Businesses and persons in St. Peters were controlled for residence and work permits, illegal substances and business licences on Saturday evening.
ST. PETERS--Several businesses were fined and eight people detained during multidisciplinary joint controls by Immigration and Border Protection Services IBP, the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM, Customs St. Maarten and the inspectorates of the Ministries of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) and Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA in the St. Peters area during the evening of Saturday, February 5.
They controlled for residence and work permits, illegal substances and business licences, according to a press release from the Ministry of Justice on Sunday.
Two bars and one supermarket received fines for irregularities in their paperwork during the checks and two lottery booths were closed for the same reason. Additionally, the managements of three of these businesses were summoned to the TEATT Ministry on Monday, February 7.
According to the release, eight persons were held due to lack of documentation and brought in for further investigation.
In accordance with the relevant law, a valid form of identification is required when out in public. Individuals must have a means of identifying themselves when approached by authorities. Failure to identify oneself to the authorities is a misdemeanour and may result in being fined or incarcerated, warned the Ministry of Justice.
The joint controls will continue throughout various communities, stated the press release. IBP, KPSM, Customs St. Maarten, and the TEATT, VSA and Justice Ministries advise persons and businesses to ensure that all documents required by law are in place, whether it is a business licence or work- and residence permit.
The multidisciplinary team thanks the community for their support and cooperation, concluded the release.
