I don't usually respond to news reports and other nonsense coming out of the Netherlands, particularly the Second Chamber, regarding my person, but your abovementioned front page article in your edition of today, July 5, 2013, has nevertheless forced me to make the following statement, which I ask you kindly to publish:
It is correct that the Royal Marechausees were asked by me (as minister of Justice) to concentrate their 'assistance' on training the personnel of the Immigration Department, in the back office, where documents (passports and other travel documents) are checked for forgeries, etc. In the back-office there is a database containing international information on passports, persons and related documentation which is used for detecting forgeries, lost or missing items or persons, etc. Before 10-10-10 the Marechaussees (KMAR) were deployed - on request of the Netherlands Antilles - in the front line, that is at the booths, because of lack of personnel. During my term of office we trained and employed over 100 young people in law enforcement (the so-called BAVPollers) throughout the Justice Ministry, including more than 20 in the Immigration Dept. By employing and training our own young Sint Maarteners, the services of the Kmar were no longer needed in the front line.
There is a protocol signed with the Dutch for assistance of the KMAR, valid until mid 2015. This assistance is provided by (a) deploying detectives in the Police Force, and (b) assistance in the Immigration Dept. There is NO agreement that the Kmar should be in the frontline at Immigration or anywhere!! We, additionally, requested the Kmar to also train the personnel of the Customs Dept, which department also carriesout border control(!). Initially this request was rudely turned down by a former minister of Kingdom Relations, but later - when I pointed out that such assistance was also part of the protocol signed - assistance was promised. After more than 1 (one) year now, no actual assistance has been provided to the Customs Dept.! It has been said that the Kmar does not have sufficient personnel!
I refer to a report of Kmar published very recently in your newspaper, in which the EXCELLENT relationship with me and the ministry of justice was confirmed! This contradicts the allegations of Plasterk, Bosman c.s. in your aforementioned news article!
The problem, as Plasterk has openly confirmed, is that the Dutch government bases most of its attitude, strategies and decision-making on secret and unsubstantiated reports by Dutch civil servants who come here to work and so-called "help" Sint Maarten on assignments or short-term employment. These sources are protected and kept secret, so we can never know who they are and if and how accurate the "melee" they carried really was. This mis-information is used, however, to put Sint Maarten in a bad light and in position for criticism and pressure. And, we shall never be able to defend ourselves properly! Meanwhile, official reports are ignored, because they don't contain enough unfavorable information that can be used against us for their purposes! I submit that this modus operandi of the Dutch government and parliament is blatantly, immediately and directly in breach of the rules of integrity; the same rules they impose on us!
Speaking of integrity: A primary rule of integrity is also that one speaks truthfully, honestly and solely based on (verified) facts. Messrs. Plasterk and Bosman have repeatedly broken the rules of integrity by making loose statements of my "alleged illegal" links, connections, relations and activities, without any shred of evidence or truth, referring only to "reports", which nobody has ever seen or can show. You know the saying: "kill the messenger" and by whatever means. The ad hominem approach: attack the person, duck the issues and facts! And, they make their slanderous statements under the protection of immunity in parliament. While they 'allege' whatever falsehoods about Duncan, or any other Sint Maartener, it is a fact - proven by their own statements - that they themselves breach the rules of integrity with such slander.
Another thing, what do the Dutch mean or want to accomplish with their ranting about the removal of the Kmar from the frontline at Immigration? That we cannot do the job ourselves. That we cannot be trusted. So, only Dutch officials can be trusted or are competent to carry out the responsibilities of our country, government and people? There are no salient complaints, as far as I know, about the quality of work and integrity of our young law enforcement officers at the Immigration front line! Just think of what their statements imply -- they insult us and blatantly expose their arrogance and false attitude of superiority!
It is my belief that the Dutch continue to refer to me - months after I have left office - in an attempt to intimidate my successor(s) and the government and to force and coerce them to do what the Dutch want, which - which is simple to see - is definitely not in the best interest of Sint Maarten. I was appointed to the office of minister to serve the best interest of (the people of) Sint Maarten, not the Dutch government or parliament! Self reliance has been part and parcel of every single decision that I have made as a minister! Only the people of Sint Maarten can judge me and my actions!
The Kmar protocol - among others - was entered into for assistance - to teach us to fish - not for the Dutch to fish in our name and stead! Immigration and border control is our responsibility. And, who says the Dutch can do a better job? Remember the "Cerberus (human smuggling) case", in which some 9 persons died!
I am proud of having had the privilege to train and employ many young Sint Maarteners to work in law enforcement - including the frontline of Immigration - for them to take their rightful positions in our society and help carry out the duties of their government, building careers and improving themselves! I hope we do let the Dutch take all this away in their envy and arrogance.
Thank you for your attention.
Roland E. Duncan,
Former Minister of Justice of St. Maarten