St. Maarten Private Eye

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Today the Daily Herald had an article and an editorial about the assault upon the two CBS journalists last week Thursday, the Today has one small article about how CBS4 covered the attack over the weekend.

Go read them all, in particular the editorial, then join me below.

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The story so far, as we understand it.

The two guys who were severely beaten were meeting with two other guys at Bamboo Bernies on Wednesday night, (Ladies Night) where they sat having drinks and probably having a great time. Except for the group nearby who didn't like seeing guys cuddling and kissing, words and threats were exchanged which ended when the homophobic group were asked to leave by management. The CBS guys and their friends left about half an hour later, about 2.30-3.00am, apparently not accepting or feeling they needed BB's offer of an escort or perhaps a taxi.

It would seem one pair were slightly ahead of the other, and as they passed by Sunset Beach Bar a car sped up, attempting to maybe hit one of the pairs of men and perhaps even did. Then approximately 4 guys and 2 women jumped out of the car and at least one of these people starting laying to with a wheel wrench/tire iron. The other pair of men ran up, and it seems they were attacked too.

I asked at Sunset today about the incident, I was told that the place was most likely closed at the time and I would have to come back and ask the night watchman/guard what he saw. I have not therefore been able to verify who called the police. Perhaps Jimmy from BB who is reading these pages can let us know more. Have the police been by to take statements or interview witnesses to the friction in the bar before the assault? To get descriptions maybe?

The Police claim that they did turn up but it was after the ambulance had left. They also seem to claim they tried to talk to the men at the hospital but were unable to. Yet the assaulted men state that as of 1.00pm they had yet to see a policeman or had been able to give a statement. They were flown to the States that same afternoon.

You will find all the links so far in the CBS Assault links thread.

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The DH editorial is rather lame in my opinion, as many are. One can only assume that they are talking about the hate crime as an isolated incident, which it is, because we all know full well assaults/crimes and the that lack of adequate police response is not.

From a call I made to 911 some time back.

Me (exasperated and agitated): Hello, I need some help please, some bastard just stole my car, they are speeding along airport road towards the French side.

Police: Sir, I must ask you to refrain from using profanity.

Me: Sorry, they just took my damn car, you can catch them.

Police: Sir, I've warned you.

Me: Are you serious, do you consider 'damn" a profanity?

Police: Call back when you calm down and find your manners.

Click......

OK, I know, I was lucky to even get an answer eh?

The hate crime is despicable and shameful, intolerance must be utterly condemned by local politicians and the media must tackle them on it. The Daily Herald could make a start themselves by no longer printing hateful or intolerant letters in their opinion pages.

But the bigger picture is really that the police are not able to provide an adequate service to the community in order to protect it, confidence in the police for security is definitely quite low. Could it possibly be that they paid little attention to this crime because it was just "a couple of gays"? Is this a legitimate question to be asking and who would ask it?

Are 911 calls recorded? Is there a schedule for who or how many people man the lines? How many patrol cars are on the road at night? How many officers on duty? How many cars are still working?

The St. Maarten Constitutional Train may be chugging along but bits are falling off it and the wheels look shaky. Blindly the many power-hungry politicians cry "no compromise, no conditions". Unless repairs are made and the problems acknowledged and openly and transparently tackled and confronted, then it seems to me there just might be a wreck coming.

Dr. Voodoo

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