SUCKER GARDEN—St. Marten was once known as the Friendly Island. It is quickly becoming the island that has to close its once thriving sports facility as the National Sports Institute St. Marten “cannot guarantee the safety & security of the users” of the Melford Hazel Sports Center.
Director of NIS Maikel Cornet explained that both the police and La Paix Sucker Garden community president have been informed of the closing until further notice as “anti social individuals from the neighbourhood are using the location to conduct illegal activities such as selling of narcotics, fencing of stolen goods.” He continued, “In order for them to continue their illegal practice
they are threatening and attacking users of the sport facility.
Our coordinator has been threatened and even attacked.” “The final straw that broke the camels back that led to our decision to close the facility until further notice, is the attack on the users of the facility. A young girl was hurt during this attack, and vehicles of the users where damaged.” The attack, consisting of rocks being thrown at both the users including the young girl and the cars park at the facility occurred March 27. The facility was closed nearly five months ago on April 2.
“The police are constantly notified, but the culprits will not let up.”
The Melford Hazel was broken into just last week, again. “The printers and other accessories were stolen and the office was ransacked.”
