Philipsburg:--- Inspectors from the Labour and the Immigration Department began controlling businesses on Tuesday morning in search of persons working on St. Maarten illegally. Head of the Immigration Geronimo Juliet confirmed to SMN News on Tuesday that the controllers went to Sunny Food Supermarket located on A.T Illidge Road. During the control the supermarket had to close its doors to ensure that no one working for the establishment could escape. Juliet said a number of persons were taken into custody so that they could identify themselves because despite the announcement in the media, people working on the Dutch side of the island are not walking with their identification cards. Juliet said that 11 persons working for Sunny Foods were taken into custody all of them are legal residents residing on St. Maarten while others were locals.
"Since these people did not have proper identification cards they were brought in so they could identify themselves and if it is proven that they were working and residing on the island illegally then a process verbal would be made up so that the business establishment could be fined. Also measures will be taken to immediately deport the illegal immigrants to their respective countries."
Last month the immigration and labour inspectors announced that they would have started a control and businesses that are caught with illegal workers would be given a fine of Naf. 5000. 00 per illegal worker. Since the announcement last month at a press conference held at IND building Tuesday's control was the first Juliet said. Juliet insisted that persons working and residing on the island must walk with their identification cards even if they are Dutch nationals because not having an identification card is a crime and while it is time consuming for immigration officers to process these persons to ensure they are legal residents, having your documents or identification card will make the procedure easier for everyone.
Later in the day on Tuesday the immigration officers went to Qualichi Restaurant on the Boardwalk where they controlled nine persons all of whom are working and residing on the island legally. The immigration officers ended their day by controlling Coliseum Casino. Juliet said a total of 50 persons were controlled on Tuesday, the first day of the immigration control, to crack down on businesses that are hiring people that are residing on the island illegally. Juliet said Tuesday's operation was tedious because workers and residents on the island did not have their documents when they conducted the control. He said since no illegal worker was found on Tuesday no fines were issued.
