Philipsburg:--- Several reports has indicated that the former Minister of Justice David Dick as appointed Aruba’s Police Chief Peter de Witte as St. Maarten’s new police chief.
SMN News understands de Witte who hails from Holland has been having some problems in Aruba and he wants to leave that island. De Witte worked quite some years in the Caribbean islands including the Coast Guard of the Netherlands Antilles. De Witte left the Coast Guard in November 2006 to begin working as the appointed Chief of Police in Aruba.
When contacted on Thursday Dick said he never discussed the position with de Witte, he said he had intended to make the position available so that interested candidates can apply for the position which has been vacated by Chief Commissioner of Police Derrick Holiday almost two years ago. Asked how possible it is to open the position when Mr. Holiday’s case is still in the Supreme Court.
Dick said the Central Government is not obligated to wait until Holiday case is over, the former justice Minister made clear that the police force on St. Maarten could not continue the way it is and if he was still holding the position as Minister of Justice he would have made the position available for people to apply. Dick made clear that this was one of his recommendations to the new and incoming Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba. “The Central Government has enough in their files to renounce Mr. Holiday and that is exactly what will be done. No one person can hold back a police force.” Dick said.
SMN News further understands that several persons made contact with de Witte and they are making him other offers including the government of Aruba who also offered him another job.
The source said de Witte already indicated to Aruba that he is coming to St. Maarten to fill the vacancy of police Chief on St. Maarten, which means someone indicated to him that he would be the most likely candidate to fill the position and if he applied, the job will be given to him.
