Philipsburg: ---- Reliable information reaching SMN News indicates that the former Minister of Justice David Dick has misled the council of ministers when he arranged to have at least two senior officers of the police force upgraded to scales that were not vacant. The source said that Dick arranged for the now Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran to move up from scale 15 to 16 retroactive to 2007.
According to research conducted by SMN News it is said the former Chief Commissioner of Police Derrick Holiday was scale 17 and his assistant chief commissioner Richard Paneflek was scale 16. It is understood that for this to happen Dick had to upgrade Panneflek so that the scale 16 can become vacant.
SMN News understands that if Dick upgraded Doran illegally he can be held responsible for committing a criminal act based on the penal code. It is also understood that the former Minister also see to it that Daphne Francissca was also upgraded from scale 12 to 14, retroactive to 2007, a position that is held only by commissioners of police who have to hold their positions for at least five years. These upgrades the source said took place prior to the Minister leaving his office.
While the above was done for two members of the management team, the source said Dick did not do the same for Hildo Martina who is now part of management. It is understood that Martina was only upgraded from June this year. Another issue raised is the amount of monies that is paid to the coach Ronald Dongor whom they said is paid to do nothing.
SMN News understands that several officers within the police force have expressed their concerns with the fact that the coach was given a brand new vehicle, which his spouse is using as her personal vehicle. This they said is against the law and should be investigated since several of the officers are quite unhappy with the current management team.
Just last week detective Carlton Phillips wrote a letter expressing his concerns with the irregularities within the management team of the police force. Phillips has called for an investigation into the alleged wrong doings that are committed by these senior cops. He said members of the management team have been enriching themselves and an audit should be conducted on the police finances. It is also understood that the police union in Curacao is in cahoots with the Justice Ministry. SMN News learnt that the board of the NABP met with the new minister of justice on Friday to discuss matters but police on St. Maarten is not aware of the agenda points. The source said the members on St. Maarten have been trying to reach the union and to up press time they were unsuccessful. SMN News also understands that Phillips had sent his concerns to the Union whom they said failed to back him in his fight against injustices.
Addressing the publication of the letter on Monday Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran said the management team of KPSSS has taken note of the letter, which was published, in the newspapers and on internet sites. He said management believes that matter is of a personal and internal nature. Due to that, they would not comment on the issue. Doran said the accusations that were launched would be investigated. However, he did not say if this investigation would be handled by Federal Detectives. The Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police said that generally they work hard to constantly improve the quality of KPSSS. It is the ambitions of the management team to always appoint the most suitable candidate within the corps when a vacancy is available.
Further, a candidate that is not appointed may object to the rejection of his candidacy. This internal procedure is finally decided upon by the Court that deals with cases for civil servants. In this particular case, the colleague did not file an internal appeal. Doran did not address the issue of the allegations made against Phillips and when that would be investigated and by whom.
In an invited comment, Prosecutor Rienk Mud said Phillips has requested an investigation to clear his name. He said that while the matter has been forwarded to the Federal Detectives, the investigation did not start due to the lack of detectives in that department.
