PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prosecutor's Office in conjunction with KPSM will implement a new and stricter policy for this carnival season which kicks off on Saturday.
Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that persons who misbehave and are arrested by police for crimes committed during the carnival season will have an opportunity to pay a fine immediately at the Police Station or they will be indicted and prosecuted on June 3rd 2015 if they chose not to pay the fines.
Maan said he hopes that the new and stricter policy will serve as a deterrent this carnival season. He made clear that the policy applies to everyone including visitors to the island and persons that are under the influence of alcohol. The fines he said range from Naf. 100 to Naf.600 which must be paid immediately. Maan stressed that persons who do not comply to the orders given by police can also be arrested and be fined or face prosecution on June 3rd 2015. Persons who are caught fighting could be fined Naf. 100 but those that ill-treat another person would have to dig deeper into their pockets and pay as much as Naf. 600. Persons that commits worst crimes and carry weapons will be arrested until they are prosecuted.
Head of the traffic department Benjamin Gout told reporters that the policy that KPSM in conjunction with the prosecutor's office chose to implement this year was used both in Curacao and Aruba and it showed very positive results therefore KPSM chose to adopt the policy in order to make the carnival season much safer.
Gout said that this Saturday the first Carnival jump up will be held in Simpson Bay starting from Kimsha Beach to the Causeway and back. He urged road users to monitor the news because there will be several road closers that will affect the traffic. The first road closer will be at Billy Folly Road (entrance to Pelican) at 7:30pm by 8pm the Airport Boulevard in the direction of Simpson Bay leading up to the round-a-bout. At 8:25 the east side of the round will then be closed to allow the three troupes that will be participating in the Causeway Jump up to get on the causeway. Gout said that each of the closers will last about 40 minutes or less. At 9pm Union Road will be closed to traffic going towards the Causeway (drivers coming from the French side should pay close attention to this road closer). When the revelers cross over the Causeway then police will close off Well Road at 9:40pm while Orange Grove Road will be closed at 9:45pm. Then old Cake house road will also be closed at 10:10pm at 10:30 the Cole Bay Round a- bout will be closed at 11pm. The Billy Folly Road will be closed for the second time that evening at 11:40pm along with the round-a-bout by the Airport Boulevard. Gout said that the time span for these road closers might be shorter because police tried their best to make a much better calculation than last year, however, this depends on how quickly the troupes move. All roads should be open and free by midnight. However, revellers will have an after party at the Soggy Dollar Bar.
GENERAL POLICE ORDINANCE
1. Not following commands by a police officer (art. 3)
NAFLS 100,-/$56,-
2. Disturbing the parade (Art. 4)
NAFLS 100,-/$56,-
3. Fighting in public (Not ill-treatment art. 24)
NAFLS 100,-/$56,-
4. Removing, replacing or taking down of a police barricade (art. 24)
NAFLS 100,-/$56,-
5. Throwing of bottles (art. 25)
NAFLS 100,-/$56,-
WEAPON ORDINANCE
6. In the possession of a weapon (not a fire-arm) or an object to be used as such.
NAFLS 500,-/283,-
PENAL CODE
7. Resisting arrest (art. 186)
NAFLS. 300,-/$169,-
8. Not adhering to an order given by a police officer (art.190)
NAFLS. 500,-/$283,-
9. Insulting an officer on duty (art. 278 jo. Art 279)
NAFLS. 300,-/$169,-
10. Verbal threat (not group/gang related) (art. 298)
NAFLS. 500,-/$283,-
11. Ill-treatment (art.313)
NAFLS. 600,-/$339,-
12. Destruction of property (art.366)
NAFLS. 300,-/$226,-
OPIUM ORDINANCE (DRUG LAW)
13. Possession of Cocaine up to 03 grams
NAFLS. 300,-/$196,-
14. Possession of Cocaine more than 03 grams, but less or equivalent to 05 grams.
NAFLS. 500,-/$283,-
15. Possession of Marihuana 05 to 20 grams
NAFLS. 250,-/$141,-
16. Possession of Marihuana more that 20 grams, but less or equal to 30 grams
NAFLS. 500,-/$283,-
17. Possession of 06 to 10 Xtc-pills
NAFLS. 500,-/$283,-
