~ Says ExCo should be involved in decisions for country ~

PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council and St. Maarten's adviser on justice matters Richard Gibson should be involved in the decision-making process on justice matters for Country St. Maarten.

This was one of the concerns raised when both Commissioner William Marlin, who has been taking responsibility for justice matters, and Gibson met with Justice Minister Magali Jacoba and her delegation Sunday.

Also discussed was recruitment of a new police chief and personnel to fill two other top posts in the St. Maarten Police Force, decisions in which the Executive Council should also be involved, Marlin said. These appointments should be made by Thursday, April 1.

Marlin said it was imperative that the Executive Council, through him and Gibson, was "directly involved" in decisions being made on justice matters for Country St. Maarten.

Marlin said there had appeared to be a "lack of communication" between the minister and himself on behalf of the Executive Council on this issue. Sunday's meeting was necessary to "clear the air" on this and other pending issues.

"St. Maarten is becoming a country, and in this transition period, we are preparing to take over the functions of the Central Government, including justice matters, and are setting up our own Ministry of Justice. In so doing, several important decisions are being made right now, and it is felt that the Executive Council, through my person, and the justice adviser should be directly involved," Marlin said.

Also discussed were issues pertaining to the Brooks Tower Accord (BTA) and the prison. The BTA was also discussed at length during a meeting held in Saba last week among the Lt. Governors of the five Netherlands Antilles islands, Justice Minister Magali Jacobs and Marlin.

Also attending Sunday's meeting were State Secretary for Justice Ernie Simmons (St. Eustatius), Gibson, Jacoba's Executive Assistant Tiara Hasselhoef, and Norman Marchena, who handles all personnel matters for the Justice Ministry.