French-Dutch cooperation still
strained by extradition process
PHILIPSBURG--The issue of extradition of suspects still remains complex where it pertains to French/Dutch police, amidst efforts through the Anguilla-St. Maarten-St. Martin tripartite meetings that seeks to foster better cooperation amongst the different organisations.
New Chief of the Gendarmes in French St. Martin Captain Loic Baras told The Daily Herald on Wednesday that his office worked directly under the authority of the Prosecutor’s Office in Guadeloupe and only under instructions from that office could suspects be handed over to Dutch authorities.
He said he believed there was much room for improvement of the working relationship with not just Dutch St. Maarten’s police force, but with that of Anguilla as well.
Police Chief Commissioner of the Windward Islands Derrick Holiday said there were no operational problems with the French-Dutch police relationship. He said the two organisations had an open line of communication where it pertained to the exchange of information.
He lamented though that when it came to transfer of suspects wanted for prosecution in Dutch St. Maarten there was “a lot more bureaucracy with the way things are done on the French side and with their legislation that makes the transfer even more difficult.”
He said though that both departments worked with the resources they had and would continue to work together to fight crime on the island.
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