Philipsburg: --- Front and Back Street was like a ghost town this morning (Thursday) when all stores operated by Indians closed their doors in protest of the spate of violence on St. Maarten. Speaking to members of the media Damu Ratwani and the president of the Indian Association said they need to send a clear message to authorities that enough is enough when it comes to crime and violence.
The silent protest action was taken on both sides of the island. A march is planned for tomorrow (Friday) for the French side since Dayalani was the president of the IMA (French).
All businesses on the French side must close their doors from 8 am to 6 pm. The march is scheduled to start at 10 am. All businesses from the Dutch side are also called to participate in the march dressed in white. Friday is declared "le vile mort" said the merchants association on the French side.
The merchants gathered in front of the Government Administration Building as they protest the brutal killing of Haresh Dayal Dayalani aka Danny who was shot at point blank range at his Cole Bay home, that same evening another family of the Indian community was attacked in Bel Air leaving some 12 employees of Le Grand Marche hospitalized.
Commissioner of Economic Affairs Maria Buncamper Molanus came down and personally sympathized with the IMA for the lost of Dayalani. Ratwani told Buncamper Molanus that they are working hard in this community and they can no longer go to their homes. He said the IMA feels obligated to share their concerns with authorities since they are a part of the community. "We have naturalized ourselves here and so we need to let you know that enough is enough regarding crime. 
This should not be viewed as the concerns of the IMA but it should be seen as a community problem." Ratwani said that they have gotten lots of empty promises and they do understand the constitution of the Netherlands Antilles but the time has come for them to stand up and say enough is enough. Ratwani said those that are elected know the laws of the land and they are in government and the elected are the ones who have to make sure there is safety and security. Ratwani said they are willing to provide what is necessary to bring forward a change in St. Maarten.
He said those elected must sit down and tell them what is needed to safeguard the island. Ratwani further explained that they also know that education begins in the schools and that the IMA are ready and willing to give the necessary support to government. The IMA also presented a letter to the Lt. Governor informing him of their concerns.
Buncamper Molanus told the gathering she is pleased with the manner in which the IMA and its members brought forward their concerns.
She said she fully understands their pain and that their concerns are that of St. Maarten and not just the Indian community. She said everyone on St. Maarten should be able to feel safe and should be able to walk the streets. Buncamper Molanus also shared the views of the IMA when they said they understood the limitations of the local government based on the constitution. However, she made clear it would take money for changes to take place.
The commissioner said based on experience the island has already seen when they paid for police assistance to come from Curacao crime would decrease. She said based on this fact she believes sitting down with the IMA would bring about some solutions as to putting more men in blue on the streets. She also promised to pass on the message they have given her to the executive council as well as with the Lt. Governor.
In addition, in solidarity with the IMA was Hen Ling Soon, he said a community has been established to sort out information.
Soon said the action yesterday should not be seen as an "Indian Action" but it is everybody's business. Soon a businessman and former cop said they plan to put in place a website where people from the community can become involved by sending in pictures and other information relating to crime and violence. Soon said that crime is everybody's business and not only that of law enforcement, he said the media and everyone else need to do more if they are to combat crime. He said more needs to be done at home to make sure those families do not breed criminals. 
Also part of the protest is the Arab community and the Philippines community. Nassio Castawi spoke on behalf of the Arab community. He said they join the actions because they strongly believe that everyone has to come together to fight crime. He said what happened to the Indians today can happen to happen to anyone tomorrow. He said the actions are for the entire St. Maarten and they do not intend to sit with their mouths shut any longer. Castawi said it is important for government to come forward and sit around the table to find solutions before talking about what the IMA or the business community should provide.
Amy founder of the Philipino Association said crime effects everyone and their children and people should not sit back and relax instead they need to do something to stop the crime wave.
Elridge Van Putten who was also at the scene also expressed his sympathy to the IMA but he believed that the IMA should consider the economic impact their actions would have on the island and that they should go back to work on Friday.
Van Putten called on the local community not to allow the actions taken by the IMA to become a confrontation between the locals and the Indians. He said crime is affecting everyone on St. Maarten. He urged the business community to understand that several young persons on St. Maarten have been killed; most of them were involved in heinous crimes. He also commended the IMA for the stand they are taking but they should not provoke the situation. Kamal Goklani said they closed their business as part of their culture when anyone close to them are being killed or died.
Participating in the protest was Secretary of the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association Clyde Hook who said that he believed that attention must be given to the IMA since if that doesn't happen everyone will suffer. Asked if believed this action should be about money and business or crime, Hook said safety comes first and then business, but they too have asked government to do something about crime. Hook said it has been sometime now the island government has been speaking about installing cameras but to date nothing has been done. He felt that this is about everybody's livelihood.
LOCALS Disagree ---
The protest by the IMA certainly did not sit well with several local persons who came to see what was happening. Several persons in the community have also voiced their opinions on radio shows as well as on the internet condemning the actions taken by the IMA. 
Glen Romney made his point clear to several of the Indians who protested. He said he is totally against the action taken by IMA. Romney said in his opinion the IMA is sending a one sided message by the way they took actions. Romney said when the Chinese or a black person is killed no action is taken by the IMA. Furthermore, he wants to know if the IMA is fighting back against crime or are they fighting back because an Indian was killed, Romney said had the IMA included every cross section of the community then they would have been in solidarity with the action. He said, "United we Stand divided we Fall" if everyone had come together then government would have seen the seriousness and done something about crime. He said right now St. Maarten is divided and that is not sending the right message. He felt that everyone should put his or her forces together because no one nation can have full affect. He said crime does not discriminate. Romney said that people should not act on their impulses instead they should have some sort of organization when planning to take action.
Leo Friday said he is not in support of the actions taken by the IMA since if someone from the Indian community was not killed or hurt then no actions would have been taken. Friday said the last time the Indians demonstrated was when the son of Boolchands was killed and now that Dayalani is killed they protest. He said several persons in the community have been killed in the past and at no time the IMA stood up. Friday said the only reason the IMA is protesting is because they are being affected directly. "This is not about St. Maarten but it's about the Indians who are in control of the economy."
Taffari Hodge an employee said that enough is enough when it comes to crime. He said in the past it was bang bang and they steal jewelry but now they these bandits are taking lives. Hodge said the crime situation on St. Maarten is overbearing. He said everyday the bucket goes to well and one day the bottom would fell out. He said that right now he believes the bottom of the bucket fell out and that is why they IMA are taken this type of action. He said the island government should come forward as well as the community to fight crime.
