Crime not Escalating, Recent Murders can be Considered as “Axe Grinding”--- Duncan.

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Philipsburg:--- Justice Minister Roland Duncan said that the crime rate on St. Maarten is not escalating. According to the Justice Minister, the rate of armed robberies has decreased as well as other crimes compared to previous years. The Minister made the statement on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing when an SMN News reporter asked him what his Ministry is doing to curb the current crime rate especially the increasing amount of murders. The Minister said he does not know if the murder rate has increased compared to last year, however he does not believe the crime rate is escalating. The Minister said the murders that took place last week has been described by the Prosecutor's office as "axe grinding".
He said the Police and Prosecutor's office are totally engaged in solving the current cases and on Tuesday he swore in three more RST officers that will be working on the cases. Minister Duncan said some 22 officers from the various departments have come together to work on the murder cases. However, he said the current crimes are targeted.