SXMElections.com

~ New board, congress sworn in ~

PHILIPSBURG--Newly elected President of the Nationale Algemene Politie Bond (NAPB) St. Maarten police union Jeanine Peterson pledged to do her utmost to tackle the many issues affecting members.

Peterson made the statements shortly after being sworn in during a ceremony at the John Larmonie Center on Wednesday. Also sworn in were members of the union’s Board and Congress.

Peterson said she was humbled and proud to be part of history to have been the first woman elected to serve the NAPB police union as President. She said as a woman, she brings to the table a certain feminine passion and drive to get things done for her colleagues in the Justice Ministry and for members.

She said now that the elections are over and the new board and congress sworn in, the work has only now begun. She said there were still many outstanding issues affecting the various departments that have to be tackled. It is Peterson’s goal to work closely with her board and the necessary authorities to sort out the many issues affecting the membership. “I am realistic. I do not promise that everything will be solved overnight, or in a day, month or maybe not even in a year. But I do promise to do my utmost and provide the best representation that I possibly can for members of the entire ministry,” she said.

“With this said. Getting results is not something that I can do on my own and not something that the board can do on its own either. Addressing the issues affecting members is something that we all have to do together, by putting our hands together and work as one solid force.”

Peterson said one of her first tasks will be to deploy board members to each department to sit with workers and discuss their grievances. She said her doors will always be open to members to discuss any issues affecting them.

She congratulated everyone who contested the election and those who were elected as well as thanked members of the police force who voted and those who placed their confidence in her. She also thanked previous president Ephewoldus “Joe” Josepha and his team for all the work that went into helping members during their term in office. She also singled out several persons for helping her to better understand the functioning of the unions and its laws including Chief Inspector Carlyle Rogers (a former NAPB President) and NAPB Curaçao president Ronaldo Abrahams, who flew in to St. Maarten from Curaçao for the swearing in ceremony.

In remarks at the ceremony, Acting Chief of Police Commissioner Carl John said it was an honour and an example for members of the police management and the Justice Minister to get a chance to witness the swearing in of union members. He said it is often perceived that the union and police management should be at war. He said the police management has for the last few years been working as a partner with the union, which he said is to be applauded. He told the members who were sworn in that the union’s work will take “a lot of effort” and will consume a lot of their free time. He expressed HOPE that the union is critical of all that is happening in the police force and in the ministry in St. Maarten and wished the new president and those elected success in their endeavours.

The seven men and seven women who took the oath on Wednesday were from the board, Jeanine Peterson, Lisa Christian-Piper, Ruminni Rogers, Veta Euson, Shawn Crispulo, Janice Philips and Fabiola Brown and from the Congress members Alfred Leito, Dairon Every, Belinda Bryson, R. Doran, R. Courtar, R. Mauricia and John Boyrard.

A number of dignitaries were in attendance at the ceremony including several police officials, Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, who had to leave early due to another engagement; Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU) President Claire Elshot and Workers Institute for Organised Labour (WIFOL) President Theophilus Thompson amongst other persons.