PHILIPSBURG–The long-awaited surveillance-camera system is on its way to becoming a reality, as nine surveillance operators signed three-year contracts with the Ministry of Justice under the supervision of the Police Force on Wednesday. Phase one of the project allows police to monitor several key locations in St. Maarten.
The team will be trained and will be ready to monitor on behalf of police starting October, according to Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever, who signed the contracts at the police headquarters on Wednesday. A total of 36 cameras are installed at key positions.
Chief of Police Carl John thanked the minister for supporting the project and said several ministers before him all had contributed to the project’s completion. Phase one of the project costs Government NAf. 2,000,000 while Government hopes to create business partnerships for the other phases of the project.
The system will be monitored by police 24/7. Informative signs will be placed throughout Philipsburg to warn the public and visitors that cameras are in place and the area is being monitored. The nine staff members will get basic police training.
“The workers were interviewed and screened by police. Police camera systems have proven to be effective in fighting crime in the region,” stated John.
The cameras are presently being tested and some are operational. The monitoring of these key locations will be logged in. When asked by The Daily Herald if residents’ privacy is taken into account by these workers, De Weever said a committee will be put in place to take over several existing laws from abroad and present them to the Council of Ministers and Parliament for approval.
“We are monitored already – you walk into a store or you walk outside a building that has cameras. The only thing that is important is that you need to know that you are being monitored,” stated De Weever in his answer.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79607-nine-surveillance-operators-sign-employment-contract
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