The agreement mentioned in Friday’s paper to bring in 16 cell containers from the Netherlands to alleviate the acute current lack of capacity at the Pointe Blanche prison (see Friday edition) seems like a good temporary solution. The only real question is why it took so long to come up with.
After all, St. Maarten, Aruba and Curaçao had been promised since 2016 they could share 33 such especially-outfitted containers used in Bonaire during the building of a new penitentiary there. These were to become available in early 2017, but the project wasn’t completed until much later and dismantling of the – no longer needed – container jail for a maximum of 84 persons started last month.
As a matter of fact, it was suggested in this column on March 15 that if this offer remains valid it might still be worth considering especially under the present circumstances. In the end it does not matter where they come from, so long as in good condition.
This is the kind of constructive joint approach to the problem that the Progress Committee mentioned in its recently released latest report (see Thursday edition). Of course, criminal detention is St. Maarten’s task as autonomous country, but if conditions deteriorate it’s the entire kingdom that is ultimately held responsible at an international human rights level.
The mobile cells being shipped to the island can house a combined 32 inmates – two each. That may not appear like many, but with only space for 70 now it can make a big difference while ongoing repairs and upgrading works at the Dutch side’s correctional facility continue.
People should also remember that it’s not just about the physical structure. Adequate staffing and professional guidance including resocialisation programmes are equally important.
In that regard, the Memorandum of Understanding signed with National Institute of Professional Advancement (NIPA) earlier this week is certainly a step in the right direction.
