PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever said on Monday that crime must not be allowed to eat at the foundations of the St. Maarten society.
“We have zero tolerance for crime. I appeal to the public to assist investigators with respect to a number of criminal activities that have taken place. The police need your assistance in order to solve these crimes.
“Fighting crime is everybody’s responsibility. We all have a vested interest in this fight for the sake of our children, family, friends and society overall,” said the minister.
He added that Government is determined to do all it can to break the cycle of crime within a small society like St. Maarten.
Criminal activity is focused primarily in crime circles such as narcotics and gang-related, but overall St. Maarten is still a safe and secure society for residents and visitors when compared to other developed countries, according to De Weever.
“We need to work together to break the cycle of violence that distresses the lives of individuals and families in our communities. Effective law enforcement and community involvement and engagement will go a long way in combating this scourge to society and are the heart of any successful approach in disrupting and preventing serious crime.
“There can be no prosperity without safety and security. We have to ensure the protection of those who assist the police with crimes. There must be trust between the community and the justice departments. If not, trust needs to be earned in order for all to feel more secure. Let us ensure that St. Maarten remains a safe destination,” De Weever said.
