Philipsburg: ----- Several police officers attended a meeting at the Philipsburg Community Centre yesterday as they sought answers from Richard Gibson who is dealing with justice related matters in the constitutional process. NAPB union member Norwin Villarreal in an interview with SMN News said that police officers had several questions pertaining to the structure of the police organization when St. Maarten achieves it country status. Villarreal said when the police met last week they made up a list of questions, some for the Minister of Justice David Dick who is expected here today, the Acting Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran as well as Gibson.
The union representative said that Gibson is the first of the three men who made himself available to answer questions that the officers have.
One of those questions Villarreal said is the officers wants to know if when St. Maarten takes over the competencies of the Central Government if they would eliminate their rent allowances. He said the officers needed to know exactly what are the plans when St. Maarten becomes country. Villarreal said it is only natural for the officers to have some fear and ask what they needed to know.
He said Gibson said in his opinion he does not believe these allowances would be taken away just like that since police officers were receiving these allowances for years now. However, "Country St. Maarten" is the one who would have to make clarity on this matter.
Villarreal said yesterday's meeting was more like a dialogue and of course Gibson has his own ideas on how he believes the police organization can be improved. Villarreal said the Dutch has in mind to add a special department in the police force called the HVP. He said this is like having a police department on top of the present department which eventually was taken off the table. He said they still have something that would be similar and this department would investigate specific cases.
The officers also want to know exactly how the structure of the police force will be in the future. They also made clear that when the force is being upgraded they too want to part of it since they believe local police officers must get an opportunity to upgrade themselves so that they can function better. These officers he said wants to be able to give proper service to the community as represent the organization.
Villarreal said he believes that his membership is somewhat more satisfied. He said he believes that more of these meetings must be held so that the officers can at least be part of the process.
Villarreal said they are seeking to have a meeting with the Minister of Justice when he comes to St. Maarten since they do need answers to their concerns.
Reshuffling of Officers.
The NAPB member said they also need to meet with the police management where they would be posing some direct questions to Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran. Villarreal said right now there are a lot of rumours concerning the reshuffling of several officers but none of this has been discussed with the Union. He said the Union is hoping to ask Doran these questions in their very next meeting so that they can be on the same page as the police management.
Villarreal said he could not confirm neither deny if there would be any reshuffling but he too like everyone else is hearing the same thing and this he said has to be discussed. He said as a union they are very concerned about these developments and they intend to quiz Doran and other members of the police management on the matter.
One of the persons that are on the list that might be reshuffled SMN News understands is Head of Immigration at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Sources within the department said that Juliet and Doran has been in discussions since the Assistant Chief wants to remove him from the airport based on rumours. This matter it is said was discussed with the Island's Chief of Police.
