Surveillance cameras
in town from January
~ ExCo approves three-month test in Philipsburg ~
PHILIPSBURG--The Island Government hopes to start testing a surveillance system for Philipsburg as a “complement to ongoing crime-fighting efforts” as early as January, a press statement from Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards said Tuesday.
Telecommunications and networking firm Zenitel Caribbean N.V. has offered to carry out three months of tests with the new system to assess its worth to anti-crime efforts. The Executive Council ExCo recently approved the “initial testing phase.”
“It is additionally the intention to present the camera surveillance project to members of the Island Council for ratification,” it was explained in the statement.
Antillean Justice Minister David Dick approved in August the use of the cameras on the island territory. Government has placed stipulations on the surveillance system, limiting access to archived footage, and mandating signage to alert residents to the locations of the cameras. “This will ensure that citizens are aware that they are in an area where video surveillance is taking place,” the statement explains.
Philipsburg residents and business owners should also employ independent security measures to make “crime-fighting a community effort,” said Richards, who also functions as Local Chief of Police.
Two Philipsburg businesses were robbed in brazen daylight attacks as recently as Sunday.
“The project is deemed essential to complement ongoing crime-fighting efforts and is particularly welcomed in view of past serious crime incidents, including broad daylight armed robberies targeting jewellery stores,” said the statement from Richards’ Press Secretary David Christian, reminding residents and guests to remain alert. “Citizens and tourists are reminded to be always vigilant in response to doing everything possible to prevent crimes from taking place.”
After the testing phase, the ExCo plans to place the surveillance camera project on public bid. Officers at the Philipsburg police station will be the ones monitoring the footage.
The statement did not outline the location of these cameras.
