The feast of Sainte-Geneviève, patron saint of the Gendarmes was celebrated last Friday, in the Catholic church of Marigot by Father Marcin Karwot, parish priest of Saint-Martin, in the presence of numerous military and civil authorities.
Gathered around Lieutenant-Colonel, Sébastien Manzoni, the officers, non-commissioned officers and volunteer assistant gendarmes of the gendarmerie company of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy wanted to share this highlight. Retired gendarmes and members of the Association des Anciens Combattants de Saint-Martin were associated with this celebration, the objective of which was to strengthen ties between all and to celebrate the values that drive the action of the gendarmes.
At the end of the mass, the guests were invited to share a glass of friendship around a buffet concocted with the greatest care by the team of the Yacht-Club restaurant. The opportunity for Lieutenant-Colonel Sébastien Manzoni to address the large audience to draw up a positive assessment since taking office in the Northern Islands. “A little over three years ago, I stood before you to celebrate my first Sainte-Geneviève in Saint-Martin,” he explains. Among my operational priorities, better security production, a right to security for all, operational action marked by proximity and contact and better cooperation with the services of the State, the community and the Dutch police set my course. . Thus, and since 2015, general delinquency has fallen by 18%. Armed robberies with firearms have collapsed by 76%, as well as villainous physical violence down sharply by 74%. Burglaries also decreased by 63%. Finally, no homicide has been observed since January 2017. These are the figures, these are the facts attesting to a significant improvement in security in Saint-Martin.
However, we must continue our fight against all forms of delinquency, in partnership with all of the local actors. One thing is certain, we will not lower our guard in 2019.
Today (note: last Friday), a deep feeling animates me: that of pride. The pride of commanding these men and women living on our islands, or as reinforcements for a more or less long period. Happy New Year's Eve to you all! " _AF
No comments