Dick wants to guarantee
Police Force credibility
PHILIPSBURG--Justice Minister David Dick’s main concern at the moment is to guarantee the credibility of the St. Maarten Police Force. “There are ongoing investigations and I have to ensure that the force maintains its credibility,” Dick said.
He said he had come to St. Maarten to inform himself on the latest developments in the ongoing investigations involving Police Commissioner Marcel Loor, among other things.
Dick met with Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and the Prosecutor’s Office on the situation in the Police Force. Asked about the persistent rumour that Police Chief Commissioner Derrick Holiday would be replaced following Loor’s case, Dick said a lot of things were being said.
“I cannot go by these rumours. Sometimes when people smell blood they want to go on a rampage. But it often happens that when things have been investigated, the facts turn out to be different. That’s why I cannot participate in these rumours,” Dick said.
He also said he had discussed the implementation of a new Information Technology system for the Police Force in St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. He explained that a new software programme for the Police Force and Immigration was being developed and would soon be delivered.
In this regard, Dick said he had requested again a plan for the desired new police organisation, including a draft plan of all that needed to be improved. “I have asked for this plan several times already and have been waiting on it for some time now. This time I insisted that the plan be completed,” Dick said.
He added that the new and modernised police organisation would be announced in the near future, just as had been the case in Curaçao and Bonaire.
