Philipsburg: --- The selection committee that was busy interviewing several candidates to fill the vacant positions of the police management team (KPSSS) has selected Peter de Witte as St. Maarten's new police chief commissioner. De Witte is also president of the Police Social Club and he was part of the police unions. SMN News learnt that members of the St. Maarten Police Force are quite familiar with de Witte since they travelled to several countries together, all of which he spearheaded.Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba had said that the incoming chief would take up his position on April 1. However, when contacted on Monday evening for a comment on the selected candidates Jacoba said she would make an official announcement when the process is finalized.
SMN News also learnt that Chief Inspector Carl John was selected to be the head of the Algemeen Division while the head of judicial division remains vacant.
The source said the Minister of Justice would now have to select an interim head for the justice division until a suitable candidate is found to take up the position. The committee was chaired by St. Maarten's Chief of Police Franklyn Richards, while other members were Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos, junior Minister of Justice Ernie Simmons, M. de Palm, and Golio who represented the police unions from Curacao.
SMN News has been reliably informed that Aruba's Police Chief Peter de Witte won the selection process and that he out ran Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflec who was also interviewed for the position. Panneflec was the next candidate to be appointed chief commissioner of police had he stayed in his position a year ago. Former Minister of Justice David Dick had suggested that Panneflec leave the force and further his studies in Holland an option he refused and requested to be placed at the disposition of the island government. Minister Magali Jacoba gave Panneflec another year extension in February where he would remain to the disposition of the island government.
