First Dedicated Environmental Police Officer for St. Maarten
PHILIPSBURG:--- Chief Ranger for the St. Maarten Nature Foundation Mr. Etienne Lake was sworn in as St. Maarten's first dedicated environmental police officer by the Minister of Justice the Honorable Dennis Richardson at a swearing in Ceremony at the Philipsburg Police Station last Friday. Lake's swearing in makes him the first extra-ordinary police officer dedicated to the environment on St. Maarten.
Since the establishment of the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected area and the Service Level Agreement between the Nature Foundation and the Ministry of VROMI, Mr. Lake now has the capacity to recommend fines for environmental infractions and to conduct policing duties when it comes to environmental matters. Mr. Lake followed the intensive BAVPOL Extra-ordinary Police Officer Training Course and has for many years also been active as an officer in the Voluntary Corp of St. Maarten VKS.
With Lake's swearing in the Nature Foundation has the capacity to enact law enforcement activities with regards to the recording and tackling of breaches of Environmental ordinances on St. Maarten. The Ministry of Justice was instrumental in ensuring that St. Maarten has a new, dedicated Environmental Law Enforcement Officer.
