Philipsburg:--- The discussion on the crime rate on St. Maarten that took place in a central committee meeting on Tuesday turned out to be more of a political warfare rather than finding solutions for the island's predicament. At the continuation of the meeting on Tuesday, National Alliance leader and Member of Parliament William Marlin lashed out at Minister of Justice Roland Duncan who made several excuses to Parliament on the crime situation rather than providing answers and solutions to the questions posed to him. Marlin said the coalition government provided a governing program almost one year after they took office which they called "A Foundation of Hope" but the current trend and cries of the people and police is far from providing hope. Marlin said the police indicated to parliament that serious crimes are on the rise and he felt that the police pleaded with their Minister on the floor of parliament to provide them with the necessary manpower and tools so that they can execute their duties. Marlin said the former Minister of Constitutional Affairs and now Minister of Justice is saying now that nothing was in place for justice and had he known beforehand that he was going to hold the Justice Ministry then he would have done more prior to 10/10/10.He further explained that the MOT is not functioning, however, he wants the Minister to inform parliament on exactly what the MOT is doing since the Minister said they were functioning. He asked the Minister to provide parliament with the amount of unusual transactions that was reported to the prosecutor's office by the MOT. He also asked for more information on the new police law that is not so friendly. After making his statements and condemning the current government and their governing program, Member of Parliament and member of the Democratic Party Roy Marlin lashed out at the National Alliance leader indicating to him that the Minister of Justice and former Minister of Constitutional Affairs was appointed by the National Alliance. Marlin chided the National Alliance for their attendance rate to the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles compared to their attendance rate on St. Maarten. Marlin said the foundation of hope did not begin two weeks ago but it started when they all made promises to the people of St. Maarten including the police.
Marlin also pleaded with the Minister of Justice to make some sort of agreement with the unions regarding the rent allowances for the police, as well as for their salary increases. He said what is done to the police is unfair since they all convinced the police to stay and work on St. Maarten. He asked the Minister to provide Parliament with the figures on how many requests was submitted in 2010 and 2011 for rent allowances and how many of the requests were honored before and after 10/10/10.
Member of Parliament Louie Laveist chided his colleague for playing politics and grandstanding in parliament. Laveist said some of his colleagues seem to be suffering from selective amnesia. He reminded the Democratic Party faction that they are the ones who said St. Maarten was ready for its new status while the National Alliance leader said that St. Maarten was far from being ready. Laveist said he is of the opinion that government should put off its large projects and pump money into the police department which is understaffed and lacks tools. Laveist said that the harbor is busy trying to invest in Tempo so that they can attract more people to St. Maarten yet they are not able to guarantee protection for their visitors. He cautions the Minister not to treat its police like a bunch of toy soldiers.
Member of Parliament Hyacinth Richardson said it was clear that the Minister of Justice was having a hard time getting the monies he wanted for his Ministry. He called on the Minister Duncan to do the honorable thing since he is an honorable man. "If your colleagues in the Council of Ministers do not want to give you the necessary funding to take care of the police I urge you to do the honorable thing and resign."