If the statements made by the Judge in the Masbangu Investigation are true then there is trouble in the Justice System.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson announced at the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday that he will initiate an investigation to see if "Class Justice" exists on St. Maarten as indicated by Judge Luijks in the decision he rendered on Monday in the Masbangu (Vote Buying) case. Minister Richardson said the decision rendered by the Judge has thrown a dark cloud over the functioning of the Public Prosecutor's Office
Minister Richardson said that the statements are serious and it could affect all cases taken to court by the prosecution, therefore he will contact Council for the Maintenance of Law and Order to see if they are in a position to conduct an investigation to see if "Class Justice" exists on St. Maarten.
Prosecutors were appointed by the Kingdom and there are no Local Prosecutors on St. Maarten.
Minister Richardson said he wants to make clear that the appointment of prosecutors is a Kingdom decision and not one taken solely by St. Maarten he also stated that none of the Public Prosecutors that have served St. Maarten since 2010 are of local descent. Furthermore, the Minister of Justice has no authority to give instructions to the Public Prosecutor's Office, in that case the Minister of Justice would have to seek the courts permission to instruct the Public Prosecutor's Office and if he should have to take that route he would have to fully justify himself in order to obtain permission. "Accusing the Public Prosecution of class justice would undermine the functioning the justice system. I am assuming that the court meant in the "Masbangu" case because the impression out there can easily be seen that class justice exists as far as the public prosecution system is concerned. This can have an affect on other cases, therefore, I cannot allow the observation of the court to remain that way. My intention is to consult with the chair of the Council for the Maintenance of Law and Order to see if they are capable and will be prepared to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not there is class justice on St. Maarten. I would like to make one observation which is the current prosecutors on St. Maarten are here just over a year and it is difficult to assume that these persons have built such relationships with individuals on St. Maarten that they would defer from applying the law as prescribed. I might be jumping the gun with the statements I make today. I will consult on the investigation and my hope is that it could be carried out speedily and in the end there are justifiable conclusions."
