Philipsburg: -- Attorney at law Reynold Groeneveldt has sent a letter to the police management informing them that he has been retained by detective Carlton Philips who went public regarding the issues of the police management team. In the letter, which will be published in its entirety, Groeneveldt is asking the police management team to install a committee to investigate the claims made by Philips. Groeneveldt is also asking for an investigation into the allegations management of the police force KPSSS made against Philips some seven years ago where they said he destroyed evidence while working for the CID.
Groeneveldt also wants an investigation into the procedures that was used and an investigation to be carried out to determine if the process and procedures that were followed to the application for the position of the Head CID were executed in
accordance, with the applicable laws and the regulations.
Philips who is presently on vacation wrote two letters after months of waiting on the management team to conduct an investigation to clear his name. The officer also alleges that management of the police force was enriching themselves, while victimizing others that are working in the force for years.
Below is the letter sent to the police management team.
To. The Management of the Police Force
Of St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius,
Attn of the acting Police Commissioner
Mr. A.P. Doran and the Minister of Justice,
Police Station, Philipsburg
St.Maarten N.A.
Cole Bay, September 23rd , 2009
Re: Inspector C.C. Philips,
Dear Mr. Doran,
I herewith inform you that I have been retained by Inspector C.C. Philips to assist him
with legal advice and represent him in the ongoing matter with the Management of the
Police Force, section Windward Islands. I herewith refer to your letter of September 16th, 2009 that was hand delivered to Mr. Philips and wish to inform you as follows:
The important issue is not whether Mr. Philips can provide you with evidence of his
claims, but rather if these claims are factual or not. It is of paramount importance that an investigation is carried out to determine if the process and procedures that were followed pertaining to his application for the position of the Head CID were executed in accordance with the applicable laws and the regulations. It is furthermore absolutely
necessary to establish if indeed any such allegation against him was brought forward that he destroyed criminal evidence while working at the CID. We have taken note of the intention of the Police management to conduct an investigation into this matter as well as the claims made amongst others by my client and we applaud such a decision.
However taking the seriousness of the claims into consideration and the need for the
community to be able to have full confidence in the Police organization we do not believe that it is appropriate or desirable for the Police organization to conduct an investigation pertaining to it self and its functioning. It goes without saying that the Police must also adhere to the Principles of Good Governance in preparing and taking their decisions.
We therefore strongly recommend and insist that an independent Team be established by the Minister of Justice to conduct these investigations in accordance with the following:
The Investigating team should consist of professionals with a vast knowledge of
police matters and or judicial affairs; The candidates should be selected from Aruba Curacao and or the Netherlands; The members of the team should not be active members of the Police Force; The team should be established by Federal Decree;
The team should be vested with the authority to amongst other: a) demand and obtain all relevant information and documents, b) make copies of all the relevant documents pertaining to the matters being investigated, c) summon and hear persons or witnesses under oath, d) assign others to assist them with the investigation,
e) do whatever is necessary in order to conduct a thorough investigation and
produce a factual and legally substantiated Investigation Report.
The Report and its findings shall be made public.
Any investigation executed or any report that is produced and does not meet the above
mentioned criteria or cannot be published shall be considered not in accordance with the Principles of Openness in Government and also not in conformance with the Principles of Good Governance. Finally I wish to impress upon you that this is a matter of national interest, therefore the vague principle of national security can not be used to mitigate or limit the scope of the investigation and the publication of the findings of the report. I trust that I have informed you adequately herewith and remain.
Yours sincerely,
Reynold Groenveldt