PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — While the Minister of Justice has focused attention on whether tourist police officers should carry firearms, residents say a security dog stationed outside a Front Street jewelry store next to the courthouse has attacked two people in less than 48 hours, with no apparent official response.
According to witnesses, the dog attacked a tourist child on Saturday. An ambulance and police responded to the scene. On Monday afternoon the same dog attacked another person. Those familiar with the incidents say the animal has bitten tourist child who was on vacation and a local resident got his pants tear up, and that neither victims was involved in any criminal activity. They were just walking on front street.
People who use the area also complain that the dog’s feces and urine are being left on the square in front of the courthouse, near the taxi stand where visitors often stop to take photographs. They say complaints about the conditions have gone unaddressed.
Residents note that in a previous case in which a dog nearly killed a person, the animal was removed and euthanized. They question why no similar measure has been taken here, and why a security company is still permitted to keep what they describe as an uncontrolled dangerous dog on a public road after it attacked a child and a man.
Some citizens are asking whether the lack of action is connected to the influence of a well-known local indian businessman associated with the jewelry store, or to the security company’s relationship with the police. They want to know whether the store and the authorities will continue to remain silent, or whether steps will be taken before the dog injures a third person.
On Tuesday we have two ships in port, and there will be more local and tourists pedestrians walking on the street. The government should ban these security companies dogs on Front Street, or wherever we have public walking. It has been proven that these dogs will not stop an armed robbery from taking place.
The owner of the jewelry store has to clean up the dog’s feces before the tourists and public come into town to shop.
