PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson confirmed to SMN News that the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands have been delaying and or refusing to grant St. Maarten necessary assistance for the Landsrecherche (National Detectives) that is lacking in manpower to investigate cases that have been pending for years. When asked if he is satisfied with the functioning of the Prosecutor's Office and the Attorney General of St. Maarten that have cases as long as four years to investigate and prosecute and to date nothing has happened. One example is the case filed against former Minister Maria Buncamper Molanus who sold the economic rights of government lease land for three million dollars. When the scandal broke Buncamper Molanus who was the Minister of Health and Labor was forced to resign to escape a motion of non-confidence.
On Monday the former Minister who is now a candidate on the United Peoples Party slate approached the courts to ask the judge to force the prosecution to say whether or not they have a case against her since she and her family have been waiting for the past four years on the Prosecutor's Office. SMN News learnt that the judge of instruction Tamara Thyhuis will render her decision sometime next week.
In reacting to that situation Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson said the long delays are caused by two things, one he said that the department (Landsrecherche) is short of staff. Secondly, the Prosecutor's Office was also short but that they managed to upgrade, however, they still need more people as support staff. He said when St. Maarten became a country there were no national detectives on St. Maarten in 2010. "St. Maarten started with nothing, the goal is to get 20 officers for that department, now there are nine but there is an urgent need to increase that amount to 15 so that the backlog can be cleared up."
Minister Richardson said that the National Detectives needs 20 persons so they can function properly, right now they only have nine. Furthermore, he requested from the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands more manpower for this particular justice department almost a year ago. "I asked for four people from the National Detective Unit of the Netherlands so that they can assist with the cases that are stacked up on St. Maarten. This has been a disappointing process because to date St. Maarten cannot get the extra manpower we need. He said promises were made if St. Maarten decides to appoint these same detectives to the detective department of KPSM in order for them to work in both departments, St. Maarten would also have to pay the officers if and when they are granted." Minister Richardson said because of the budget constraints St. Maarten is facing it is impossible for St. Maarten to take on additional expenses. "Furthermore, what sense would it make to pay the same officers twice? I think it would be better for us to look for seasoned cops elsewhere and pay them one salary."
Minister Richardson said when he met with the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands in Curacao recently he explained him the situation much more clearly and he believes the Minister understands better what St. Maarten needs which is seasoned officers that can work on the cases that are on the table immediately. He further explained that he believes now that the Minister of Justice and Security wants to help St. Maarten but the organization behind him is hindering the process.
Richardson said what is happening right now is simply not fair because St. Maarten is a small community and people are lying under suspicion way too long while St. Maarten is being of accused of not wanting to do certain things. He said whenever the Netherlands asks St. Maarten for assistance it's given right away but when it comes to them giving assistance to St. Maarten letters have to be written back and forth even though they have a much bigger organization than St. Maarten.
