PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson who took office some three weeks ago told SMN News in an exclusive interview that since he took office he initiated an investigation into the Justice Park project in order for him to form his own opinion on the project. Minister Richardson said that investigation would include the structural and financial aspects of the project. "I already started talking to the people involved and I will form my own opinion when the time comes. I just took office and I need to deal with a lot of issues such as having a youth detention facility."
Richardson further explained that the Wescot-Williams II Cabinet had taken a decision on the project, they decided that the project was not feasible at this time, combined with that decision is the advice of the CFT who also submitted a negative report on the Justice Park. SMN News reporter asked the Minister if he would even consider the building that SZV was planning to rent or purchase for their offices but later found out that it did not meet earthquake standards for this region. "Definitely that will be one of the points of discussion because I know better and when I was heading the SZV I did not take a risk. I am the same person with the same attitude and my position on that remains the same. My position back then was that the developer (owner) of the building would have had to upgrade the building at their cost or lower the price of the building in order for SZV to do the upgrades. It is at that point Orista N.V. backed out because they did not agree with my conditions. Today as Minister of Justice I have more responsibilities so definitely I will take the safety and security of people into consideration."
Minister Richardson said that the former and present Government believes that some of the facilities in the Justice Project are of utmost need on St. Maarten. However, he refused to entertain questions on who the negotiators are and if there is any semblance of conflict of interest.
When he was asked how he plans to resolve the issues within the Ministry of Justice, the Minister said that he certainly does not have a magic wand to solve all the problems but he definitely would have to take a decision on the limited prison cells because the prison has to be repaired while he also would have to find a solution for youth detention. He said if there are people with suggestions he will welcome those suggestions in order to solve the problems.
Cases are stacked up at the Landsrecherche --- Ministers cannot intervene in individual cases.
SMN News reporter asked the new Minister of Justice how he intends to deal with the Attorney General on the amount of cases that are stacked up at the Landsrecherche for over three years now. Those cases are the Election Fraud case, the Piranha investigation, the case that involves Regina Labega, the case on former Minister Maria Buncamper-Molanus, and the ORCA investigation. The Minister said that it's not fair to say that these officers are not doing anything but instead the people are not hearing anything. He said the law is very specific where Ministers cannot interfere in cases that are being investigated. Minister Richardson further stated that the Public Prosecutor has to get a certain amount of proof in order to prosecute and if that is not the case the person or persons name should be cleared. He said the law has limitations and that is something that has to be respected. Minister Richardson said he believes that one of the problems in the Landsrecherche is the lack of capacity or lack of evidence for the Prosecutor's Office to prosecute. He said that it is a point of attention which he will confront the Attorney General on.
Labour and Immigration Controls have to take place.
The Minister of Justice said in his view all persons are equal in the eyes of the law and as long as he is at the helm of the Justice Ministry controls will have to take place. He said no one despite their position in society should or will be spared if they break the law. He said there are various people within the Ministry that has to do their work. He said he cannot envision that the Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs has to send him an instruction on how or how not to perform his duties.
Richardson said he does not even know if the controls are taking place but now that the matter is brought to his attention someone will have to explain to him why it's not happening.
Another issue the Minister of Justice said he intends to work on is the issuance of certificates of good conduct that are taking months to process. The Minister said he is aware that these certificates take a long time and he would have to find a way to make this period shorter.
Country Constitution Evaluation to take place in 2015 --- RST and Coast Guard have to Deliver.
Just days after the Minister of Justice was sworn in, the Minister traveled to Aruba to participate in the tripartite meeting which involved the Ministers of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten. One of the points of discussion was the performance of the Coast Guard and the RST that are working as a separate entity from the Police.
The Ministers from the other countries have said that they will not renew the agreement for the Coast Guards and the RST but Minister Richardson that the problem they have is that the Coast Guard has to deliver what is expected of them. "We just cannot get rid of the Coast Guard because they are regulated in the Kingdom Law, there are criticisms on how things are done and that has to be regulated. If we are to get rid of them then we need to change the law, but all of that can happen in 2015 when St. Maarten's status will be evaluated. All these entities will be evaluated in 2015 and at that time changes can be made to the Kingdom Regulations. It is not an issue of getting rid of any entity but its more about performance. Aruba's stance is that everyone should get what they are paying for." As for the RST, the Minister said that the RST cannot function as a separate entity from the police because the law is also very clear about that. "When you look at the Kingdom Law on police it is clear and really I don't understand the debate on this issue. The RST is part of the police operation." The Minister said that there has to be full cooperation between the police and the RST and he does not believe putting the RST and the police in same building would make them work better with each other. In his opinion, doing that would only be cosmetic. The RST has a different task but they cannot execute unless they cooperate with the KPSM. "In 2015, if St. Maarten is capable of combating crime locally and internationally then there would be no need for the RST and that will be discussed in 2015 when the evaluation takes place. Anytime these entities start to hamper the combating of crime then it would be time for the Minister of Justice to intervene. The focus should be on getting the job done by all the entities and if that is not the case then something has to be done. The focus should be about getting the job done and not about power struggle."