No indication of investigation
against former state secretary
PHILIPSBURG--The Prosecutor’s Office has not received any word as yet from the National Detectives whether there is a basis for a criminal investigation against former state secretary of health Joan Smart-Berkel.
Meanwhile, a new State Secretary has not been appointed and Dutch representatives in the Netherlands Antilles have enquired about the status of a possible criminal investigation.
Chief Prosecutor Gilbert Joubert forwarded the Foundation Government Accountant Bureau SOAB report on fraud at the Census Office and the alleged involvement of Smart-Berkel to the National Detectives two weeks ago.
The National Detectives have been charged with conducting a factual inquiry to determine whether there is a basis for a criminal investigation against Smart-Berkel.
Smart-Berkel was working at the Census Office when irregularities concerning the issuance of passports were discovered in 2004-2005. She was told to leave the premises immediately and was denied admittance to the building.
National Alliance leader William Marlin announced in a press briefing on September 24 that after consulting with Smart-Berkel, it had been decided that she would put her position at the Governor’s disposal, in the interest of good governance and to allow justice to take its course.
Smart-Berkel’s request for honourable discharge from the De Jongh-Elhage cabinet was accepted effective September 25. A new State Secretary will have to be appointed shortly, Vice Prime Minister Ersilia de Lannooy said in a press release.
