Update on St. Martin

My friend Dick Jefferson just sent me this update on the investigation into the assault on him and Ryan Smith:

Yesterday, I received the disappointing news from St. Maarten Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein that authorities released the first suspect arrested in the attack and attempted murder of me and my friends. Two remain in custody, but at least four others, including the man who crushed my skull with a tire wrench, remain at large.

While I don't want a man who apparently only provoked the attack by hurling homophobic insults at my friends inside a nightclub to remain behind bars, the slow progress in the case is troubling, especially since numerous witnesses have identified the violent assailants.

Part of the delay has been the unique nature of the island, which is split between the French and the Dutch (Netherland Antilles). I appreciate that the French Prosecutor has agreed to pursue the case. But, Mr. Stein informed me today that his office has just now been able to complete translation of all the documents of the investigation into French. This diplomatic formality has allowed the would-be killers to remain at-large, and possibly escape.

Now that the paper has been shuffled, I hope the people on both sides of the island come forward with information that will lead to the arrest of these monsters, who repeatedly tried to kill us simply because we were gay. As I have said before, the police are only as good as the people they serve. The longer the people of St. Maarten/St. Martin continue to aid and abet the criminals, the more severe the damage will be to the island's tourism.

If you want to share your concerns about progress in the case, please contact the Governor of St. Maarten at governor@governorsxm.com, or the St. Maarten Tourist bureau at info@st-maarten.com.