Philipsburg: --- Undocumented persons have up until today (December 15) to submit their documents for the Brooks Tower Permit. Even though the process began since November 3, scores of people were seen standing in line from the early hours of Monday morning to submit their documents.
Many of them braving the hot sun with umbrellas as they wait for the offices to open. SMN News learnt that some of the undocumented even slept outside of the Immigration and Naturalization building on Sunday night to make sure they get a number on Monday.
Speaking to SMN News on the condition of anonymity several of the undocumented immigrants said they went to submit their applications on several occasions and they simply could not get a number. One of the undocumented said security guards working at the location were asking huge sums of monies for a number and she was approached by a security guard who told her if she wanted a number she must pay $500. The woman said she has been going to submit her documents for the past week and on Monday morning; she reached the location at 2 am. The woman said she spent all day Saturday and did not get through. "The rain fell and wet us out here on Saturday then the sun came and dried us and we still did not get in. Now today Monday I am here since 2am and now its 5pm and they said no more numbers are available." Several of the undocumented has decided to place posters some of them standing at the side of the road with the posters saying more time is needed.
When Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba launched the BTA process she said "Lets do it Right" and that they would be seeking to serve at least 100 persons per day. It was disclosed that St. Maarten has over 40,000 illegal or undocumented immigrants living on the island. If our calculation is correct the Minister would need 400 days to attend to the 40,000 persons if they all showed up, after all she said "lets do it right". However, the Minister only gave herself six weeks to finalize this project.
On Monday evening, the Zero Tolerance and the VKS were on hand to bring order to the confusion at the Immigration and Naturalization Building. 
There were scores of people lining up to pay Naf.1, 600 ($900) for the processing of the category two permits. Several of them were forced to leave not being able to make their payments. Police were forced to use force to restrain some of the immigrants who were pushing their way in to obtain a number to no avail.
In an invited comment, Tiara Hasselhoef said the BTA project that was launched by the Minister for the past six weeks is not a right the undocumented could claim. Hasselhoef said the Minister wanted to give all undocumented persons living in the Netherlands Antilles and opportunity to regulate their status. Hasselhoef explained that the people had enough time to register because several days they did not have people to attend to. "These people waited until the last moment and we cannot continue to see them, this process has a date on which it has to end. Furthermore, persons who are trying to submit their documents for the first time can do so on December 15, as the day would be reserved for persons who did not get a chance to submit their documents. Hasselhoef also gave out some 125 numbers on Monday night to persons who would still get a chance on December 16; numbers were also given out to persons that were there for the second and third time. Asked about the alleged fleecing that is taking place by security guards Hasselhoef said they also heard about that security guards were asking for monies but no one was able to give them actual evidence on these allegations. "Unless we get evidence we cannot act." The justice department does not act on hearsay." Hasselhoef said.
In an invited comment, Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba made clear that she would not be extending the time for the BTA process.
Jacoba said everyone was given a fair opportunity since November 3 and those who did not make use of the opportunity just lost their chance at regulating their status. She said those persons who were lacking documents would be given one week after December 15 to submit those documents. After that period is over the Minister said no other documents would be accepted. She said the entire process for the BTA would end on February 28.
In the meantime, questions are being raised as to how government as well and the Justice Minister would act against employers who are caught with undocumented workers. Some said that for a long time employers were getting away with murder since they never face serious repercussions for having people working illegally. They said that over the year's immigration was focusing on the immigrant whose status was not in place and deport them even though they are working for legitimate companies.
These employers would deduct SVB and taxes from the undocumented workers and never turn it over to the relevant parties. "Companies caught doing so are committing fraud and the police and prosecutor needs to apply the law that is mandated against fraud and the abuse of the labor laws" said one concerned resident.
"Right now everyone thinks the only way to regulate the undocumented is through the BTA process. People have to know that employers can apply for their employee's documents through the regular system and get them regulated."
In the meantime, executive council has sent a letter to the Minister of Justice asking that she extend the time for the BTA process. SMN News has been reliably informed that the executive council asked the Minister to stick to her mathematics if she is going to the do the BTA right.
Lt. Governor of St. Maarten Franklyn Richards told SMN News that just last week he spoke to the Minister regarding the extension of the BTA process and the Minister assured him she would not extend the time since that would grossly increase the cost of the Brooks Towers Accord process. Richards said the cost of the six week project is covered under the Safety Plan of the Netherlands Antilles. Richards said if the island government wants her to extend the process then the cost would have to be covered by the islands that want to continue the project.
