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PHILIPSBURG--“A very important undertaking” and “an example of good cooperation,” were some of the terms used to describe the St. Maarten Police Force and Ambulance Department’s Joint Dispatch Centre, which was officially launched on Tuesday.

The state-of-the-art centre was constructed at a cost of NAf. 5.5 million, which was partly funded by Dutch Funding Agency USONA and partners in the project. The centre is located above Central Drugstore obliquely opposite the Philipsburg Police Station and is manned 24 hours a day.

Before the existence of the centre, the police dispatch was not manned around the clock. It was unmanned between the hours of 11:00pm to 7:00am. However, as of April 17, the Centre has been operational and is being manned around the clock.

The centre contains state-of-the-art equipment that is tailor made for St. Maarten. The opening of the centre means that the police and ambulance will work together to more promptly respond to emergencies in the community.

Officials who attended the opening ceremony held at the Philipsburg Police Station were then treated to a tour of the facility across the street.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Gout told attendees at the launch that the project dates back to 2009, when the then Island Government of St. Maarten indicated that it wanted the three primary emergency services (Ambulance, Fire Department and Police) to work together on such an initiative. Gout gave a historical perspective of the project leading to the opening of the centre. The construction began in 2013 and the glitches were ironed out this year.

Also highlighted was training provided to dispatchers by NAGICO Insurances.

Fire Department official Cylred Richardson said the opening of the centre was “a very important undertaking” for St. Maarten. He said while unlike the Police Force, the Ambulance did have a 24-hour dispatch prior to the opening of the centre, the coming together of the two emergency services is good for St. Maarten.

He said it was his HOPE that the Fire Department can eventually join the Dispatch Centre in the future as this will make coordination of responding to incidents in the community much easier.

Public Private Partnership for a Safer St. Maarten P3 official Eric Ellis said the foundation will be supporting the Centre by placing hurricane shutters on the building to protect the equipment in the event of a disaster. Investments will also be made in training of staffers for the Centre. He said P3 was formed to support the Police Force.

P3, which is supported by NAGICO, the Sonesta Maho Group and American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine, welcomes more business partners to come on board.

Justice Minister Dennis Richardson said the opening of the centre was an example of “good cooperation” in government. He said it was a pity that the Fire Department has decided to not participate in the project at this stage.

Acting Chief of Police Carl John said, while it appears as though the steps St. Maarten has taken to obtain its new status as Country within the Dutch Kingdom is not being recognised by some, the local police force will forge ahead. “We are not stopping,” he said adding that the aim is to give the best quality services and product. “We have a lot of work to do, but it’s going to be done,” he stressed.

He said too that while the Fire Department is not on board this initiative, cooperation still exists amongst the emergency services as was proven during the Hurex hurricane exercise.