It’s not clear quite what to make of the debate in the Dutch Parliament about the law enforcement Plans of Approach for St. Maarten (see related story). The main conclusion seems to be that there has been
insufficient improvement in the Police Force and prison.
Staffing of less than 50 per cent is mentioned for the former and only increasing vacancies at the latter. Little progress in quality has thus been achieved.
Nevertheless, the advice is not to extend the Plans of Approach related to the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles per 10-10-10 that were even called “a dead horse,” but rather seek an alternative way to address the issue. The report says “constructive cooperation” with the Netherlands and having sufficient resources as well as essential external support are needed to do so effectively.
The relation between the Kingdom Detective Cooperation Team RST and the local Police Force apparently could be better, as was the complaint with the initial deployment of Royal Marechaussees (Military Police) from the Netherlands years ago. It takes two to tango, so the committee’s idea to go into deeper consultations with all the parties concerned makes sense.
The acute shortage of manpower might be a bit surprising to some, considering The Hague was going to send over about 30 detectives to investigate organised crime and the so-called “link between the upper- and underworld” on which certain Second Chamber members keep hammering. Some found it necessary to speak about perceived widespread corruption, fraud and money-laundering on the island again.
However, very few words were said regarding the financial means required to bring the police and prison to their optimal strength, never mind the country’s 2016 “shotgun budget” from which another NAf. 4.4 million now must be cut based on suggestions of the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.
It was stated that St. Maarten must make “difficult and painful choices,” but when former Finance Minister Martin Hassink asked The Hague for help raising St. Maarten’s reportedly very low fiscal compliance he got a cold shower. D66’s Alexander Pechtold was the only one to bring the money issue up and offer a practical solution in the form of a possible incidental loan.
Indeed, talk is cheap.
