FRENCH QUARTER:--- The Captain of the Gendarmerie Slyvian Joualt along with other Gendarmes ordered two officers that escorted the Prime Minister and Governor of St. Maarten to the French side to leave the French side of the island since they were carrying their firearms. SMN News reporter saw the Chief Security of the Prime Minister speaking to the Captain of the Gendarmerie and his officers when he asked the Dutch Police Officers to leave the French Territory. According to information SMN News obtained from the Dutch authorities, Joualt told the Dutch side police officers that he was given orders from the Prefet to have the officers of KPSM that were escorting the Prime Minister/President of Parliament to leave because they were carrying their service weapon and no one from KPSM informed the Gendarmes that officers of KPSM were going to be on the French side where the official St. Maarten's Day celebration were held. SMN News further understood that the Dutch side protocol department had contacted with the French side protocol department and they were fully informed that two police officers from KPSM were going to be on motorcycles to escort the Prime Minister.
The incident took place while the both sides dignitaries and their invited guests were inspecting the uniform and other troupes on French Quarter main road in the vicinity of the French Quarter Cultural Center. As soon as the parade ended the two officers went back to the Dutch side leaving the Dutch dignitaries in the hands of the Gendarmes and Territorial Police. At the stadium where the main event was held a former convict that is well known both on the Dutch and French side approached Governor Eugene Holiday with a stack of documents explaining Governor Holiday that he has been having some problems with the Dutch side. The well known French Quarter citizen was removed from beside Governor Holiday who had to stand up to speak with the French citizen by a Territorial Police.
A senior officer at KPSM said that what took place on St. Maarten's Day was indeed an embarrassment. The officer further stated that if KPSM and its officers want to act like the Gendarmes then they would be chasing Gendarmes from the Dutch side everyday when they cross over the border to go to clubs and other places armed.
