PHILIPSBURG--Representatives of the Council of Law Enforcement on Monday presented its report "the security and the safety in the detentions facilities of St. Maarten" to Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson.

 

Presenting the report to the minister were Franklyn Richards, representative of the Council of Law Enforcement and Gerard van Voorst, Chief Inspector of the office of the Council of Law Enforcement on St. Maarten.

 

The report was drafted in the wake of the Council having examined the security of, and the safety in Pointe Blanche and Simpson Bay prisons. In addition, at the request of the Minister of Justice, the Council investigated a serious violent incident that took place on September 11, 2014, within the walls of the Point Blanche facility.

 

The report underscores that the importance of security and safety in prisons cannot be underestimated. "Society should be able to rely on the fact that incarceration of convicted criminals will have its judicial effect and protect society against further crimes. The government has the duty to ensure the safety of personnel in the workplace of facilities and a safe confinement of detainees," said the report.

 

The focus of the report is not only placed on community safety, taking into consideration eventual protection from prison escapes. The report also focusses on internal security, to the extent that a safe working environment for staff at the institutions is maintained as would be the case with the safety of prisoners during their detention.

 

An additional point of interest was the incident of September 11, 2014 at Pointe Blanche prison, where unrests took place after a prisoner was slashed with a self-made machete after he tried to shoot another inmate. His firearm jammed, and a thorough search of the facility revealed a second firearm.

 

The Council is said to be impressed with the great dedication, which many display in keeping the institutions operational, even under difficult circumstances.

 

The report mentioned that attention is being paid to construction initiatives that benefit safety and security. Since mid-2013, the facility in Pointe Blanche has begun renovation, taking place in phases.

 

Progress is being made in introducing additional security and safety, by implementing mechanisms that would minimize the risks of escape. The report notes that tools such as camera surveillance and intercom promote the safety of both staff and inmates.

 

An acceptable level of security and safety, however, calls for more than "bricks, bars and cameras. In areas other than construction and facilities, an extremely worrisome situation is present. Three structural factors affect security and safety within the prisons in a negative manner: understaffing, quality and integrity of personnel," the report specified.

 

On the basis of its research, the Council has presented 15 recommendations to address the current situation. Each of these recommendations is to contribute to marked improvements. "Substantial effect, however, will only be achieved when this multifaceted issue is approached integrally," the council warned.

 

In 2011, the Progress Committee of St. Maarten which monitors action plans adopted in the framework of the constitutional reform of 2010, expressed doubts regarding the resolving of the problem of shortage of detention locations without the assistance of the Kingdom partners.

The Council now doubts whether St. Maarten, without employing the opportunities available through its Kingdom partners, will be able to solve the challenges regarding detention capacity as well as that of safety and security of the institutions.

 

The scope and dimension of the problem, and the extent to which it has been consequently lagging behind in following up on findings and recommendations, are not a cause for optimism of the Council.

 

The Daily Herald