Philipsburg: --- Close to three hundred people from within the community of St. Maarten joined the efforts of the United Task Force Against Crime (UTFAC) in the candlelight march on Saturday night. Among them were several elected officials, namely leader of government William Marlin, Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams, Island Councilmember Rudolph Samuel as well as members of the business community, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the KPSSS in the persons of Chief Commissioner of Police Peter de Witte, and Commissioner of Police Carl John and Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt. As a symbol of hope the marchers carried lighted candles as well as posters highlighting the current crime situation as they slowly and silently marched through the streets. Several bystanders and other onlookers stood alongside Front Street looking at those who opted to make a difference in this once peaceful community.
While the UTFAC campaigned all week to get the community to react to their call to march against the current crime situation, the Haitian community organized their own march in memory of Clemencia Julot who would have celebrated he 22nd birthday today. Members of the Haitian community gathered on Cole Bay Hill look-out point prior to marching towards Cole Bay where they visited Pastor Bell's Church. Supporters and marchers in that march wore Tee -shirt bearing the photo of murder victim Clemencia Julot.
The marchers gathered in front of the Government Administration Building where several speakers delivered short speeches regarding the current crime situation. The UTFAC said based on their research some 22 persons lost their lives to violent crimes during the past ten years. The UTFAC named the persons who lost their lives to crime from 2009 to now, they are Angel Martin, Marco Beaumont, Haresh Dayalani, Mikhail Boasman, David Eustace, Sabila Absalon, Jean Busquet, Eric Yuan Sam, George le Blanc, Lau Wai-Yin, Otmar Leonard, and Clemencia Julot who would have celebrated her birthday on July 31.Reasons why the UTFAC believes something needs to be done to reduce crime.
Delivering the invocation and the most powerful and to the point message was Pastor Wycliffe Smith who said that far too often people believe getting solutions to our problems cost lots of monies while the answers are simple. Pastor Smith said one of the first thing that has to be done on St. Maarten to reduce crime is that people here have to begin loving themselves and others if they are to make a difference. He said while the UTFAC and those who came out to march is making a statement each and everyone in the community has a responsibility if crime is to stop. Pastor Smith said currently the people living on St. Maarten has gotten into materialism and they are self centered rather than looking out for their neighbors. He said long gone are the days when doors can remain unlocked. Gone are the days when we trust our neighbors, the values and principles that have eroded over time which is the root cause for so much crime in society, namely murders, robberies, and domestic abuse, blue and white collar crime which are on the increase, not to mention cyber crime. Pastor Smith said the current trend has left one to wonder if there is still hope and if the clock can be turned back to regain the society.
Another prime cause for the crime wave Pastor Smith continued by saying people have lost love for each other, they are less tolerant, and on the verge of wanting to fight back. Pastor Smith said that the youths are often blamed but the youths learn from the adults. Adults he said are the ones who teach the youths how to tolerate and to love but in the homes the adults are heard cursing off their children and have failed to listen to their children. Pastor Smith said to make a change the family life has to be restructured. Pastor Smith said adults and elected officials are sending the wrong message to the youths when they legalize moral standards. Prostitution is a moral standard that has been legalized, casino gambling, certain forms of theft have been legalized, and the tolerating of lying. He said to see how much lies are told by adults then one has to visit the court rooms, or even listen to the politicians who have been making empty promises, or maybe one should listen to the island council meetings. He said when politicians choose to live by certain moral standards they are sending a message to the youths. "When politicians or people in high offices think they can get away with things the youths think they too can get away with things." He called on the adults to stop living double standard lives instead people should live right and act right. The message delivered by Pastor Smith caused the gathering to clap and to cheer as they agreed with what he had to say about the adults and the examples they set for their children.
Other speakers include Lenworth Wilson, Lenny Priest, Clarence Richardson, and Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt.
