PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Justice Anna Richardson announced on Wednesday that a Ministerial Decree will be issued today Wednesday, June 16th to curb illegal gathering, noise pollution, and loitering. The decree will take immediate effect and will be extended until public order is fully restored.
The Minister of Justice said that since the government of St. Maarten enhanced its policy on closing businesses at 11 pm to curb the spread of the coronavirus there has been a growing trend these past weeks where persons are illegally gathering in parking lots and gas stations. At these locations, she said there is loud music, the use of alcohol and narcotics and as such the need has arisen where stricter measures have to be put in place to give law enforcement the necessary tools to act.
Minister Richardson said that the illegal gathering causes noise nuisances, disturbing public order, dangerous traffic situations, and the excess use of alcohol and narcotics. Due to this behavior, the Ministry of Justice will issue an MB to compliment the Ministry of TEATT with the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Ministerial Decree that would bring about stricter enforcement or ban on the gathering such as gas stations and public parking lots, and other public areas.
Minister Richardson said that the Ministry of Justice and TEATT have formed a joint task force to specifically address the issues surrounding the illegal gathering. She said a plan of approach has already been established by the St. Maarten Police Force which would include the immigration mobile unit that will be carrying out the joint controls.
The Minister said that these types of behavior are unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated, those include loitering, noise nuisance, disturbance of the peace, which are all illegal acts that have been regulated by law, thus authorities will exercise their duties to enforce order within the communities.
