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Originally Posted by silkjavelin
The following statement was e-mailed out on Feb. 23rd in regards to several recent violent crimes:
Dear AUC Students,
I have recently read several reports of very disturbing attacks against AUC students, and Dr. Atchley has filled me in on others. We will be meeting with the Chief of Police and both asking some very direct questions, and letting him know of our high degree of concern. In the meantime, it is important to understand that tourists too, as well
as others have been mugged, and robbed. It is for these reasons I also
feel we should be addressing our concerns to the tourist board, as the last thing I would thing St. Maarten wants is the reputation that Jamacia and some of the other islands now have. It is also important that you follow the rules of this island. That means keeping your cars in good order and having up to date registration. Registering when required by immigration and the other authorities. Women students, when ever possible should be accompanied by male students. If you are accosted, don't fight back. If another auto is involved get a license plate. I realize some of you feel the police have done nothing, and I intend to take this matter up with the Chief, and if necessary go to the top of the government. I also happen to believe that we invite trouble by staying out very late at night. I understand there is no nearby local eatery, and I am talking to administration about subcontracting out the cafeteria for dinner
meals. However, frequenting casinos, or late night bars, is likely looking
for trouble, but it is also clear, some of these attacks do not fall under
these categories. At all times, stay vigilant. Remember, the semblance of law and order is likely, at least partially a facade. This remains a Third World country, and like many others is plagued by problems of crime, inadequate resources, and possibly corruption. Locals too, are facing these problems.
We will keep you posted....
Buz ********, Ph.D.
Dean
If the semblence of law and order on this third world island is as much a facade as it has recently been shown to be, what alternative action to "fighting back" does the Dean suggest we take when we are "accosted" by civilian and police alike? What exactly does the Dean suggest one does in the event that one witnesses a fellow student being beaten senseless? Furthermore, what action should that student who is being beaten take? While I am impressed that the Dean plans to discuss his degree of concern with the Chief of Police, I feel that his duty to the student body goes further. Recent events illustrate that simply minding your own business is sufficient enough cause on this island for you to be "accosted" without any invitation of trouble or provocation. While I am sure the Dean can't and won't condone any physical response to being accosted, there needs, however to be some further recourse for us to take. It is obvious that filing a police report is virtually a complete waste of time and paper. I understand as well that attempting to fight an islander in court is a recipe for failure and another opportunity to view the facade of law and order. While we are only here for a matter of 18 months, it is apparent that alot can happen to a person physically/mentally/emotionally in 18 seconds...Bottom line: The question that Dean ******** failed to answer is who should we, as temporary residents and students, appeal to when our rights are denied?
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I agree with your post regarding the dean could have addressed the proper actions when the students' rights are compromised while resinding on the Island. I would think that the proper channel is to a school endorsed or school provided local attorney for legal protections of the student bodies. Probably the police chief wont do anything or his troops at his department unless there is a strong incentives for them to acts or a immediate pressure from the superior chain of command such as the office of the Dutch goverment.
So I think it would be best for the dean to deal with the higher chain of command simultaneously while addressing the Local "police". Our money is to remind the dutch commisioner with AUC's sizable contribution to the island economy.
This island is definetely a third world country despite the all the modernized goodies and amenties for the tourists. I still remember the sporadic local news articles about the innocent tourists got mugged and robbed. There are good number of illegal floaters and migrants on the Island and they often ends up commiting drug related illegal activities.
On the flip side, these are happening becus the island is a strong economic magnet that is doing far better with robust tourisms and european currrency effects than other islands such as dominica or jamaica.
Any third world country is no exception to police corruptions. I heard that even some western european polices are inferior and corrupt like Italy. Probably the cloeset illustration is the Mexican police where the deeply imfiltrated mobs in the police force are doing nothing to protect the journalists from getting killed for letting the dirty news out to the public.
Saint maarten itself shares quite fascinating yet sad hisotry in that it used to be a trading entry point for the north American slavery and it was almost complteny runined and desolated until the sea salt harvest and cotton industry as well as the Rum brewing on the isalnds rescued her from desolation. It was suffered another economic set back during 1930s until an American visionary invester saw the huge potential for tourism and acted on it to ressurect her.
Gratefully, I never had any incidents involving the local thugs, so are the far majority of the AUCers on the Island.
Its just reality that hits to be in the foreign country.
Am I afraid to go back to Saint maarten? nah..
I miss the place where the serenity of the tropical paradies are still alive and vivid and the place where I ran all over with my bike trails.