Minister Dick: We will need to
stretch 10M euros for Justice
PHILIPSBURG--The Dutch money allocated to the Netherlands Antilles Justice system, particularly the funds to clean up St. Maarten, will need to be stretched “to accomplish all of the things we need done,” Antillean Justice Minister David Dick told reporters on Friday.
Automating the Police Force’s Immigration filing and tracking systems and investing more in the personnel serving the Windward Islands Police Force are among the intended purposes for the 10 million euros promised to St. Maarten by the Dutch government recently. Dick was responding to questions from press representatives during the introduction of Police Interim Coach Ronald Donger. “Ten million euros might seem like a lot of money, but when you think about all the things [to be done] it will have to stretch,” Dick said.
Some money has already been set aside to begin a comprehensive Immigration tracking database to heighten border controls. The main concerns for police are Immigration and personnel matters, and that is where “70 per cent of that money is going to go first.”
The funds will be dispersed via Dutch funding agency to the Netherlands Antilles USONA, and money will be released only on that organisation’s approval of projects.
