Minister of Justice Looking Forward to Policy On Sex Offender Registry
In April of this year, a school administrator and her associate were arrested for sexually abusing a minor. While no further reports on this case came out, there are still predators near or around children. In recent and past years several cases of sexual harassment and sexual abuse were made public resulting in short term uproar in the community, however, relatively known predators continue to socialize freely while remaining unknown to the larger community around them. A sex offender registry is therefore needed as it contains detailed information of anyone who was convicted, cautioned or released from prison for a sexual offense against children or adults. This is instrumental for background checks where employment, lease or rental agreements and public awareness is concerned.
According to rainn.org (RAINN meaning: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) “sexual harassment is a broad term, including many types of unwelcome verbal and physical sexual attention. Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behaviour, often physical, that occurs without the consent of the victim.”
Unfortunately, sexual harassment is still not punishable by law in St. Maarten. Sexual abuse is handled by the police and a shelter does exist for women and children who are violated in sexual or domestic abuse. Recently the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) signed off on a policy commissioned by both Ministries to “strengthen government’s response to combat Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Gender-based Violence through legislation and procedures that prevent their occurrence” a government release stated. The policy included the three degrees of violence and the penalties attached for each act whether it was committed individually or collectively.
During Wednesday, July 28 Council of Minister's press briefing, the Minister of Justice, Anna Richardson stated, “we are looking forward to developing a policy where registration is on the way” and it’s been on the table of discussion she added. "I can positively say that this Council of Ministers is working together very, very attentively, to be able to address various aspects of matters that are plaguing our communities."
In the past, St. Maarten has experienced a school principal, teachers, coaches and even a former government minister, convicted or accused of sexual harassment and abuse against minors or adults. If it happens at the workplace, it is up to a company’s policy guidelines to deal with the situation since no outside or legal source of help is available. A registry is a step towards alerting the public of perpetrators particularly if they are at spaces near their victims and other children.
