SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten  –  Member of Parliament (MP) Tamara Leonard has questioned the impact of Government’s flagging financial state on the effective functioning of the country’s justice chain via a letter to both Finance Minister Richard Gibson and Justice Minister Edson Kirindongo. 

Leonard of the United People’s (UP) party stated in her letter she was directing the questions both ministers “considering the severity of the situation” based on information she has gathered. She has request the answers “post haste and precisely by the ministers.”

“Has government lapsed in payment for services and/or equipment to any sector of the justice chain, e.g. Police, Court of Guardianship, Prosecutor’s Office? If yes, which sectors? What are the amounts owed and how extensive is the backlog,” Leonard asked in her letter. 

“How is the non-payment, rather the neglect of government of its financial responsibilities, affecting the justice chain in its critical function,” Leonard asked. “Does government consider the non-payment of its bills, say for example to the Prosecutor’s Office and/or for the ActPol service, thwarting the work of law enforcement and putting the country as severe security risks, internally and externally?”

“What impacts do government’s dire financial constraints have on the justice chain? How does government intend to correct the backlogs, if such exists, and now soon,” the MP stated.  

There has always been the perception that the Dutch Government pays for the justice chain, said Leonard. To tackle this perception, she called for the ministers to give a financial breakdown of what government covers, for example, for the Kingdom Cooperation Team RST, Royal Marechaussee, Prosecutor’s Office, Attorney General, Court and Court of Guardianship. 

“My questions are related to the agenda point of the aborted plenary session of Parliament on Monday. Finance Minister Gibson was in Parliament to answer questions from MPs about the country’s financial state, but was unable to continue his presentation due to lack of preparation or coordination with his fellow ministers,” Leonard said. 

Instead of waiting until the meeting resumes in the future and “allowing issues of grave concern about the country’s safety and security,” Leonard said she has chosen to address her questions to the ministers in writing to the ministers via Chairwoman of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.