Stop and search powers now extended to Cole Bay/Simpson Bay

The enhanced stop and search powers granted to the Police Force of Sint Maarten KPSM under the Firearms Ordinance have been extended to cover Cole Bay/Simpson Bay from 

today, Friday, August 9, 2024, until Monday, August 12, 2024. The order goes into effect at 9:00pm and will remain in place until Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 9:00am. 

The second and third orders will cover the same time slot on Saturday, August 10, to 9:00am Sunday, August 11, and Sunday, August 11, to Monday, August 12. 

All orders cover from the vicinity of Tropicana Casino on Welfare Road in Cole Bay up to and including in the vicinity of Pollos Hermanos on Airport Road in Simpson Bay. 

The order, issued by the Prosecutor's Office Sint Maarten OM SXM, is similar to the one already in place for Dutch Quarter since Monday, August 5, 2024. The Cole Bay/Simpson Bay area was added to the enhanced stop and search coverage due to the number of large events and increased nighttime activities planned for the order period. 

Under the order, law enforcement officers continue to be authorized to seize firearms in and around Simpson Bay . The order covers all roads leading to and from Simpson Bay as well as in places accessible to the public in that area. 

Officers are permitted to examine means of transport (e.g. vehicles) and to require people, who are on the public road or in a publicly accessible place to cooperate with searches, both of their person and personal effects. 

These measures were put in place to ensure public safety. The community is invited to cooperate with law enforcement officials as they execute their duties.  

The number of (fire)arms on Sint Maarten remains as high as ever, despite all efforts by KPSM in recent months. The number of (fire)weapon-related incidents have also not been reduced. To date in 2024, a total of nine people were injured and five killed.