Buncamper Molanus said the crime situation on St. Maarten is a serious one and while it has now become customary that no answers are given to members of the island council is calling on the governor openly to do what is right and answer her questions.
In her letter to the governor dated January 19 2010 Buncamper Molanus said any member of Parliament of The Netherlands Antilles has the right to ask questions to the Council Ministers or directly to a particular Minister in an attempt to obtain information for the benefit of the people.
Similarly, Members of the Island Council have the right to ask questions to the Executive Council, however asking questions to the Lt. Governor as it pertains to his function as Local Chief of police is not specifically regulated anywhere. Nevertheless, she is submitting her questions to his office the following inquiries with the hope that for the benefit of the general public, information is made available on the topic of crime.
- During the past few months it appears that crime has been on the increase, particularly violent crime. Could you please confirm or deny this.
- Are statistics available regarding the number as well as the type of criminal activities that are taking place on the island?
- This apparent increase in violent crime seems to repeat itself periodically:
a. Has a particular trend been established? If so please elaborate.
b. Have the established efforts to combat these criminal activities rendered any results – positive or negative? Please explain. - What is the current shortage of police officers on the island and what is the status if the recruitment efforts.
- In all the agreements that have been made for re-enforcement of the Windward Island Police Force has the shortage of police officers been addressed effectively?
- What does the working relationship with the police force of Rotterdam and or any other Dutch city entail?
- The Central Government on several occasions during the past few years informed the general public that it is taking steps to improve the police force in the Windward Islands. One such step is the reorganization of management and providing coaching. Is the Local Chief of police able to provide a status of affairs of the improvements as a result of the measures taken in general and that of the reorganization and coaching in particular?
- What has happened to the many project proposals submitted by St. Maarten, by your office in particular with respect to tackling the problems we face when it comes to fighting crime on the island.
More police presence and proper equipment appear to be the recurring calls from those involved. If this is indeed the main issue, why are these issues not given priority? Yes indeed the Central Government is responsible for Justice. We have had Justice Ministers come and go and we have the same problems recur. The constant factor in this equation is the people of St. Maarten, crime and the responsibility of the Local Chief of police on the island. So should we be doing things differently leading up the constitutional reform? Should there be more involvement from the Island Government and the Local Chief of Police?
Fighting crime is everybody's business and so I look forward to your prompt response for the benefit the people of and the visitors to St. Maarten.
In the response and confirmation of receipt Richards notified Buncamper Molanus that he has taken note of the contents of her letter and has forwarded it to the Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran for advice.
