Work performance of RST have to take place, Every Country has the responsibility on their justice chain.
DAWN BEACH:--- Minister of Justice of Curacao Quincy Girigorie refused to sign the agreement on the sharing of information. Minister Girigorie said that there are certain legal aspects have to be verified before he could put his signature to the document. However, the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands Stef Bloc, Minister of Justice Arthur Dowers and St. Maarten’s Minister of Justice Rafael Boasman signed the document pending Curacao’s decision.
Minister Stef Blok said that during the JVO meeting held on St. Maarten over the weekend he said parties agreed to share data and DNA profiles. Minister Blok said that they have agreed to share information on flight passengers, the exchange of DNA profiles, and further study on providing adequate care for prisoners with mental disease. Asked if the Netherlands will make good on their promises this time around and provide the necessary tools and manpower to re-enforce the Justice Chain on St. Maarten. Minister Blok said that every country is responsible for the internal management of the Justice Ministry in their country. Asked by SMN News if that is indeed the case why then the Netherlands is the one appointing the Attorney Generals and Prosecutors for the Countries Curacao. St. Maarten and the BES islands. In responding to that question Minister Blok said that the JVO meetings were about cross-border crimes and indeed each country is responsible for the internal management of their justice ministry.
Evaluation on the RST has to take place.
Minister of Justice of St. Maarten Rafael Boasman said that this his second JVO meeting and when he attended the first meeting he made clear that he did not agree on the structure in place for the RST. He said over time before this meeting was held he managed to get his colleague Minister from Aruba Arthur Dowers agreed to make changes to the structure of the RST (TBO). He said that in that agreement the local law enforcements were totally left out and he could not support the agreement.
Minister Dowers said that one very important step and the decision was taken during this JVO meeting was to have the work of the RST evaluated. He said that the functioning of the RST must be conducted as well as the quality of the investigations they conduct, their efficiency and the price tag for their services. He said the islands have agreed to establish a working committee who will put in place the topics for the evaluation to which the Dutch government has agreed to. Dowers said that when the committee finishes their work then they will proceed with the evaluation which will help improve the quality of services given to the countries by the RST.
Minister Boasman said his efforts yielded success because at least one sentence from the agreement was deleted and further to that an evaluation on the working performance of the RST has to take place before they move forward. Minister Boasman said he does not want to send the wrong message about the RST because St. Maarten do benefit from the work the RST is doing locally, however, there must be more cooperation between the RST and the local police force. He said that the name alone RST means that the team is about cooperation and thus there must be more involvement of the local police.
Another topic that was discussed during the JVO meeting is the AFPAK team (Assets Recovery Team) that is operational both in Curacao and Aruba. Both Ministers Arthur Dowers, and Quincy Girigorie said that they agreed to give a presentation about the operations of the AFPAK team when they meet again. The Ministers of Justice of Curacao and Aruba said that the team in their country is working in full compliance with the law and so far has helped the judicial chain.
