Marechaussees’ stay
prolonged by 2 years
THE HAGUE--The Royal Dutch Marechaussees will stay in the Antillean islands until 2010, announced Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten on Monday following a meeting of the Netherlands Antilles Safety Plan.
The presence of the Marechaussees will not only be prolonged, but their number will also be increased and they will be deployed in a more flexible way, meaning they can rotate among the islands with more flexibility whenever their presence is needed.
There are 38 Marechaussees stationed on the islands, of whom 19 are in Curaçao and 19 in the Windward Islands. This number will increase to 43. The Marechaussees assist with Immigration, border patrol and on the anti-robbery teams.
In Saba and St. Eustatius, and in Bonaire in the near future, they assist with general police tasks, including patrolling. Bijleveld-Schouten said the police forces in Saba and St. Eustatius needed the help, as they were “fragile” because of understaffing. She specifically said she was very satisfied with the work of the Marechaussees on these two islands, the reason for making them available for Bonaire as well.
The Netherlands is paying five million euros (NAf. 12.5 million) per year for the Marechaussees on the islands. The Ministry of Defence will make the Marechaussees available, while Kingdom Relations, chapter 4 of the budget, will foot the bill.
Bijleveld-Schouten called the decision to prolong the presence of the Marechaussees a “real plus,” as otherwise their assistance would have started to decrease as of next year. The deployment of the Marechaussees takes place in consultation with the islands, with the input of the Lt. Governors.
