PHILIPSBURG:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (VROMI) Department of Infrastructure Management invited Community Police Officers and Traffic Officers to a strategy dialogue that focused on environmental and social challenges that require cooperative operations between the attending audience.
The meeting which discussed issues surrounding the removal of car wrecks, noncompliance of debris/garbage transportation, infrastructural damage and unkept greenery that could become hazardous among other topics, was led by Department Head, Claudius Buncamper and attended by Head inspector Bloeiman, Head Inspector Gout, Inspector Rogers and other members of the police department as well as supporting staff of the public works department.
Buncamper emphasized on the need to create a harmonized method of approach for the removal of car wrecks, and proposed solutions to monitoring and creating a compliant culture among the public in regards to the transporting of garbage and debris not being covered, resulting in the polluting of public areas.
"Strengthening our collaborative relationship will foster a better social and environmental product for the citizens of St. Maarten" stated Buncamper. He further noted that there is a need for infrastructural damage reporting during accidents of streetlights, railings or public property in general. Such reporting could serve as preventative measures for crime stricken areas due to poor lighting, dangerous curbs and hillsides missing railings or damaged sidewalks that could cause hazard to the public or tourists.
CPO's were acknowledged to have good insight into their respective communities, which could assist VROMI in gaining community intelligence as it pertains to environmental illnesses that need to be addressed, which eventually create social illnesses such as sewage or compost running along public roads or areas, preventing social activity.
Dialogue also explored the possibilities of VROMI assisting the police with existing community programs that could be incorporated with VROMI projects that would assist in creating infrastructural, environmental and social sustainability in the future for Country St. Maarten.
The outcomes of the meeting will be managed by VROMI Operations Manager, Edelmiro Jansen and led by VROMI Contract Manager Eustaqio Richardson, with intent of establishing community council meetings, establishing a team reporting method and necessary public awareness campaigns.
The meeting received positive feedback and input from both parties, indicating an elevated and strengthened work relationship to better the public service of the police force and Ministry VROMI.
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