Zero tolerance for illegals,
Coast Guard not letting up
PHILIPSBURG--With the local authorities facing problems with the lack of space available for holding illegals, Chief Prosecutor Cor Merx has stated that a decision has been made to enforce the Zero Tolerance policy on illegals.
He said, "You can build more prison cells, but the impression you would be giving the illegals is that at least if they get caught they will stay in prison in St. Maarten."
Merx said that thinking was contrary to the Zero Tolerance policy. He said, "We don't want them and that is the message we intend to send to all illegals trying to enter our shores: If they come in we will send them straight back."
He noted that the price that the captains of these boats would have to pay would serve as a warning for them not to try to smuggle people into St. Maarten.
According to Merx, "A decision has been made to make the captains of the boats pay for the tickets to send back illegals and that whatever vessel they enter the island on will be auctioned to repay the Government if the captain cannot pay."
The Coast Guard has been receiving intelligence information that has resulted in nearly 60 illegals being apprehended in one week, all Haitian and Dominican Republic nationals and all coming from Dominica.
Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard spokesman Captain Robin Middel has said, "The work of the Coast Guard will not be slowed down, as some may believe, based on the recent situation with space."
He was referring to the latest detention of 28 persons who tried to enter St. Maarten illegally, which resulted in Coast Guard officers having to spend several hours standing guard while the illegals stood on the Simpson Bay police station dock.
He said, "There is no stopping with our operations. We work for the Public Prosecutor and the situation with us guarding illegals was a one time situation. As long as illegals keep pouring into St. Maarten we will continue to make the arrests."
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