PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday October 2nd there was an important gathering at the Philipsburg Police Station. A group of very important persons, namely the secondary school representatives, were informed about the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project which will start on October 15th. The 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project is the collective project from the French and Dutch authorities (Government, Public Prosecutor's Office and Police) to encourage the people of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin to surrender all the illegal fire-arms and to create a safer Sint Maarten without guns.
The secondary school representatives are extremely important for this project, because one of the target groups that really needs to be aware of the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project are the youngsters living on Sint Maarten. They are the future of our island, so they need to be aware of the trouble these guns may cause for their future and of the dangers that illegal fire-arms can cause.
Explanation by public prosecutor;
During this very constructive and inspiring meeting Mrs. Karola van Nie, the public prosecutor that works especially on youth matters, made a statement about the extreme dangers of guns in our society. She explained to the school representatives of the Public Schools, namely Milton Peters College, Sint Maarten Academy/PSVE, and the Sint Maarten Vocational Training School, how serious their contribution to this project is. Because nowadays youngsters are more and more confronted with guns and fact is that more and more youngsters carry guns. Their arguments to do this are various. In our opinion, there are no arguments "period" as an excuse to carry guns on our Friendly Island. Everyone wants to live and grow up in a safe Sint Maarten without guns "period".
Van Nie also talked about their future, because young people can experience difficulties finding a job at a later stage of their life when their names are 'in the books'. For most jobs, for example, you need a VOG (a declaration of good behavior) to be hired with the company you choose to work with. If you can't get a VOG, you can't get a job. And no job means "no income" to take care of your family.
One of the main reasons that you don't receive a VOG is when you have a criminal record. You will definitely have a criminal record when you are convicted, because you had an illegal fire-arm in your possession. It takes you at least eight years to get your name off the criminal record, plus the time the judge told you your punishment would last. In other words when you are convicted for the possession of an illegal weapon, it can easily take you ten years before you get a VOG. According to the Dutch law it's also illegal to own a 'look alike'-gun, like BB guns for example. These weapons look so real that people can't tell the difference between a real weapon and a fake one. People feel just as endangered when they are threatened with a fake gun, and therefore the punishment for possessing a fake weapon is the same as the punishment for possessing a real gun.
All the representatives were very impressed with the story Van Nie told them and they were more than willing to get 'on board' of the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project. They came with some very creative ideas to support the project. Van Nie made the representatives promise that they would give a lot of attention to the 'Stop, Drop and Go'-project in their schools and convince the students of the fact that it isn't cool to own a gun. It's extremely dangerous and life threatening. One impulsive action with a gun and you can be the cause of the death of a classmate. One moment of 'not thinking straight' and you can be the cause of a family in grief. Besides of that, you will have to spend a lot of time in jail, and that's not at all conducive to a future career.
Enough is enough;
These incidents simply must not happen on our Friendly Island. Youngsters need to become aware of the fact that these violent situations can't go on anymore, enough is enough! Now is the perfect time to 'Stop, Drop and Go'. Hand in your illegal fire-arm voluntarily from October 15th to October 31st 2014 and you won't be prosecuted for possessing an illegal gun. After this period of time though, if you get caught with an illegal gun in your possession, prosecutors will demand higher punishments and the police actions are going to be stronger. It's all about your future. So you'd better make the right choice now.
Make Sint Maarten a safer place
On working days (Mon-Fri) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. you can surrender your illegal guns in the office of the Attorney General at Puerta del Sol Plaza, Welfare Road #68 (third floor) in Simpson Bay.
Do this now, because a safer Sint Maarten starts with you!
