Paris/ St Maarten:-- While crime might be rising and residents of St. Maarten are on the verge of losing hope the police department is doing their best to solve several murders which to date are still fresh in the minds of the citizens.
Normally each year St. Maarten would receive added manpower during the Christmas season, which is aimed at reducing crime during the holiday season, however in 2009 the St. Maarten Police Force was forced to do it alone since they were not given the required assistance from Curacao.
It has been years now the KPSSS has been operating with limited manpower and an estranged management team and to date nothing concrete has been done to reinforce the local police core. While crime is on the rise and St. Maarten on its way to country, safety and security is left behind as there is limited resources and manpower. Speaking anonymously to SMN News a long time officer told us that they have been working tirelessly to reduce crime in schools as well as armed robberies that are plaguing the community. The officer said they are called to neglect their families in order to reduce crime. "The men and women in blue are called to work overtime on a daily basis and they are forced to leave their families behind. Many of us did not even get to do our regular Christmas Shopping because we were all working overtime."
The officer said they are of the opinion that the community is not grateful for the sacrifices they are making since the only serious crime committed during the holiday season was the murder of Eric Sam. "This was one of the safest Christmas season on St. Maarten even though there were limited resources."
The police management requested more manpower from Curacao for months and to date the extra men in blue were not sent to assist the drained officers on St. Maarten.
The officer said suddenly a decision was taken to send a large group of officers from the "Special Task Force Curacao" who would be assigned to assist with the ongoing murder investigations on St. Maarten. The Police Department he said need men in blue on the streets, most of all they were needed during the Christmas season. He said St. Maarten does not need extra police officers to sit in air-conditioned offices to do nothing. He also called on the Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba to take stock on what Ronald Dongor has done for St. Maarten since he took office. "The so-called coach has a huge salary , and other benefits that is not available to locals, yet he does nothing for St. Maarten." While there is talk that St. Maarten does not have qualified officers, they are the ones keeping the people safe while those coming in are for their own interest. The officer said if they had reinforcements during the Christmas season the senseless killing of Eric Sam would not have taken place and now they are coming here to either harass the population with unnecessary traffic controls so that they can get the fame and recognition when the murders are solved.
The officer also called on local politicians to do what is necessary for St. Maarten and not to use the state of affairs of the police department to gain political mileage.