Pubdate: Tue, 09 Aug 2005 Source: Daily Herald, The (Netherlands Antilles) Copyright: 2005 The Daily Herald Contact: http://www.thedailyherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3566 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) LAW ENFORCEMENT After the recent deadly flooding and its aftermath, crime and developments on the constitutional front -- or lack thereof -- are again grabbing headlines. The crime-related news in the paper these days does not give reason for optimism on that score. Increasingly violent and ever-bolder crimes committed by hardened criminals appear to be continuing unabated, despite efforts by authorities to curb them. But the problem is not in St. Maarten alone, as shown by recent incidents on normally tranquil islands such as Anguilla and Saba. What to think of Bonaire, which has seen a prison escape, double murder and now children transporting cocaine in their stomachs in a matter of weeks. Perhaps the solution, like the problem, is not local. The influence of the lucrative drugs and money laundering business on the crime scene in the Caribbean should not be underestimated. In Curacao it practically destabilised society, as it did in other countries in the region used as transhipment points. Despite almost daily reports of drug hauls by authorities on the islands, the flow appears never-ending and the demand in consuming countries insatiable. The only way to fight it in this region with some effectiveness is to work together with other countries, as is now being done at sea, as local police departments simply can't do it on their own. In the current debate on the quest for Separate Status, sparked by a recent poll in which 7 out of 10 voters said they neither believed it would be achieved nor supported it, that is an aspect that should not be overlooked. The cries to bring in the Dutch Marechaussees (military police) every time there is a crime wave, when it was already agreed to limit their role, may be opportunistic and after the fact; they are also understandable. In a time of crisis people in the Dutch Caribbean still tend to look to Holland for help and there is no reason to believe that will change should the Antilles cease to exist. Both Bonaire and Saba have already indicated that they want Holland to carry the final responsibility for law enforcement, but giving the islands input into the policy. St. Maarten and Curacao, however, each want their own police, attorney general and prosecutor's office, for which their respective Justice Ministers will carry full political responsibility. The latter is understandable, considering the autonomous country status both "big islands" are seeking. The question can be raised, however, is if it is also the best way to provide the maximum possible guarantee of order and safety to an increasingly concerned public under the circumstances. With the survey result in mind, if there is one area in which the "disheartened" St. Maarten voters may be willing to compromise on what many obviously see as an endless and fruitless quest, it would probably be law enforcement if it means better security. That does not necessarily mean the island should give up its desire to set policy concerning local law enforcement, but that practical ways and means must continue to be found to work together closely and effectively within the Kingdom to tackle today's unsettling crime in a unified and decisive manner. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth