Philipsburg:--- A paper fight erupted Monday afternoon between the office of the Minister of Justice and the Cabinet of the Governor regarding the bodyguard of the Minister of Justice, Marina Serrant. According to information reaching SMN News, the Governor's cabinet informed the Minister of Justice that the Governor does not want the Minister's bodyguard to walk along with them while the inspection of the uniformed troops is conducted.Reliable sources state that the Minister of Justice said his bodyguard will walk alongside him the same way the Governor has his adjutant walking around with him. Because the Minister of Justice refused to remove his bodyguard, the Governor's Cabinet decided that the Governor will not walk with the Minister of Justice as he inspects the uniformed troops. Protocol dictates that the Governor of St. Maarten should at all times inspect the uniformed troops on special occasions.
On Tuesday morning, Governor Holiday attended the activities that were held in front of the Government Administration Building for International Justice Day. Governor Holiday also pronounced a speech but did not participate in the inspection of the uniformed troops. Instead, he acted as a spectator like the other invited guests.
In an interview with SMN News, Minister of Justice Roland Duncan said that in his opinion his bodyguard/driver was ostracized by those in higher positions. The Minister was very vocal about his bodyguard whom he said is a very enthusiastic and dedicated worker.
The Minister said shortly after taking office in 2010 he was approached by Serrant who told him that she was on the payroll of the Ministry of Justice and she was eager to work. Duncan said Serrant told him that she was accused by a detainee and she was not given a fair chance to defend herself. Therefore, the police decided that she should not report to work at the Police Station in Philipsburg, at the time Serrant was working with the Soualiga Patrol.
The Minister said Serrant was a VKS officer and she was attached to the Police Department. However, when she was verbally suspended by the Police, the VKS also verbally suspended her pending an investigation. According to Minister Duncan, the police has nothing on paper to show that Serrant committed a crime. Moreover, they did not follow jurisprudence by charging her so that she could legally defend herself. "What you are hearing is all hearsay and there is no actual proof or paperwork to show that this person has done something wrong that would allow me to legally dismiss her from her duties."
The Minister said he asked the head of the VKS if they had anything on paper to show that Serrant was legally dismissed and none of that could have been provided to him. He said he also approached the Chief of Police to further inquire about the allegations against Serrant and the Chief of Police gave him a sketchy story but he too could not provide him with a process verbal from the detainee showing that he filed an official complaint against Serrant. Minister Duncan said that the Chief of Police also told him that they did not give Serrant a written suspension, she was working for the VKS so the police just asked her not to report to the Police Station. Duncan said the story he heard from the VKS, the Chief of Police, and Serrant is not a crime instead it is inappropriate for any civil servant to do. "I can tell you that Serrant did something she should not have done as a civil servant but the police and the VKS did not do their job. They embarrassed her and left it at that. I looked at Mr. Illidge and Mr. De Witte and they should have taken action correctly but they did not and there is nothing in writing to show that Serrant was legally terminated. Right now, I can tell you that law enforcement failed to properly act towards a human being. I am now accusing them of maliciousness and negligence."
Duncan said that Serrant was arrested and spent eight days in prison during the BTA investigation but to date she has not been charged. He said her lawyer reported to him that there were no grounds for arrest in the first place. Duncan said he is of the opinion that the Public Prosecutor's office was on a fishing expedition during the BTA investigation when they arrested Serrant.
Minister of Justice Roland Duncan said that on Monday afternoon he was informed by the Governor's cabinet that if the Governor is going to inspect the uniformed troops then Serrant should not be around. "The Governor is a guest at the ceremony, there is no law that dictates that he should be the one to inspect my troops. The police officers are working for me so I can do the inspection alone. I asked questions as to why the Governor has objections to my bodyguard walking around with me and I could not get a proper answer. I was willing and ready to have the Governor walk with me to do the inspection of the uniformed troops. He and I would have walked and done it and the Governor's adjutant and my bodyguard would not have been there but the Governor's Cabinet refused that option so I did it alone, they are my troops and they work for me. The Governor is not obliged to inspect the uniformed troops because there is no law that states that."
Minister of Justice Roland Duncan said that the Governor's office claimed that they have a problem with her based on the allegations and the reasons she no longer works for the police. The Minister said that he is of the opinion that people are mixing personal prejudice with rules. "I don't want to sound arrogant, but I was willing to compromise with the Governor."
The Minister said that Serrant is working for him as a driver and bodyguard but she also does messenger services for the Ministry.