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On 6-12 “Amigoe.com” wrote, “The Judge is the usually working on Curacao criminal
judge Dick van den Brink. He has already arrived in Aruba in the mean time. “This is done to
prevent any impression of preference treatment,” confirms President of the Common Court of Appeals of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Luis de Lannoy.
The father of one of the boys is a substitute judge.
And every impression has to be prevented that the judge that is assigned is friends with the father of the boy.”
www.mpo-sxm.org/published/privatelettertothejudiciaryandsocialdepartmentsofstmaarten.html
THIS LETTER WAS NOT ENDORSED BY THE MPO, IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN AS A PRIVATE CONCERNED INDIVDUAL.
OPEN LETTER TO THE JUDICIARY AND SOCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF ST. MAARTEN
I have decided to write this letter as an individual rather than as a member of the MPO Board because I intend to be very critical, as far as I see it, it’s about time someone was. However let me first make it clear to those to whom this letter is directed (and you know who you are) that being in a public office means you are accountable to the community of the island and as such a target of criticism when you fail to work in the community’s best interest.
Let me make a clear statement….you are failing! You are failing the youth of the island and as such you are undermining the future of the island. The case last week concerning two teenagers being sentenced to jail because of the lack of any other alternative clearly underlines this explicitly and for
Judge Van den Brink and The Court of Guardianship to lament the situation is something to lament even more,
you failed!
Mr. Van den Brink, I have a few questions for you.
How is it that having dealt with many cases concerning youth on our island you feel the only thing you can do concerning the situation is feel sad about it?
How is it that knowing very well that the various departments that deal with youth and juveniles are dysfunctional or non existent you feel helpless to do anything about it?
You are a
Judge Mr. Van den Brink, and as such it is your responsibility to uphold the laws and support the social structure of the island. You have influence, you have contacts, you have a duty towards the island during your stay here and it seems to me if you really cared about the issue of juveniles and youth you would do much more than merely feeling sorry about it.
You know very well that the Court of Guardianship is poorly funded and is unable to provide the services and trained staff to investigate and follow up on children at risk. You know very well that there are many children on the island in clear danger of abuse and falling though the chasms (not gaps!) in the current system.
If you cared to make a significant contribution to the island’s wellbeing and future then surely this is an issue that you could and should take up and confront. Someone should!
The MPO does know the children (read teenagers) that have just been imprisoned and we know that the families they came from were known by various social departments on the island for many years. We also know that these families have been ignored and given very little if any assistance from those services that are supposed to be helping them and that there are many more children out there that are currently in the same situation.
If these children had received that help when they needed it then they would not be in the prison now, it is not the children that have failed the community but the community that has failed these children and is still failing many others. Shame on you all!
To the various island social departments I have this to say. Being a civil servant does not mean that you just have to turn up for work (occasionally), it also means you have a duty to the island and the community to uphold and maintain.
I am very well aware that there are some in these departments that do not care about the work they are doing, that it’s just a comfortable steady job. I have this to say to you…Quit! If you do not have a passion for your work, if you do not care about making a contribution and commitment then you are hurting everyone, you are hurting your own people and island and most importantly those who need you most.
And last of all, if you cannot take criticism and use it constructively, if you take it personal instead then it’s just another reason to change your job, because you are and will be held accountable, you work for the community, please don’t forget it.
And remember, I write this as an individual member of the community who is informed well about these issues, this letter is not endorsed by the MPO, it is from me and if any of you want to discuss it then my number is 557 7056.
Chris T.
Concerned and disgusted resident of St. Maarten.