PHILIPSBURG--Members of Parliament (MPs) are prepared to travel less to allow the Justice Ministry more funds to fight crime in the country.
Parliament has agreed in principle to cut NAf. 300,000 from its travel budget and reallocate it to the cash strapped ministry. The shifting of the funds will only become reality after Parliament adopts a motion making the change to its budget.
Parliament Chairman Dr. Lloyd Richardson said in a press statement issued on Monday that the funds will be used for a variety of crime fighting initiatives such as an emergency action plan submitted by the Voluntary Corps St. Maarten VKS for Philipsburg.
This method to tackle crime was birthed in the in camera Central Committee meeting that resulted after the fatal shooting of Police Officer Gamali Benjamin by a robber in broad daylight on Front Street. The meeting started on August 10 and continued on August 14. It was again adjourned and will resume on Friday.
When the meeting resumes, a "definitive action plan" to tackle crime is expected to be tabled by Justice Minister Dennis Richardson in Parliament for ratification.
Points discussed so far are measures to tackle home burglaries and armed robberies, 24-hour surveillance of Philipsburg, prohibition of motorcycles and quads in particular areas, study root causes behind crime and implement proactive and preventive measures, increased police presence in every district, heightened and stricter immigration controls, intervention programs to deal with anger, aggressive behaviour and other anti-social behaviour, alternatives to incarceration for young people, surveillance camera project, utilizing retired police officers; specialized unit to monitor and investigate social media, regulation for pawn shops, review of laws regarding self-protection, additional street lights in the districts as a crime prevention measure; increased inspections to reduce availability of guns and prevent the illegal importation of weapons into the country; development of neighbourhood watch programmes and targeting of white collar crime.
