‘Local Chief of Police should have
more authority over Police Force’
~ Richards in favour of separation of competencies ~
PHILIPSBURG--Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards says he believes that as the Local Chief of Police, he should be afforded more influence during the transition period leading up to country status, more authority in matters pertaining to the Police Force.
This is taking into consideration conditions stated in the November 2, 2006, Final Accord for St. Maarten to obtain country status, such as strengthening of the police organisation prior to the new status becoming a reality.
“I honestly believe and trust that there are convincing reasons for such. After all, the Lt. Governor has a closer relationship with our local Police Force than the Minister of Justice does,” Richard stated in his presentation during Wednesday’s Rotary luncheon.
He said that in correspondence to Dutch State Secretary for Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten he had argued in favour of a separation of competencies between the Local Chief of Police and the Minister of Justice, similar to the situation in the Netherlands.
“In the Netherlands, the Minister of Interior Affairs has a distant role of keeping an eye on things and, among other things, is responsible for the rules governing management and finances of the police. In the Netherlands Antilles, the Minister of Justice would have to fulfil a similar role, but at a distance, or at ‘arms length.’ The Local Chiefs of Police would then be granted more responsibility for, let’s say, the budget.”
Although Richards is responsible for law and order, his influence on key aspects of the process has been limited. For example, the Local Chief of Police has no authority when it comes to deciding on the allocation of funds, the budget, the formation and the policy plans, he said.
“Officially, the police regulation gives me the competency to prepare these items, in draft form. In practice, my influence is not that significant, with the factual decision-making authority remaining with the Minister of Justice in Curaçao.”
Richards said he remained convinced that all partners within the Kingdom should work together to achieve a safer St. Maarten. “By all partners, I mean the Kingdom Government, Parliamentarians, the Antillean Government and in particular the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, the Lt. Governor as Local Chief of Police and the private sector.
“Moreover, the St. Maarten Government should play a more active role; for example, by engaging political representatives, particularly all members of the Island Council and Members of Parliament of the Windward Islands, to defend the cause of a safer St. Maarten in a unified manner by calling on and requesting the Minister of Justice to live up to his tasks and responsibilities in regard to St. Maarten’s security and safety.”
