PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Island Councilwoman Maria Buncamper-Molanus has requested Local Chief of Police Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards to supply her with statistics that show the increase in crime as well as the types of crime committed last year compared to 2008.
She said that officials should give sufficient attention and accountability to tasks that affect the business community directly.
In her letter, Buncamper-Molanus acknowledged that the responsibility of justice lies with the Central Government, but questions if the Office of the Local Chief of Police and the ways things are done here should be viewed differently because of challenges that come with escalating crime. “So should we be doing things differently leading up the constitutional reform? Should there be more involvement from the Island Government and the Local Chief of Police?” she questioned.
Efforts to combat crime were highlighted in the letter, which included the Central Government’s proposed reorganization and coaching of the Windward Islands Police Management Team, an ongoing campaign to recruit new police officers, an established cooperation between the police forces of the Windward Islands and Rotterdam and projects submitted by St. Maarten to improve the police force and give residents and visitors a sense of higher security and peace of mind.
She requested clarification on the agreement with Rotterdam and St. Maarten and more facts and figures on the recruitment status.
“Increased police presence and proper equipment are recurring calls from those involved. If this is indeed the main issue, why are these issues not given priority?” the island councilwoman said.
She continued, “We have had justice ministers come and go, but we have the same problems. The constant factors in this equation are the people of St. Maarten, crime and the responsibility of the Local Chief of Police.”
Fighting crime is everybody’s business, she noted, as she requested a prompt response from the Office of the Local Chief of Police. “This issue is a critical concern and would benefit the people of and the visitors to St. Maarten,” she said.
