Marigot: _- The gendarmes have seized a number of weapons including pistols, from security companies operating on the French side of the island. At a press conference at the La Savane head office in the presence of Prosecutor Jacques Louvier disclosed the find. Louvier said a special team with the assistance of the Police aux Frontiers, ACEDIC, URSAF, and the labour inspectors conducted the controls at six security companies on the island. The operation also took place on St. Barths where two companies were searched.
Louvier said this is the first time they have conducted such controls at the security companies. All items seized Louvier said will be destroyed.
He gave three reasons why the decision was taken to control the companies. Louvier said they had reasons to believe the companies were not following guidelines. Louvier said a security guard was hospitalized for three weeks after he was shot in his leg. This security guard he said was not declared and he was condemned twice for violent behavior. After the investigations his boss was fined Euros 5000.00 while he was given a three years probation. Louvier said it is against the law for security guards to patrol the streets with firearms without authorization and most importantly people who has problems with the law are not allowed to work in security companies..
He said security guards who are carrying weapons have to have an agreement with the Sous Prefet where they would be controlled before entering into the profession.
The vice prosecutor further explained that right now there is a congestion with those providing security services since it is not only the gendarmes, territorial police or national police who are doing the job, but it is clear there are others involved in providing security services. Louvier said St. Martin has reached a situation where all persons in the field of security must come together so they can diversify their areas since crime is committed everywhere.
Heading the operations was Crespo Phillipe from the Groupe de Intervention Regional (GIR). Crespo came in from Guadeloupe to head the special operation which ended on Tuesday.
During these controls it was discovered that these security companies were arming their guards with weapons (pistols) gas and magnetic sticks, even handcuffs. Even though the companies are registered Louvier said they are not authorized to use the weapons found. Furthermore, the controllers also checked with the accountant for the businesses which showed that there were employees who were working illegally. The accountant he said would also have to appear in court since she was providing services to 33 businesses, most of which not transparent according to the laws.
He said the owners of the companies as well as the accountant on St. Martin were placed in garde de vue. They are all summoned to appear in court for the infractions committed Louvier said. It is clear these employers would receive some heavy fines Louvier said.
Crespo said there were employees that are not on contract and they are not paid according to the legal salary scales for such jobs. Some of them were even receiving cash payments for their services, the team of controllers explained.
The control did not only focus on finding weapons but they needed to see if the security companies are following procedures and guidelines. “While these companies can do what is necessary to be able to use firearm. With all the items seized he said it is necessary for the guards to have some sort of training which he said is available on the island.” The controllers also discovered the guards were using trained dogs on their location. He said this is a dangerous practice since these dogs can become very aggressive.
SMN News understands that one of the companies that were searched is located at the Parapel Hotel. The source said that the controllers found a number of persons working for the well known security company working under the dark. (Meaning several of the security guards were not declared) Also found at this company were most of the firearms the source said.
