Huge gap in Justice Ministry, Lack of Communication among Justice Departments and Prosecutors Office cause for delay in prosecution of high profile cases.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The integrity investigation commissioned by the Kingdom Council which was conducted by Pricewaterhousecoopers (PWC) spelled out exactly what is widely rumored on St. Maarten.
The 250 page document states that several checks and balances are missing within government and Ministries. Prostitution, gaming board control, direct interference with Ministers hindering civil servants from doing their jobs are only some of the high points in the report.
Elected officials and even persons working in the Justice Ministry do not carry out their duties adequately. They quoted an inspector who stated that politicians interfere when they are executing their duties, that inspector felt that only the middle class are punished while those business persons connected to politicians get away with their illegal activities. The report mentions a control that was conducted at a restaurant where four illegal workers were found and the owner of the restaurant had no documentation to operate. That owner is related to a Minister. In another case it states that inspectors were on their way to conduct a control and higher up officials called the business owner and tipped them off that the inspectors were on their way.
Moratoriums on granting brothel licenses were lifted and two licenses were issued, one to a relative of the Minister that lifted the moratorium and one to someone that is directly affiliated to a Minister.
Ministers who often lift these moratoriums would instruct the department to whom they should grant licenses and in most cases it is to friends and families.
The National Detectives claimed to have investigated seven high profile cases that are ready to go before the courts but the Prosecution felt that these investigations were not properly done due to lack of staff, and forensic equipment. The PWC report states that the changing of prosecutors every four or five years has a negative effect causing many cases not to be concluded. While they also stated it is clear that there is a gap in communication within the justice department. They said that there is no protection for whistleblowers or a place where people including civil servants can report suspected corruption and or crimes.
The entire report has showed that there are lapses in the justice system and how dysfunctional it is, however the blame is laid squarely on the lack of staff and some persons are not being prosecuted because they know someone that holds high position in the justice Ministry.
Overall the report shows that the entire situation within the Government of St. Maarten is not at all good and there are several structures that are missing especially those that will curb corruption and raise the integrity within government.
The report which is now a public document can be viewed below.
Click here to view PWC Integrity Report.
