Emmanuel: Coalition seeking greener pastures on the backs of the people
Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel is of the opinion that government’s lack of empathy towards the people of St. Maarten and its disconnect from the common man has been re-enforced through its words and actions over the past few weeks. He said the insensitive words that the Council of Ministers continues to use towards people whose income they have cut “is a sad indictment against themselves and the lack of care they have for people. People who have been made to suffer while coalition members show off in videos playing golf and eating lobster,” the MP said. The MP said Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion and Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs in particular, behaves as if they didn’t grow up on St. Maarten and have family legacies that weren’t forged here. He pointed to Irion’s comments during a recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing in which he said he is looking forward to establishing processes that would eliminate the “practice of asking for favors” in government. “In one broad stroke, the Minister of Finance implied that something is very wrong when citizens might ask for a little help in getting something done. They might run into you in church, or in the supermarket, or your children might attend the same school. They might ask for some guidance or intervention in something that might be stuck in government administration. We are a small community. We are supposed to help, not brush people off. “These are the same people who you do not mind doing favors for when you are asking them for votes. But when they need you, you send them through a process. This is not how we are accustomed to speaking to and living with each other in this country. When did it change that we as elected representatives can blatantly tell people not to look to us for simple help? But once again, we can’t expect any better from people who feel as if they live above the rest of us and move in circles that have no connection with the common man,” Emmanuel said. MP Emmanuel also criticized Irion for being one of the architects of depriving citizens of income and benefits, while finding the nerve to go on social media advise citizens how to access assistance from the United Nations. He explained that Irion is touting the United Nations free New Year Bonus Grant to users on Facebook, asking them to contact him for instructions on how to apply. “Meanwhile, this is the same Minister of Finance whose Tax Department is levying liens on the pensions of senior citizens on St. Maarten. The same Minister of Finance who can’t produce a budget on time and who did not investigate any other options other than cutting people income by 12.5%. This is a government that cannot find a locally relevant and/or creative option to lower the cost of living for its people. But here is the Minister, sending seniors and others to apply for a foreign grant to make up for something their own government took away. A local government that is supposed to protect its people and ensure a decent quality of life,” MP Emmanuel said. The MP said that the current government has not offered any relief in the Christmas season other than an extra day off for civil servants. However, after the Christmas and New Year break, he continued, the same government that took away bonuses will expect its citizens to find the money to pay for road taxes and license plates. “In the meantime, you have a Prime Minister that states that the country package is to be seen as a vehicle to set administrative processes in order and should be seen as a collection of structural solutions in the form of restructuring of government. The restructuring that the PM so proudly defends is coming on the backs of the people. More and new taxes will come, levies on your land will come, we will be paying loans forever and there is no indication when the so-called ‘temporary laws’ will be repealed. You are not hearing anything about easing the burden on the people. In fact, all indication points to the opposite. Are these the greener pastures the coalition is so proud to announce?” MP Emmanuel concluded.
As of October 7th, there were eleven (11) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however eighteen (18) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to one hundred twenty nine (129). The total number of confirmed cases is now four thousand three hundred eighty six (4386).
The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring one hundred twenty three (123) people in home isolation. Six (6) patients remain hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at sixty eight (68).
The number of people recovered since the first case surfaced on St. Maarten has increased to four thousand one hundred eighty nine (4189). Ninety five (95) people are in quarantine based on contact tracing investigations carried out by CPS.
The total number of persons tested is 53,105. As the numbers continue to fluctuate, CPS will continue to actively execute its contact tracing measures.
Come out this Saturday, October 9th to Benny Scot’s property on the LB Scot road from 9:00am to 3:00pm for the community COVID-19 vaccination pop-up. Walk with a valid form of ID for registration.
Minister of Justice Richardson establishes the Victim Support Sint Maarten Foundation
On Wednesday, September 8, 2021, the Victim Support Sint Maarten Foundation (VSS) was officially established under the leadership of the Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson. The Foundation’s board members include Ms. Cassandra Richardson as President, Ms. Roxanne Howell as Treasurer and Mr. Isaac Harold Richardson as Secretary. VSS was established to supervise victims of life crimes, serious car accidents, burglaries/break-ins with heavy violence/force or with the use of a firearm (or other weapons) and will mainly function in close collaboration with three official bodies to ensure the proper functioning of the foundation: namely, the Ministry of Justice via the SJIB Probation Service, the Public Prosecutor’s office and the Police Force of Sint Maarten.
Minister Richardson stated, “I am elated for the establishment of the much-needed Victim Support Sint Maarten Foundation. This is a step in the right direction and a milestone for the community of St. Maarten. For many years, such a foundation or support platform has been a void in our community. As I kept hearing the many stories of persons who have been through a traumatic experience, I ensured that this initiative remained one of the Ministry of Justice’s top priorities. I have total confidence in the board of individuals who are well aware of the needs of the foundation. They will undergo training to ensure the foundation is functioning at the level needed to provide optimal service. I’d like to thank the Ministry of Justice, the VSS board, the notary and my cabinet staff for the commitment and support rendered so that the foundation could become a reality for the people of St. Maarten.”
VSS offers high-quality shelter and assistance to victims who are subject to crimes which, according to the legal definition, are punishable by imprisonment of six years or more or a traffic accident. The assistance provided by VSS is not process-based or psychotherapeutic in nature. VSS will only support the victim if he or she deems it desirable and insofar as the victim cannot handle these matters him/herself.
VSS will assist victims in the following ways:
providing emotional support as soon as possible after the offense has been committed;
providing shelter after the offense has taken place;
accompanying victims during criminal proceedings and providing practical assistance;
representing the interests of the victim;
obtaining compensation;
mediating the conflict between the perpetrator and the victim;
checking and identifying whether the victim is recovering and suggesting opportunities for improvement where necessary
The VSS Foundation is currently finalizing its working protocol which will serve to map out the tasks and standard operating procedures of the organizations and entities involved. It will also describe and streamline the work processes with regard to victim support from the start of the criminal process (reporting of a criminal offense) to the end (the execution of the perpetrator’s sentence), so that victims are properly and efficiently assisted at every stage of the criminal proceedings process. The various aforementioned organizations already assist victims in practice in various areas; from providing general information to referring the victim to professional institutions. This care, and with it the range of duties, is expanded with the present protocol.
The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM)
In most cases, KPSM is the first official body in the criminal justice chain that the victim comes into contact with. The victims come to KPSM after filing a report or after the police arrives on the scene of the crime. KPSM provides initial and practical assistance, with an emphasis on providing information and making victims aware of their various rights. KPSM focuses mainly on acute assistance to victims and on tracing criminal offenses and is impartial in this respect. The responsibility of the KPSM starts at the start of the criminal proceedings and in principle continues until the moment the case is transferred to the Public Prosecutors Office. This is the case if the suspect in question is detained or the final report is sent by KPSM.
Public Prosecutors Office
The Public Prosecutor (OM) applies criminal law on behalf of society with an open mind and is therefore not an assistant, counselor, conflict mediator or agent for the victim. The OM acts in its role as a magistrate and is impartial. In addition to the interests of individual citizens (victims), the Public Prosecution also stands for collective values such as the rule of law and the integrity of society. The Public Prosecutor is clear about this in communication with the victim.
The basic principle for the Public Prosecutor in its services to victims is active reciprocity. This means that the Public Prosecutor can only properly provide a service to the victim if the victim (whether or not supported by assistance or legal advice from others) does his share where possible. The responsibility of the Public Prosecutor starts at the moment of the suspect’s detention or submission of the final report and continues up to and including the execution. The Public Prosecutor also has a role in the care after the criminal case has been concluded.
SJIB (Probation Services)
The goal of the probation office is to contribute to a safe society by preventing as much new offense behavior from probation clients as possible. The probation service can be involved in victim support in the following areas:
mediating between the perpetrator and the victim with regard to reaching a compensation agreement;
conflict mediation between offender and victim, if the victim would like this;
reporting (on behalf of the victim) to the KPSM / Public Prosecutor of the violation by the offender of the conditions imposed on the victim related to a suspension of pre-trial detention, parole or a court decision. In case of domestic violence, a contact or location ban can be advised and imposed, which can be monitored by means of an ankle bracelet (electronic surveillance). The victim is informed of this
In preparation for the establishment of the foundation, President of the Board Cassandra Richardson attended a conference at the Acoya Resort in Curacao on August 26, whereby the theme concerned the sexual assault of and preying on minors. Three presenters discussed topics geared towards the prevention and overcoming of victimhood in incidents where children are targeted. Discussion topics included EMDR therapy and overcoming sexual abuse, predators of the internet and signs for detection, and lastly, interview tactics performed by police with victims of crime.
The intended audience were those involved in providing emotional support and care to victims such as front-line workers and social workers and persons working with victim support services. The event was well attended by professionals from all six islands. The attendance for St. Maarten was especially noteworthy with the newly established victim’s support services. The coordinators of the event premiered a film concerning what to expect from departments of justice such as police and prosecutor’s office for persons who are victims.
President Cassandra Richardson built most of her academic and working career in the United States and Canada, respectively. She holds a bachelor’s degree, double majoring in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism and Environmental Science from the University of St. Catherine’s in St. Paul Minnesota, and two master degrees, one in Social Work and the other in Communication and Social Justice, both from the University of Windsor in Windsor Ontario, Canada. Ms. Richardson served as Executive Director of the Safe Haven Foundation, a domestic violence shelter for women experiencing intimate partner violence. She also filled the position of counselor and therapist to women and their families that are victims of domestic violence. She is an educator on gender-based violence, an advocate for gender equality and children and youth rights in her St. Maarten community and is a proponent for access to programs and opportunities alleviating the poverty of vulnerable groups.
Mr. Isaac Harold Richardson has served on the boards of various education, political and religious organizations and he looks forward to working and being a part of the VSS because it has to do with victims; people who have been violated or who have no one to speak on their behalf. Mr. Richardson brings a heart of compassion and love for people in general. Whatever it takes to encourage and let people know that there is hope at the end of the tunnel, he stands ready to serve them.
Ms. Roxanne Howell holds a Bachelor of Business Economics in Financial Accounting and brings with her 20 years of experience in the financial sector. She has been working for the Government of St. Maarten for the past 10 years as the Financial Controller for the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor and now serves as the Concern Controller for the Ministry of Finance per June 2021. Ms. Howell believes that the VSS foundation is a great initiative as many times people go through certain experiences and tend to forget the trauma that comes afterward. During a traumatic experience, it’s imperative that victims have the support that they are able to access and rely on. She trusts that with the establishment of VSS, this platform will now allow victims to be heard.
Within short, the Ministry of Justice together with VSS will be launching the management and staff positions of the foundation as well as a call for volunteers. The staff and volunteers will undergo training in order to be equipped in dealing with traumatic situations for their clients. The community may look forward to more information and being advised as soon as the VSS website is launched.
Full Article https://stmaartennews.org/nls-deathlist-killer-shaville-parris-appeals-begin-tomorrow-in-triple-murders-of-ishmael-brumant-t-bass-jonathan-williams-in-st-maarten/
FRENCH PROTESTERS SAINT-MARTIN RESISTANCE BANNED FROM CROSSING BORDER TO PROTEST TODAY
FULL ACCESS: https://stmaartennews.org/breaking-dutch-sint-maarten-bans-protest-denies-french-saint-side-activist-saint-martin-resistance-permission-cross-border-today/
As of August 19th, there were fifty three (53) persons who tested positive for COVID-19; however fifty six (56) persons have recovered; bringing the total active cases to three hundred forty four (344). The total number of confirmed cases is now three thousand three hundred sixty six (3366).
The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) are monitoring three hundred thirty(330) people in home isolation. Fourteen (14) patients are hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at forty two (42).
The number of people recovered since the first case surfaced on St. Maarten has increased to two thousand nine hundred eighty (2980). Three hundred twenty three (323) people are in quarantine based on contact tracing investigations carried out by CPS.
The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) Airport Health Team in collaboration with Health Care Laboratory Sint Maarten (HCLS) have tested 3, 558 travelers arriving at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), while CPS tested 37, 841 people throughout the community. As the numbers continue to fluctuate, CPS will continue to actively execute its contact tracing measures.
Minister Ottley urges everyone to take your health seriously. Remain vigilant when in public place, limit your social contacts and wear your masks.
