lack of a director, while crime and youth delinquency is exploding. He said that the Collectivity could not have remained silent on the issue. The president said because of this they have decided to hire someone who has the necessary experience and training that would train a local to take up the position at a later date. The new director Flavien Bazile has six more years prior to his retirement which he plans to spend on St. Martin. His ideas are to work with other law enforcement on both sides of the island to tackle crime, which would include the gendarmes and security companies. While his priorities will be decided by the territorial council his first mission would be to better organize the territorial police. Bazile already managed a police force that had 160 police officers. Even though the new director had spent only one week on the island prior to accepting the job he agreed that there is a lot of work that has to be done. Even though there are five positions within the force that has to be filled there would be no recruitment drive for now since there are a number of persons who have completed the necessary examinations and are waiting to be accepted in the force. The Territorial Police comprised of 17 officers who are allowed to carry weapons while there are 21 ASVP.
One of the concerns of the Collectivity right now Gumbs said is the rate of youth delinquency and the damage this is causing to the economy and general welfare of the people. The president said that they have concluded that the younger local generation is what makes up the delinquents and he is doing all in his power to assists associations and other sectors of the community to assist in curbing the situation. He said only this month the territorial council approved some funding to assists youths in general. The Council just last week approved the sum of 200,000 Euros which will go towards higher education. Already some 93 students who have completed high school will benefit from these funds he said.
Also approved by the council is the funding which amounts to 180,000 Euros that will be given to associations who have submitted projects that has to be executed. These associations he said will be dealing with projects that socially related. Also on the table for approval is funding for associations that will be dealing with sports and other athletic activities. The president again issued a call to the people who have ideas to come forward so they too can assist in combating the situation of youth delinquency. The 54 year old director hails from Bordeaux has military and policing experience.