Philipsburg: ---- The Win Win Agreement signed by former Minister of Justice David Dick and the management team of the police force KPSSS has failed said members of the unions attending a transitional meeting on St. Maarten. Vice President of NABP Philbert Llewellyn said they have great concerns regarding the implementation of several projects that has been agreed upon in the Win Win Agreement. A meeting was scheduled to be held on Friday where the concerns of the unions and its members will be discussed.
Llewellyn said the agreement the unions was with former Minister of Justice David Dick and former chief prosecutor Taco Stein. He said since the persons who signed and the agreement they are having problem with the implementation on what was agreed upon. Llewellyn and Ronald Ignacio said even the reports they were expecting to get from Police coach Ronald Dongor has not been forthcoming.
Ignacio said the KPSSS did not get the added value by bringing in someone from the outside who was suppose to have more experience than the local guys. The unions said when they agreed with the former Minister of Justice to bring in the coach it was for him to assist in building up the KPSSS. The union members said the they felt the monies that was given by Holland to enhance the police force was used for other purposes such as travelling expenses and compensations to those in management.
Ignacio said currently the officers in the police force no longer have confidence since the agreement was not upheld. He said the union is not amused with the way in which the Minister and the management team executed the Win Win Agreement.
The unionist said they lost lots of time and monies when they were negotiating the agreement. Ignacio said they already threatened and even took actions to get the management team and minister's attention on proper implementation of the agreement.
Ignacio said one of the reasons they worked and signed the Win Win Agreement was because they wanted to protect the entire police force.
Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Panneflek
Ignacio said that even though they worked an agreement that would have protected the entire police force Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek went on his own and asked the former Minister to put him to the disposition of the island government. He said after the coach arrived Panneflek decided to go on another track and it was in consultation with the Minister, so far the unions he said does not have all the details on what really they agreed upon.
However, Ignacio said that Panneflek rights have to be safeguarded and if at any point his rights are trampled upon then the union would take the necessary measures. He said if there are parts of the agreement that can be applied to Panneflek then that too will take place. He said if Panneflek was not treated fairly by the Minister based on the rules and procedures then that too has to be ironed out. Ignacio and Llewellyn said they are scheduled to meet with Panneflek and the management team sometime on Friday.
He said one of the main reasons the union worked so hard on the agreement was to make sure all officers working in KPSSS got equal opportunity and they the available positions would have been reserved for them. Ignacio said they are also currently working on the grievances regarding detective Carlton Philips. Ignacio said that they do not believe that Philips was treated fairly especially regarding the prosecutors office that has refused to work with Philips.
Ignacio said they are currently looking into the interest of the community of St. Maarten and not the prosecutor whose ego was bruised. He said Philips is a police officer who is of value to the entire community of St. Maarten and right now all the valued resources have to be used in order to repress the rising crime rate. Ignacio said right now St. Maarten does not have the time, neither resource to exclude valuable police officers who have proven their skills in the St. Maarten community. Ignacio said after meeting with the police management team on Friday they would take a decision on how they would proceed with the grievances of their officers.
Another burning point on the agenda of the unions is the role of the RST. He said this matter will be discussed with the public prosecutor's office. Ignacio said based on information given to them is that the relationship between the local police force and the RST has deteriorated. He said currently they are currently on the look out because the local officers must be given full opportunity to serve their community.
