Kralendijk / Oranjestad / The Bottom:--- Today, the Council for Law Enforcement publishes the State of Law Enforcement Caribbean Netherlands 2024. In the report, the Council expresses its appreciation for the efforts of judicial chain partners and the progress that has been made at various organisations individually and in their cooperation. In doing so, the Council pays specific attention to the positive developments at the Dutch Probation Service. The Council is also enthusiastic about what the Board of Chiefs of Police has achieved in the cooperation between the police forces of the countries.  However, the Council warns of the growing influence of social developments in combination with structural bottlenecks that put pressure on the future of the rule of law on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. In particular, the report points to serious capacity shortages in the police, as a result of which even the availability of emergency aid cannot always be guaranteed.  The capacity of other organizations is also under pressure. In addition, the Council again points to the lack of integrated management and inadequate interministerial cooperation. Although the Council notes that cooperation between chain partners at the local level is improving, the direction from the European Netherlands remains fragmented. Various ministries and their departments pursue policy without sufficient mutual coordination or central vision. This hinders a coherent and decisive approach to complex problems such as subversion and juvenile delinquency.

Emergency aid is under pressure due to police staff shortages

One of the most urgent signals concerns the situation at the police. The Council notes that the Dutch Caribbean Police Force is struggling with serious staff shortages. This leads to a situation in which the deployment of basic emergency aid – a core task of the police – is no longer structurally guaranteed. Without structural reinforcement, the operational commitment threatens to be further eroded. On the other hand, this situation also creates risks for staff. In other parts of the security chain, such as border control and the detention system, the performance of tasks is also increasingly at stake.

Call for cross-domain cooperation and future-oriented policy.

The Council states that the approach to crime and security problems should not only be sought within the judicial domain. Many of the underlying causes are social in nature, such as poverty, educational disadvantage, addiction problems and limited housing. This requires close involvement of ministries such as Education, Health, Social Affairs and Home Affairs. Sustainable solutions can only be achieved through cross-domain cooperation and shared ownership.

The report, therefore, calls on the central government to develop a central, overarching management structure. Policy efforts from different ministries must be integrated into a single long-term vision with clear responsibilities, stable funding, and structural strengthening of the implementing organisations.

Conclusion

The State of Law Enforcement Caribbean Netherlands 2024 shows a judicial chain in motion and a fragile balance. The consequences of immigration, increased tourism, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate social services, and insufficiently equipped organisations in the judicial chain pose a major and undeniable risk to the stability and security of the islands.

Structural improvements will not be made without fundamental choices in strengthening capacity, continuing assistance from the national police and the KMar, and improving management and cooperation. The Council emphasizes the importance of coherent policy, shared leadership, and sustainable investment in a resilient Caribbean rule of law.

The report has been presented to the Senate and House of Representatives, the Ministers of Justice and Security, and of Asylum and Migratio,n and is available in its entirety via the website of the Council for Law Enforcement: www.raadrh.com

On the site, you can also find the State of Law Enforcement Sint Maarten and Curaçao, respectively.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, as part of its annual calendar of health observances for the month of May, is urging persons to get their blood pressure checked regularly to prevent heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and other serious health problems and to stay healthy.

Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of the body in the vessels. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the vessels.

“Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it is pumped by the heart. The higher the pressure the harder the heart has to pump.”  The heart has to work harder to pump the blood to all parts of the body.

Most people with hypertension have no symptoms at all; this is why it is known as the “silent killer”. Sometimes hypertension causes symptoms such as headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations of the heart and nose bleeds, but not always.

The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of damage to the heart and blood vessels in major organs such as the brain and kidneys. Hypertension is the most important preventable cause of heart disease and stroke worldwide.

If left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to a heart attack, an enlargement of the heart and eventually heart failure. Blood vessels may develop bulges (aneurysms) and weak spots that make them more likely to clog and burst. The pressure in the blood vessels can cause blood to leak into the brain and cause a stroke. Hypertension can also lead to kidney failure, blindness, and cognitive impairment.

The health consequences of hypertension can be compounded by other factors that increase the odds of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. These factors include tobacco use, unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol, lack of physical activity, and exposure to persistent stress as well as obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus.

All adults should have their blood pressure checked. routinely, it is important to know your numbers. If blood pressure is high, they need the advice of their family physician on the steps that need to be taken to ensure a healthy and good quality of life.

For some people, lifestyle changes such as stopping tobacco use, eating healthily, exercising regularly, and avoiding the harmful use of alcohol, are sufficient to control blood pressure. For this reason, it is recommended for one to always consult their physician to ensure that you are on the right track towards maintaining good health.

Adults can support treatment by adhering to the prescribed medication, lifestyle changes and by monitoring their health, according to the WHO information provided.

A stronger, better Sint Maarten relies on communities that collectively strive to promote good health, longevity, and a better quality of life.

For more information call CPS at 542-3003; or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG:--- NAPB-Sint Maarten is expressing grave concern following the recent deployment of police officers to a violent prison riot at the Point Blanche Prison without confirmation of valid insurance coverage.

On Wednesday, 14th, 2025, dozens of KPSM officers, on and off duty, were urgently dispatched to respond to a large-scale disturbance inside Point Blanche Prison. While the officers acted with professionalism and courage, placing themselves in direct danger to protect lives and restore order, it has since come to light that they may not have had valid insurance coverage at the time of deployment.

“This is unacceptable,” said Marcus Pantophlet, President of the NAPB-Sint Maarten. “Our officers risk their lives daily to protect the Community of Sint Maarten. Sending them into a volatile situation like a prison riot without the basic safety net of insurance is not only irresponsible, it's a betrayal of their service and sacrifice.”

NAPB—Sint Maarten is calling for immediate action regarding this oversight and is demanding assurances from the Ministry of Justice that all officers will be covered under comprehensive insurance policies before being sent into high-risk situations in the near future.

“We expect — and demand — that officer welfare be a top priority,” said Pantophlet. “No officer should ever have to question whether their health, livelihood, or family’s security will be protected if they are injured in the line of duty.”

NAPB—Sint Maarten would also like to take this opportunity to commend all of its members who assisted in ensuring that order was restored to the Point Blanche Prison.

NAPB- Sint Maarten urges the administration to take swift corrective action, including reviewing all current insurance protocols, notifying affected officers, and ensuring no future deployments occur without proper coverage.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A fire that broke out inside the Pointe Blanche Prison erupted into chaos after guards reportedly fled the premises, leaving prisoners locked in their cells. According to sources, the lack of oversight during the incident placed the lives of many inmates at severe risk, and it was a fellow prisoner who stepped forward to avert disaster.

Prisoner Dante Ottley has been hailed as a hero for his courageous actions during the emergency. Witnesses report that Ottley risked his life to retrieve a set of keys from the prison office, unlocking cells and releasing inmates trapped as the fire spread. His swift actions are credited with preventing potentially catastrophic casualties.

Ottley's bravery did not end there. Amid the panic caused by the fire, tensions boiled over, leading to unrest among inmates. Eyewitness accounts suggest that a number of prisoners began rioting in an attempt to draw the attention of the authorities, particularly the Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling.

These chaotic scenes could have escalated further, but Ottley intervened, persuading the group to return to their cells after the fire was brought under control. His efforts to restore calm amid the turmoil have been widely commended within the prison walls.

Following the incident, it was reported that some prisoners were removed from the facility and relocated to alternative housing arrangements, as the extent of the damage was assessed. It remains unclear how the fire began and why prison staff abandoned their posts during such a critical situation.

Public outcry has mounted as details of the guards’ actions, or lack thereof, continue to emerge. Questions are now being raised about the overall safety measures in place at the prison and the response protocols for emergencies. Calls for a thorough investigation into the incident, as well as the conduct of the prison staff, are growing louder.

Despite the chaos, prisoner Dante Ottley’s extraordinary courage stands out as a bright spot in an otherwise troubling event. His actions not only saved lives but also helped to de-escalate an increasingly volatile situation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for reform and accountability within correctional facilities to ensure the safety of all individuals during emergencies.

An official statement from prison authorities regarding the fire and the conduct of the guards is still awaited. Meanwhile, Ottley’s selflessness has sparked conversations about humanity and heroism in the most unexpected of places.