Tuesday’s release of a burglary suspect caught red-handed, due to lack of legal representation, angered quite a few readers. After all, he is believed to have been responsible for numerous break-ins and is now back on the streets pending his trial.
Wednesday’s criminal cases were all postponed for the same reason, adding to the widespread concern. The striking pro-bono lawyers say the backlog in their payments goes back to January and they are not willing continue like this.
Representatives of the group were told there’s a financial issue, but they will not allow a promise to increase the fees effective 2018 made last year by then-Prime Minister Willian Marlin and Justice Minister Edson Kirindongo to no longer be kept because the correct procedure allegedly wasn’t followed. Spokesperson Cor Merx openly wondered how it is even possible that ministers enter into agreements which are later brushed off as “political decisions” by their successors.
He has a point. As stated before, governing is supposed to be a continuity and public administrators are in principle expected to honour normal commitments made by their predecessors. The people, including investors, must be able to count on such too.
Of course, if the legislative path was never correctly initiated and no corresponding provisions were made in the budget, it does put the hike’s lawfulness into question. However, postponing the matter for another year does not appear to be very reasonable at this point and certainly wouldn’t enhance the already low level of trust in government. Budget amendments can always be submitted after the fact, as is usually also the case.
The bottom line is that the issue needs to be resolved quickly in the interest of judicial security in St. Maarten. As the lawyers are willing to accept an advance of 75 per cent, no more time should be wasted in getting the deal done.
