SXMElections.com

MARIGOT--The long-awaited ratification of the police cooperation treaty between The Netherlands and France is "imminent," Préfet Philippe Chopin disclosed in a press release on Monday in answer to merchant's concerns over security, increase of violence and random assaults on tourists in St. Martin.

The cooperation treaty, signed already by the Dutch, was one item of good news presented to a delegation of merchants at a closed meeting in the Préfecture following the march earlier in Marigot to protest the crime situation.

The Préfecture's Chef de Cabinet Emmanuel Effantin further confirmed ratification will be completed "before the end of the year" and that MP Daniel Gibbs is the "rapporteur" for the ratification process. Gibbs could not be immediately contacted last night for further information.

The merchant's collective presented a list of concerns and propositions to the Préfet who described the meeting as "constructive." Prior to the start of the meeting he insisted, in the release, on "removing all ambiguity on the subject by not having any correlation, from a statistical point of view, between immigration and delinquency."

Ratification of the treaty, he said, will permit a better and more efficient cooperation with the Dutch side in the fight against crime, regardless of border issues, indicating so called "hot pursuits" will no longer need to stop at the border.

Other measures to improve security include the arrival shortly of a specialised unit of judicial police to investigate and resolve crimes. In addition the Préfet noted he has asked the Gendarmerie to have a greater presence in the territory with more patrols, including plain-clothed Gendarmes, in tourist frequented areas, and to have patrols in closer contact with merchants.

It was understood by both parties in the meeting that punishment is not the sole solution to crime. Work on prevention, education and civic responsibilities of citizens equally contribute to fighting delinquency more efficiently.

March organiser Jean Canet described the one hour meeting as "very positive."

"We are pleased to have had a very positive reaction to our concerns from the Préfet," Canet told reporters afterwards. "Naturally we are not going to see changes over night, and Gendarmes cannot be everywhere and behind every citizen. But what we have heard today from him is a good basis to go forward from.

"He was very receptive and genuinely concerned. He understood the importance of protecting tourists. I am also calling for the population to assist the police and Gendarmes by reporting crime and wrongdoings because the security of St. Martin is a matter and responsibility for each citizen if we want to get the friendly island image back. Parents also have to control their children more. Maintaining security is a joint effort."

The peaceful march with about 80-100 participants started around 9:30am and made its way silently to the Préfecture. Ironically, there was a strong presence of Gendarmes accompanying the march and at the Préfecture but no sign of Territorial Police or elected officials who often join in these protests.

Local St. Martiners were also conspicuously absent from the march, prompting one merchant to say: "They should be supporting this march. If it gets really bad (crime), we as French or foreigners can leave at any time but for the locals this is their island and they have nowhere else to go and will be left to deal with the situation."

Indian merchants were seen in the march but none from the Chinese community; Chinese grocery stores often being the target of armed robberies.

"Every few years we get to realise we might be going down a road we can't get back from unless we make a strong point," commented Indian Merchants Association President Peter Sadarangani. "When crime affects tourism it will only get worse and worse so we have to keep reminding the officials to step up. I think Gendarmes can do more with a stop and search policy. If they stop and search constantly we could see some improvement.

"But the punishments have to fit the crime as well. If the law is too weak, resources are lacking, or no space for offenders in prison then the situation becomes redundant again."

While a proper prison in St. Martin seems increasingly unlikely to materialise, Canet says a type of remand institution to house petty criminals is needed instead of these offenders being sent to Guadeloupe where the prisons are already full, and each time a transfer is done it requires an escort of Gendarmes and additional paperwork to be completed.

"The Gendarmerie could also benefit from integrating Antilleans into the force to improve the harmony with the local population," he suggested. "Almost all of the Gendarmes we see are coming from France."