Philipsburg: --- The new Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba, who visited St. Maarten on her first official visit on Monday, was confronted with a group of disgruntled police officers. Jacoba arrived on the island just after midday with her delegation and former Minister of Justice David Dick. On her first official visit she was supposed to meet with the management team of the police force but several officers of the police force captured the new minister’s attention the moment she stepped foot on St. Maarten. After a brief meeting with the island’s chief of police and was updated on the situation regarding the police Jacoba decided to meet with the officers briefly where a list of their grievances was presented to her prior to meeting with the management team of the police force.
She immediately met with the management team who also briefed her on the management of the Police Force. The minister then entered into another meeting with the police officers and their union representatives who itemized their grievances. ABVO representative Mr. Josepha said they were not happy with how the meeting ended because the Minister needed time to study their case, since only recently she took office. He said the police on St. Maarten are constantly asked to wait and no one wants to take their concerns into consideration, as such, they plan to continue their protest action on Tuesday. Josepha made clear that even though they are protesting safety and security on St. Maarten is under control.
In an invited comment, the Minister of Justice said she asked the police to give her a fair chance since she only took office a week ago and this is her first visit to St. Maarten. She said the police are asking for fair treatment and she believes that they should also give her a fair chance. Jacoba said she intends to look in the matter and decide what has to be dealt with as she intends to pick up where from where the former Minister left off. Asked if she felt the St. Maarten Police Force has been neglected by the Central Government.” With all that, I am told that is going on within the police force I do not think they have been neglected. I believe the officers just need to exercise patience.” Minister Jacoba said she believes that the police have to also exercise some patience since they have been waiting according to them a long time and few more days would not change anything. The Minister is scheduled to leave St. Maarten on Wednesday where she would be visiting Saba and Statia on Thursday. She is to return to Curacao on Friday.
Several police officers from the police force KPSSS walked out of the police station as they stage a protest against what they described as unfair treatment. The walk out took place on Monday the same day the new Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba arrived on the island.
The protest was led by Officer Giovanni Sprott and union representative from the ABVO Mr. Josepha. Sprott in a short statement to reporters said they gathered in front of the Government Administration Building because the police on St. Maarten are faced with some grievances over the last years. Sprott said while the Central Government has been providing Curacao, Bonaire and the other islands with their needs St. Maarten had been neglected. He said the sergeants in the police force are the ones who decided to protest because officers of the same rank were promoted to either major or inspectors while those on St. Maarten did not see or hear anything about their promotion, which has been pending for a number of years. He said the officers on St. Maarten are not even getting the opportunity to upgrade themselves with the training courses that are being provided, while they are now faced with a situation where officers from other islands are coming to St. Maarten with these higher ranks.
The veteran police officer who is no stranger to prosecution said the officers believe that other people are now reaping the benefit from their hard labour, which is no longer acceptable. Sprott said they submitted a document to the management team of the police force, the NAPB, and the Chief of Police Franklyn Richards.
The police are also calling on their elected officials especially the executive council to look into their grievances especially since they are soon to be going into a new status.
The officers felt that even though they have a number of years in service they are forgotten by the Central Government and this would no longer be accepted at least by the St. Maarten Police Force.
Also addressing reporters was ABVO representative Officer Josepha who also participated in the walk out. Josepha said he personally participated in number of meetings regarding their promotion and felt those responsible have taken them for granted. He said even though they are protesting the police are still on duty since they do not intend to sacrifice the community. Josepha said all three unions, the NAPB, the ABVO, and the WICSU were informed of their plans, but somehow the WICSU did not show up to represent the police. Good to note is the vice president of the Windward Island Civil Servant Union Lourdes Lake is part of the management team of the police force. Asked about this issue, which is clearly a conflict of interest, Josepha said the unions already discussed the matter with the WICSU president, however, he said the matter is internal and they intend to further discuss it.
NAPB representative Norwin Villarreal joined the officers shortly after the walk out where he was briefed. The NAPB representative quickly took over and went to deliver a letter, which was prepared for the Chief of Police he also participated in the meetings with the Minister.
Chief of Police Franklyn Richards who also participated in the short meeting said they did not expect the police to react in such a way since he was not informed prior to the Minister’s arrival. Richards acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter, which was sent to the acting chief police commissioner Ademar Doran.