Philipsburg:---The Carnival season ended on May 4th, with the Closing Jump-up, which ended at the Festival Village and where at midnight the burning of King Momo took place. However nearing the arrival of the Jump up at the Festival Village, two rival groups of youngsters got engaged in a very serious fight.
During this fight knives were used and as a result of this one young man sustained a stab wound in his upper left chest. He was treated by paramedics on the scene and then transported to the St Maarten Medical center for further treatment. The reason or who committed this act is still under investigation by the detectives.
The Closing Jump-up last night was mostly attended to by the youth. The police department considers this carnival season one of the most successful one in comparison with prior years, where a lot of so called "gang fights" took place. This year these fights were kept to a minimum. Even though the carnival season, started with numerous fights at the opening jump-up, the police department in conjunction with the Prosecutors office sent out a stern message specifically to the youth, informing them of the measures that would be taken against them if they were involved in any public violence or were caught carrying any weapons. The message did serve its purpose by having a very positive effect on the youth. There was at least two other incidents whereby a young man was seriously injured to his head and had to be hospitalized and the other whereby an off duty female police officer was injured in her face with a knife by an unknown man during the grand parade. Both cases are still being investigated by detectives.
At the Festival Village security was very tight, during the season and searches were carried out for weapons and drugs. Many knives and other items that could be used as weapons and drugs were taken away from those carrying them. Practically all shows went without incidents.