La Savanne:--- Commandant Paul Betaille, 38 years old and father of five children will be heading the Gendarmerie on St. Martin for the next three years. Betaille introduced himself to members of the media on Thursday. He said he took office on August 1, 2012 shortly after the departure of Commandant Stephen Brunet, whose term ended on July 31st.
Betaille said his first obligation is to get to know his team (personnel) of the Gendarmerie both here on St. Martin and on St. Barths. "I want to know who is working for me and I want to know them well." He said at the same time he is trying to get to know St. Martin because the island is special in many ways.
The new commandant said he already began working with some of the patrols in various areas such as Oyster Pond so he can get a first hand view as to what the gendarmes on St. Martin encounter on daily basis.
Commandant Betaille said he already met with the President of the Collectivity of St. Martin Alain Richardson and the Chief of the Territorial Police Fabien Bazile while he is expected to meet the President of the Collectivity of St. Barths on Friday August 10th. He said that a meeting will be scheduled in September where he will meet with his Dutch counterparts.
When asked if he intends to make drastic changes at the Gendarmerie regarding crime and delinquency, Betaille said for the moment he will work with the strategies that were implemented by his predecessor Stephen Brunet because so far they seem to be working very well.