St. Maarten Private Eye

The island's police force is currently 46% understaffed so it has fallen on the VKS to provide security and patrols in town and on the Boardwalk. It's a very welcome measure, but it's hardly a solution and Police Chief Holiday voiced some very legitimate concerns in his "scary" remarks to the local press.

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The current problems that our local police force faces expose yet another example of the current administration's failures, of their poor and inept mismanagement of the island's vital services, departments and its future. We see it everywhere. Is it any wonder the Dutch want to enforce fiscal accountability and controls, along with open and transparent governance?

Let's see... APNA debt, SMMC finances and future, underfunded and dysfuctional youth care services, underfunded schools and poorly paid teachers, closed and decrepit sports facilities, a labor market full of abuses, massive environmental degradation - the list goes on and on and the police force is certainly part of it.

The VKS is a paramilitary organisation which currently assists the police in many areas. They are paid by the island government. My own experiences with them have left me with the impression of an organised and professional team, but they are not trained as policemen and their standing in for the police force, although helpful and welcome, is not a solution for the biggest problem, the lack of policemen and recruits.

Chief Holiday has talked many times about his plans to hire from Suriname and Holland, yet we all know the problems that move will bring, particularly regarding pay scales. The idea is very appealing; ideally we would see a partially rotating force, particularly between SXM and Holland, which would not only improve our local force with added experience and training, but also would help create a more multi cultural force more reflecting of the island itself.

But this would entail having a vision - a plan - for a new St. Maarten Police Force for the New St. Maarten Status. A police force that is paid adquately so they don't have to take part-time jobs sitting in casinos at night as armed security guards. A police force that is not criminally understaffed and which is well equiped and trained, particularly in the use of said equipment. Does anyone out there have a vision and maybe a plan?

Our police force is a vital part of our island's security, future and democracy. On an island where gated communities spring up almost daily and private "Sheriffs" patrol and guard those that can afford them, we are already in great danger of creating an "Us and Them" society, of haves and have nots. Luxury villas and condos on the coast, crowded local communities, and shanty towns in the interior, this is the vision the DP seem to have in mind (except Cay Bay, where GEBE and the Gas companies are located).

Chief Holiday stated “I have learnt that the Executive Council has decided to stop the process to have the Windward Islands Police Force recruit suitable candidates to form the Soualiga Team of tourist police officers and that they intend to form their own team.” He is not the only one to find that scary!

Why would the Exco stop the process of recruitment?

46%! That's criminal, arrest that man responsible!

St. Maarten's Constitutional Choo Choo Train is still chugging along, but many treachous turns lay ahead. If the drivers keep throwing on the coal and going too fast then certainly there will be a price to pay.

I do not have solutions, but then I'm not a politician nor a policeman and my knowledge is limited to the internal workings and problems to overcome. But I do see the New Status as an opportunity to restructure, repair, and even replace many if not all of the dysfuctional departments and services of the government.

A future where security and safety only for those who can afford them is not acceptable.

Hady Nufyet

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