Law Enforcement Council: St. Maarten Still Lacks Integrated System for Protection of public officials, others

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten still does not have an integrated system for the guarding and protection of public officials, other persons, objects and services, even as security threats in society continue to increase, according to findings highlighted by the Law Enforcement Council.

The conclusion follows a recent follow-up investigation by the Council into the implementation of earlier recommendations concerning the guarding and protection of persons and objects within the criminal justice system.

The Council found that St. Maarten continues to lag in the protection of public officials, witnesses and other vulnerable persons. It warned that without swift action and additional resources, the safety of persons involved in legal proceedings and the proper functioning of the justice system remain under pressure.

According to the Council, security is an indispensable condition for a properly functioning legal process. The follow-up investigation shows that this area is still not adequately organized. The Council therefore called for sharp prioritization and accelerated efforts to introduce an effective system.

The need for stronger protection has grown over the years. The Council pointed to increasing gun violence, threats from organized crime, domestic violence, youth crime and threats against victims and witnesses as developments that make extra protection necessary in certain situations.

The Council’s concerns are not new. As early as 2014, it found that the protection of public officials in St. Maarten was insufficiently regulated at the legal level and that not all parties involved were aware of their legal responsibilities. At that time, protection was organized differently from one situation to another, without a fixed implementation structure.

Following that 2014 review, the Council made three recommendations to address those shortcomings. Two years later, in 2016, another investigation concluded that other persons and objects may also require protection in the event of serious or concrete threats and possible violence, particularly where the safety of criminal justice proceedings is concerned. That investigation led to five additional recommendations.

The Council’s 2025 follow-up investigation reviewed the implementation of eight earlier recommendations related to these issues. The findings show that many of those recommendations have remained largely unaddressed.

Although the Council noted that a good start has been made, it also indicated that further implementation requires sufficient policy capacity within the St. Maarten Police Force, KPSM. The Council warned that the country must move beyond partial or case-by-case responses and establish a clear, structured and operational system.

The issue is especially significant because the protection of public officials, witnesses, victims and other vulnerable persons is closely tied to public safety, confidence in law enforcement and the ability of the justice system to function without intimidation or undue risk.

The Council’s findings place renewed attention on the need for a coordinated approach among the relevant authorities, with clear legal grounding, assigned responsibilities, operational procedures, trained personnel and sufficient resources.

The Council emphasized that St. Maarten has waited too long to fully implement the required protection framework. With threats increasing, it said the country can no longer afford delay.

The report underscores the need for government and justice stakeholders to give urgent priority to the establishment of an integrated system for the guarding and protection of persons, objects and services, particularly in cases involving public officials, witnesses, victims and others who may face serious threats.

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