Philipsburg:--- Leader of Government William Marlin told members of the media at the executive press briefing that he recently shared his concerns with the Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba on the process being used for the Brooks Tower Accord.
Marlin said the guidelines that are being used on St. Maarten are not clear and it is different from what is used in Curacao. He felt the program that is currently being used on Curacao is much more user friendly than the one that is used on St. Maarten. He said persons living on Curacao illegally for years do not have to go through the rigorous exercise of providing proof for each year. Marlin said he used several cases as example to the Minister in order to show the process is not compatible.
Marlin said there are persons who are living on St. Maarten for years and they have their passports to prove they have never left the island but these persons are asked to provide at least three proofs per year they have lived on the island illegally before their application for the Brooks Tower Permit is accepted.
He felt that the system and the requirements in place are utter nonsense and if the Brooks Tower is meant to help people to come out from their hiding places to regulate their status. He said with a process that is currently in place would send these people further into hiding.
Marlin said the process that is used on St. Maarten is not the same that is used in Curacao and he brought this matter up with the justice Minister who agreed with him and has promised to look at the matter.
Marlin said he has been meeting with the Minister of Justice on a weekly basis to monitor some of the processes. Reasons he gave for these meetings were that St. Maarten would soon be responsible for justice as well as the police.
Marlin said the recruitment drive for a police chief on St. Maarten has started and he informed the Minister that St. Maarten would also want to be part of the selection process. He said whoever is the candidate for the seat must also have the blessings of the Island government.
The island leader said even though this is a responsibility of the central government and the Minister of Justice very soon St. Maarten would be handling its own affairs and it would not be fair to leave the island out. Marlin said some five top police officers would soon be recruited to strengthen the police force. He said that so far four persons have been identified of which two would be selected for two different positions.
Marlin said that within short the two persons would be interviewed shortly, while the process continues to find the other three candidates.