Prominent witnesses to
be heard in Holiday case
PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Justice David Dick and Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards are among six witnesses who will have to testify before the Investigating Judge in the case against former Windward Islands Police Chief Commissioner Derrick Holiday, the Court decided during Wednesday’s hearing.
Holiday’s first hearing since his February 5 arrest by federal detectives was suspended for an indefinite time by Judge Rob Goosens. The trial will probably continue in August/September after all witnesses have been heard.
Holiday is suspected of involvement in signing 43 forged Immigration documents between April and August 2004, and of violating the Federal Ordinance on Admittance and Expulsion LTU between October and December 2006.
Among other alleged crimes, Holiday allegedly stamped and signed a letter of the St. Maarten Cricket Association on November 21, 2006, on which he stated there was “no objection to re-entry of certain players and a coach,” although these persons were not entitled to re-enter St. Maarten.
He will be charged further with forgery of documents between February 2004 and June 2007 to obtain a rent allowance from the Central Government to which he was not entitled.
Attorney-at-law Joeri Essed, representing Holiday, requested that nine witnesses be heard. Judge Goosens agreed to have Minister of Justice David Dick be heard concerning alleged promises he might have made to Holiday that no charges would be filed against him if he paid back the rent allowance. Lt. Governor Richards will also testify about the rent issue.
Former Lt. Governor Dennis Richardson will be heard about the authority of the Police Chief Commissioner concerning the admittance of foreigners into St. Maarten.
Other witnesses are Police Chief Inspector Davnis Francisca, Holiday’s secretary Beryl Henriquez, and Petrudon Architects and Construction NV Director Donald Hughes.
Essed announced that he would be pleading to have the Prosecutor’s case against his client declared inadmissible because in his eyes the principles of a fair trial had been violated.
