Philipsburg:--- The St. Maarten Police Force and the entire justice chain lost a top cop, when detective Anthony Chiki Elizabeth passed away last week, said St. Maarten's Judge of Instruction Wally Haverthong. Haverthong made the statements during the home going ceremony on Wednesday. He said he worked on a number of high profile cases with the late Chiki and he was one of those officers who was always thorough and to the point with his reports.Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte said he knew Chiki long before he took office on St. Maarten. Chiki, he said, was a dedicated worker and one who was always willing to serve. De Witte said Chiki has worked on several high profile cases, and he has even worked with the RST. Chiki began his career as a rookie officer but he quickly moved up the ladder as a Major. De Witte said anyone in the police force could have called on Chiki and he was one of those officers that was always willing to assist. "He showed interest in every case, even if he was not assigned to certain cases," De Witte said. De Witte said since the passing of Chiki who died in a road accident last week, his colleagues are still struggling to cope with their loss. The top cop said when the officers responded to the scene of the accident on September 8th and they saw it was one of their own it created a very sad atmosphere.
Chiki's sudden passing brought tears to the eyes of his colleagues, even those at the Prosecutor's Office that worked with him cried openly on Wednesday.
His mentor and colleague Carlyle Rogers described him, as a swift young man who did his best to excel, Rogers said Chiki came straight to St. Maarten when he finished the Police Academy in Curacao and ever since then he took all the courses that was available to him to become one of St. Maarten's best police officers. Chiki he said showed dedication from the very first day he arrived on St. Maarten. Despite being small in size, he was a man of courage with a huge heart.
Minister of Justice Roland Duncan said some 20 years ago Chiki almost arrested him and it was only when he reached the police station things were arranged. At the time Duncan was a young lawyer. He said Chiki showed courage when exercising his duties as an officer of the law.
Minister Duncan said he is extremely hurt at the passing of Chiki because he was an officer that had potential, one who chose to remain on St. Maarten when the Netherlands Antilles dismantled.
The Memorial Service organized by the KPSM was one for a hero. Chiki, a spotless officer of the law had the police pall bearers marching behind the Emerald Funeral Home hearse through Front Street as they prepare for the Memorial Service. The KPSM made sure they gave Chiki a hero's funeral on Wednesday since the fallen officer served St. Maarten to best of his ability. The blue casket bearing his body was draped in St. Maarten's flag since Chiki made St. Maarten his home from 1989. His colleagues and friends stood guard as his body was taken in and out of the Catholic Church.
Many of his colleagues could hardly hold themselves up when they saw the flag draped casket arriving and leaving the St. Maarten Tours of Roman Catholic Church. Some of them wept, while others were seen consoling each other. His companion and two children wept openly throughout the service.
Attending the Memorial Service were the Council of Ministers, namely Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams, Deputy Prime Minister Theodore Heyliger, Minister Roland Duncan, Minister Franklin Meyers, Minister Cornelius De Weever and Minister Rhoda Arrindell. Representing the Parliament of St. Maarten was the President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell, Johan Janchi Leonard also a former colleague of Chiki, Sylvia Meyers, and George Pantophlet. Among the mourners were several prison guards and ambulance personnel.
Representatives from the French side of the island include the Commandant of the Gendarmerie Stephen Brunet and the Director of the Police Territorial Flavien Basile.
Representing the Justice chain were Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos, Ludmilla Hodge, Manon Ridderbecks, Barth den Hartigh and several judges and staff from the Court of First Instance. After the Memorial Service, the body of Chiki Elizabeth was taken to the Philipsburg Police Station. His photograph was presented to his brother who then hanged it on the wall of the fallen servicemen of the law, all of which was done in the presence of the Council of Ministers and Chief of Police Peter de Witte. Photographs of Chiki were also presented to his two minor children. Also paying tribute to Chiki were bikers and several residents and friends of fallen officer. Several persons were seen throughout Front Street and around the Philipsburg Police Station when the body was taken there.
Click here to view photos of the Memorial Ceremony of the late Anthony Chiki Elizabeth 1.
Click here to view photos of the Memorial Ceremony of the late Anthony Chiki Elizabeth 2.
Click here to view photos of the Memorial Ceremony of the late Anthony Chiki Elizabeth 3.
The late officer Elizabeth also worked on the island of Saba and many on Saba also felt the loss of this great hero. He served the communites of St. Maarten and Saba well. He is gone but he will surely be missed. Rest in peace Chiki and until we meet again on that bright other side.