PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo welcomes any assistance from the Dutch Parliament concerning police and the prison in St. Maarten.
Kirindongo plans to travel to the Netherlands to sit down with André Bosman of the liberal democratic VVD party to discuss Bosman’s recently-approved motion in the Dutch Parliament requesting that the Dutch Government prepare plans to improve St. Maarten’s Police Force and the Pointe Blanche prison.
A majority, including the VVD, the Socialist Party, GroenLinks, D66, ChristianUnion, SGP, Party for Animals and various other smaller parties, supported Bosman’s motion to prepare proposals to strengthen St. Maarten’s Police Force and the prison prior to the termination of the Plans of Approach later this year.
Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk had advised against the motion. He stated during a short debate on Wednesday that there already was a protocol to strengthen St. Maarten’s Justice sector and that under this protocol the Dutch Government had committed to invest 22 million euros.
Kirindongo said in an invited comment, “I am always open to get assistance for these institutions. I will speak to Parliamentarian Bosman in the Netherlands to hear what he has in mind. If somebody is giving you help, you will have to also sit down with the person to come to an understanding.”
Wednesday’s plenary debate was a continuation of the meeting the Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations had with Plasterk on Tuesday to discuss the Plans of Approach for Curaçao and St. Maarten, a meeting that Bosman had requested.
Plasterk reiterated on Wednesday that he deemed it undesirable to prolong the Plans of Approach for the Police Force and prison by another two years. He reminded the Second Chamber that the Progress Committee for the Plans of Approach had concluded that the Plans of Approach were no longer effective and therefore to terminate them.
“The motion asks the Dutch Government to draft proposals to improve the functioning of the St. Maarten Police Force and the prison,” said Plasterk during Wednesday’s debate. “To me that seems a better approach than to prolong the Plans of Approach which have already been extended twice.”
He stressed that the Dutch Government would not simply contribute to the Police Force, but that The Hague would “absolutely” hang on to separate control in the process of strengthening the Justice sector, independently of the St. Maarten Government.
Bosman was highly critical of Plasterk’s stance. “We all agree, including the Progress Committee, that the police and prison are not complying. This minister is now saying, ‘Yes, we accept that, let it go, it is now up to St. Maarten.’ So no plan, no improvement. I find it inconceivable that the minister advises against my motion when we have established that the Police Force and prison are not complying.”
Plasterk agreed with Bosman that the goals set in the Plans of Approach that were established when St. Maarten attained country status in October 2010 indeed had not been achieved.
According to the motion, these proposals should contain “binding agreements and clear objectives.” The proposals have to be sent to the Dutch Parliament no later than mid-May for Parliament to have sufficient time to express itself on this matter.
The motion was co-signed by VVD members Joost Taverne, Remco Dijkstra and Ronald Vuijk.
Kirindongo said he had to travel to the Netherlands to meet with Plasterk on a different matter, but he planned to take this motion up with Plasterk during their meeting.
