New self defence law

Interesting subject for a discussion maybe? An information campaign about the new law is apparently being planned, we'll keep track of it here and file what we can below.

Daily Herald Editorial - Self Defence - 28th August 2008

Parliament approves law on self defence - 27th August 2008

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Justice Police Crime | Flipper's blog | add new comment

Submitted by Flipper on Thu, 2008-08-28 19:47.

Cold blooded murderers
Tongas | Mon, 2008-09-01 12:48

Just keeping this hot. It is serious people. While catching some fresh air last night I helped to prevent a B & E. Props to me :) But how many will I alone be able to prevent ? Cannot even go outdoors anymore unless I fighting crime.

Must say the police response was extremely quick and thorough.

But then today I read:

L.B. SCOTT ROAD--A young man L.S. was reportedly beaten by a group of six other youths on Friday night, as a result of which he sustained several wounds and had to be taken to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) for treatment
Police later located L.S. at his home nursing a swollen left eye and a cut to his forehead. He explained to the authorities that he suddenly had been attacked and beaten by the six young men while he was walking with three other friends on L.B. Scott Road in the vicinity of Cake House. He was punched in his face by one of the attackers and struck on his forehead with a machete by another
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ARCH ROAD--A man E.M.D. was attacked with a machete, robbed and left for dead on Arch Road around 3:00am Sunday
Detectives of the Forensic Department, Homicide Division and Special Robbery Unit learnt during their investigation that E.M.D. had been attacked by "A.R.G. (20) of St. Maarten". A gold chain, a pendant and US $72 belonging to E.M.D., and the machete used to attack him were found during a search of A.R.G.’s home. These items were all confiscated in connection with the investigation.
According to Henson, the witness to this unfortunate situation expressed her concern that if she hadn’t stopped to see what was going on and notified the police, E.M.D. would have lost his life. She advised the public always to be prepared to help those who might find themselves in a situation in which they were unable to help themselves.

I WONDER WHAT SENTENCES WILL BE LEVIED IN THESE CASES, A SLAP ON THE WRIST ?, DEDUCTION OF TIME ALREADY SPENT IN PRE-TRIAL DETENTION ?, COMMUNITY SERVICE ? OR A "STIFF !!!! " SENTENCE OF "1 YEAR WITH 6 MONTHS PROBATION" ? .

I am now waking up a bit, could the main problem be our prosecutors office and our Courts/Justice system in general.
How about sentences like, LOCK THEM UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY.
/ NOW_ USA_ RESIDENT / made some good points in his post "crime fighting ideas".
Just this comment "we have to look at everyone as criminals, local or foreign, our locals are head to head with foreigners in committing crimes" but yes stricter immigration controls and deportation of foreign criminals will reduce the amount of criminals to deal with.

March or similar is a very good idea but has to be effective. To be continued...

ADV ;(

Youth Violence
sxmlocalboy | Mon, 2008-09-01 18:41

The older and harder criminals I believe should be locked up and given hard labor. To hell with the term HUMAN RIGHTS. When their raping, killings etc the victem has no rights. I personally believe in capital punishment. But they say I'm to harsh. We must love our brothers and sisters no matter what as we're true christians.
But my biggest problem lies with youth violence. The youngsters are so agressive that locking them up isn't the only sollution but is only part of the solution. Their is no care during or after they have been incargerated. Especially mental and social assistance is lacking terribly for the youngsters. I believe we should create a youth detension camp for at least 75 youngsters we're they will spend some serious time (no juvi hall nonsense) building back up their social and moral skills while upgrading themselves academically. Some will fail and fall out of this system but that's oke. They will fit in perfectly with the hardcore in point blanche and hopefully stay up there for a while. But the rest of the changeable youngster will have a change to once again become part of this community. Also their family life at home must be reviewed and help given their to assist and adjust were possible and necessary. So you see it going to be a very expensive and time consuming battle but one I and i'm sure many others are willing to fight.
I'll come back with more on this as it's a very complicated issue.

ps The public prosecutors are doing everything in their power to deal with these issus's. I'll come back to that in a later posting.

re: youth violence
Tongas | Mon, 2008-09-01 20:54

sxmlocalboy, you speak a lot of wisdom there.

The worrysome thing is how many will be around if this trend continue, I only learned about the stabbing of the young chap Brooks in Zagersgut in front of the supermarket. Obviously he spoke to the wrong "gyal" as they call it these days.

It is now like every 2 days someone is being brutally attacked or murdered.

However, I recall that there was a gentleman, if I recall correctly, his name is James of Cole Bay, who just returned from the USA Army and during his interview he did mention that he would like to work with the youth. Some serious booth camp time might not be a bad idea. I also cannot understand that we don;t have more psychiatrists on the Island, seeing the present situation. People, young and old, are just walking time bombs most with no mercy or regards for human life.

How could Mr. Stomp say that it was not the intention to murder, if you stop and fight with knives, machettes and guns, you must know that murder could be the result. You have to walk or drive to the victim, if you cannot cool off during that period then it is murder met voorbedachte rade.
While I agree that just locking up these young criminals is not the answer, for now, without any proper programs put into place, that is where they have to be, in jail with adult, hardcore criminals or ship them out to correctional facilities abroad for a logical time frame, don't wait for a second offense, tackle it one time. Give them a taste of what real life is about. I most certainly would not feel comfortable rehabilitating these youngsters, by hiring them, not knowing when I might say something that they do not like and decide to deal with me not intending to murder me.

One of the priorities have to be to picking up these "gang-members" off the public roads, the bloods especially are very active and have claimed numerous criminal actions. This is no time for joking. Public warnings should be given as to what to look for and how to i.d. a gangmember, type of dressing, colors, tattoos, etc.
If parents refuse to report the involvement or suspected involvement of their children in a gang they should at least be fined if one of their children are picked up and is clearly a gang-member. I do know that parent abuse is very much alive and real here on sxm also, therefore even more reason to report the crimes. As I said before, don't "literally" love your children to death. I am not just saying this, I honestly would have done this to my kids and they knew it. I love them, they are my world but I do not intend to take any nonsense.

There was an ad a few years ago on t.v. that said, it is 10 o'clock, do you know where your children are. I think this should be used on those sunami warning devices posted all over the Island. I see too many school age kids on the roads at night when they should be in their parents houses, resting for school in the morning. I cannot and will never understand that, how could this be happening. Kids have to understand that they are kids, instead they do as they please and by 15 their parents know that they will have to continue supporting them for as long as they see fit. I am perplexed at what is happening.

The police have to implement curfews for youngsters, stop them, have them i.d. themselfs, take them to the station and call their parents and deal with the parents. If there is an obvious loss of control situation, insist that they see a councilor (I know it is not common here) there are a few psychologists on the Island. Give these children time to grow up. I was never for the 18 year adult law, they are not wise enough to handle real life and mix being an adult with childishness that is now turning deadly. If they refuse to attend any counseling then immediately they should be put into booth camp counseling.

However this is not going to happen overnight so what now. I feel that the police have to take harsh measures and have us go through some unpleasant times but strict controls and harsh actions have to be taken. I am trying to post my findings/suggestions on using the VKS and if necessary security patrol and monitoring systems, since there is not enough police to do it all. And believe me my friends those suggestions will not just stay as posts here, I am one person who intend to help find possible solutions to the problem of crime in general, not just the youth but right now they are the biggest group of criminals be it petty or major.

Ref prosecutors/Justice system, the sentences applied are not harsh enough, it is a joke and on top of that criminals eat better than I do and protest if they feel the treatment is not "good" enough. So they take it as a joke, come out and repeat the crime.

ADV ;(

Crime in general
Anonymous (not verified) | Tue, 2008-09-02 02:18

There is one encouraging thing amongst the posts on crime and the solutions to it.
It shows that some people in SXM actually do care.
It is a shame that a lot of that thrust comes from ex residents of SXM. I am still living in SXM and praying that some of the comments made are followed up on. Thankyou ex resident.

The crime in SXM is totally un acceptable and can be improved 10 fold if the authorities simply behaved in a "normal " and humane manner.

It is pathetic to see the general disregard for the law and respect for our fellow human beings.

Simply enforce some laws.

Punish effectivly the criminals.
My example of the pathetic law enforcement was a traffic accident my partner was involved in.
Clearly stopped in traffic in broad daylight our vehicle was rear ended at speed. Our vehicle sustained over a USD 1000 damage. The other drivers vehicle was written off. Police were called, the process followed and the situation resolved.
Sounds ok ? Well yes I guess it was except that the other driver was so obviously drunk it was alarming. Was that driver arrested, no....
Once he had beligerenly protested his innocence the policeman just drove away.
This is crazy.
Stop it SXM leaders get your act together.

Sill love sxm

Crime 3
Tongas | Sun, 2008-08-31 17:42

IT IS TIME TO GET UP OFF OF YOUR LAZY BUTTS AND FIGHT.

We, the public officials and active citizens of Philadelphia, entrusted with "securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity," pledge to work together and with our youth leaders to combat violence in our schools and to build safe and supportive neighborhoods for young people throughout the city.
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1Join your neighborhood's watchdog program. These programs make members pledge that they'll keep their neighborhood safe through community education.
Volunteer to help with crime prevention campaigns. For example, many schools have McGruff the Crime Dog come in to speak to students about the importance of obeying the law.
Carry around a picture or video phone. Surprisingly enough, many criminals have been caught based on evidence gathered by everyday citizens recording the crime on their cell phone.
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With the city falling victim to an increase in street crimes in many of its 52 neighborhoods over the past few years and also suffering from budget cuts, residents wanted a way to help police track down felons.
So some private citizens have installed wireless "crime cams" in crime-ridden business sections of their communities in an effort to clean up the streets. Residents go through a "Citizens on Patrol" training course so they can log on from their computers and keep an eye on happenings around them.
"This allows more of their community members to get involved because they're not being put at risk," said Ben Moore, a principal of CityWatcher.com (search), the monitoring system used in some Cincinnati neighborhoods like Walnut Hills, Avondale and Corryville
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So don't you think it is time to span together and look for ways to start combatting our own crime situation rather than just sitting back and expecting the police to have their eyes all over. why can't we try to help ourselfs also ?
We have a police shortage, so o.k. (I have some suggestions on that also) after years of hearing the same answers of shortage it is time to start thinking for yourselfs and look for ways to combat crime.

Anyone have some positive, constructive ideas out there ?
ADV ;(

Crime fighting ideas
Anonymous (not verified) | Sun, 2008-08-31 19:49

So, Tongas, as you noted there were thousands of people marching in NAWABSHAH, in New Orleans, in Mexoco... where's the march in Philipsburg? People need to demand better policing from the authorities. Try to organize smth like that. Because it seems to me that DP isn't going to do ANYTHING until there will be mass murder in Westin or a big casino, or maybe mega-villa of one of them gets ransacked...

anyway, here are my ideas (not sure who'll implement them)

1) Fight crime where crime and drug dealing takes place. You know the regions. You know under which tree and on which corner 'tings go down...You know which clubs they go to spend their cash... This is NYC mayor Guliani tactics from the 1990s... a lot of people called it "racist" because disproportinally large number of cops were patrolling "inner cities." Well, you call it however you want, but the violent crime fell 5-fold. If police resources are limited, don't waste them on riding around, put them where crime takes place.
2) Tell police union to stop bickering (at least for now) and bring in professional managers and detectives; try to recruit some active or even retired detectives from the USA who have experience in dealing with gangs. Yes, admit at last that SXM PD needs assistance and demand more $$$ from Cental Govt and Holland. i'm sure thre will be a lot of cops willing to temporarily relocate to "island paradise."
3) whoever is responsible for working permits - put him under strictest outside audit. there's too much talk that foreign nationals involved in a lot of "bad things." also, i don't know how it can be accomplished, but there need to be better border control, on both sides of the island. at least make sure immigration officers are doing their jobs, and if caught - don't give them $200 fine and 2 months suspended - lock 'em up! if anything, a law enforcement person, a person entrusted with special rights and obligations must do more time if he breaks the law than a civilian.
4) show schoolkids that there is future: arrange work-study or internship programs for those who want to make a buck. but not as a maid or a grocery packer - how about some tax breaks for business owners who employ schoolkids, who give them real responsibilities and pay them real wages?
5) there should be no such thing as "probation" or "suspended sentence" for violent offenders, or persons found in possession of a firearm or machete. you kan keep kids separate from adults, but everyone guilty MUST do major time
6) drug testing drug testng drug testing.
7) "citizen's patrol" - i knwo it's asking a lot from unarmed residents to go against armed drug gangs. maybe in cooperation with vks, or maybe allow them to carry batons or something...slingshots, bb-guns. peope who are willing to, should be able to take back the streets.

/ Now_USA_Resident/

Crime 2
Tongas | Sun, 2008-08-31 16:55

What are we doing about ours ?

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a bipartisan anti-crime organization of over 4,000 law enforcement leaders and crime survivors nationwide. Its sheriffs, police chiefs, prosecutors and crime victims promote greater public investments in programs proven to direct kids onto better paths in life, paths that lead them away from crime and towards success.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids’members are from all fifty states including, for example, 45 out of the 63 Major Cities Chiefs. Seattle Chief Gil Kerlikowski chairs the board and David Kass is President. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids has almost 50 staff members at its national and state offices and receives funding from major foundations, individuals and corporations.

VERY IMPORTANT:
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids accepts no funds from federal, state or local governments.

Major funding for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is provided by: The Afterschool Alliance • The Atlantic Philanthropies • The Boeing Company • The Buffett Early Childhood Fund • The Butler Family Fund • The California Endowment • The California Wellness Foundation • Robert Sterling Clark Foundation • Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation • Sam L. Cohen Foundation • Dr. Scholl Foundation • Early Childhood Investment Corporation • Frey Foundation
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • The Grable Foundation • Grand Victoria Foundation • The George Gund Foundation • Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund • The Horace Hagedorn Foundation • The Irving Harris Foundation • The Heinz Endowments • The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation • The James Irvine Foundation • JEHT Foundation • The Walter S. Johnson Foundation • W.K. Kellogg Foundation • Long Island Community Foundation • McCormick
Foundation • Richard King Mellon Foundation • The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation • The New York Community Trust • The David and Lucile Packard Foundation • The William Penn Foundation • The Pew Charitable Trusts - Advancing Quality Pre-K for All • Rauch Foundation • The Robins Foundation • Schumann Fund for New Jersey • The Skillman Foundation. For more information, or for copies of this or any report, see www.fightcrime.org.

ADV ;(

Crime 1 - just a few articles
Tongas | Sun, 2008-08-31 16:48

What are we doing about ours?

NAWABSHAH, Aug 1: Members of Sindh Graduates Association took out a rally and staged demonstration against increasing crime, open sale of narcotics, and illegal transport stands in Qazi Ahmed, on Wednesday.
The rally started from the National Highway and ended at the Qazi Ahmed Press Club with protesters carrying placards and raising slogans.
Hakim Otho, Khan Mohammad Unnar, Haji Khan Lakho, Dadan Jam Unnar and others said drugs were being sold openly in every Mohalla destroying the health and morale of today’s youth.
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Sat Aug 30, 7:37 PM ET Prev 4 of 58 Next Thousands of Mexicans protest around the Independence monument against the tide of killings, kidnappings and shootouts sweeping the country, in Mexico City, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008. More than 13 anti-crime groups planned for tens of thousands of people to join marches in all 32 Mexican states Saturday evening, urging people to walk in silence with candles or lanterns.
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NEW ORLEANS - Thousands marched on City Hall on Thursday, seeking an end to the violence that has claimed nine lives in this struggling city since New Year’s Day.
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