PHILIPSBURG:--- A well-known family residing in Cole Bay plans to take all the necessary actions against an RST agent they identified as Andre Van den Berg who only arrived on the island two months ago.
The family told SMN News that on Sunday a vehicle bearing the number plate M- 10823 was parked in the middle of the road leading to their home in Cole Bay and when they asked the driver of the car to remove the vehicle he was driving from where he left it, the RST agent whom they did not know at the time demanded that they show him documents that they are the owners of the property where he was trying to take photographs of aircrafts landing and taking off at the Princess Juliana International (PJIAE).
“My wife went out and her way back home she could not drive up to our home so he asked the Dutch national who was taking photographs from their private lookout point to park his park decently in order for he to enter her home. The driver whom she did not know was an RST agent became aggressive with her and told her that she should show him proof that they are the owners of the property where he parked his vehicle. My brother in law who is also from the Netherlands witnessed the commotion and he went to speak to the driver of the vehicle and basically told him that his attitude gives all Dutch nationals a bad reputation. Instead of the RST agent listening to one of his own he decided to tell off the Dutch national that is related to the Cole Bay family. Shortly, after my wife came upstairs and told me what was happening and I basically told the person to get off my property since he had such an attitude. At the same time I took the number plate of the vehicle that was blocking my driveway and upon investigating it turned out the intruder was an RST agent identified as Andre Van den Berg who was at the time driving a vehicle that was leased from Motorworld to KMPG where this agent wife/girlfriend works. I did my own investigation to find out who this person was because my home was broken into a number of times and personally I don’t like how this man spoke to my wife. Now that I know who the individual is I intend to have my lawyer send a letter to the head of the RST, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Minister of Justice. Someone with this type of attitude cannot be allowed to stay on St. Maarten we are not all thieves and savages to be treated the way my wife and relative were treated last Sunday.” The owner of the property said he has a wonderful view where he lives and almost every day people would go up there to take photographs of the aircrafts taking off from the airport, something the family has no problem with because on most occasions they would go out to greet the people that go up to his lookout point. The property owner said it’s the first time they met with such arrogance and it’s a total shame that the person is working for the Justice Ministry on St. Maarten. “My relative left the island on Tuesday heading back to the Netherlands and his intention is to inform the Dutch Government as soon as he reaches back home.”
SMN News contacted the head of the RST Henry Lightenberg who said he did not hear about the incident prior to being contacted by SMN News but promised to confront Van den Berg. After the meeting Ligtenberg contacted SMN News for the family information saying that his agent was indeed on the people’s property. The RST head said it is wrong to treat people the way his employee treated that family and he wants the family to file a complaint with his office in order for him to take immediate actions.
The owner of the home also stated that was contacted by Lightenberg and he intends to file a complaint against the agent whom he said invaded his property that has signs all over stating it’s a private property and also insulted his wife while being on their property unauthorized.