BackA full day was spent to hear arguments presented by Ombudsman Nilda Arduin in the first ever case brought before the Constitutional Court of Sint Maarten for review, and the annulment of some articles provided for in our new Penal Code.
Ombudsman Arduin requested to ban the ill-treatment of animals and to annul amendments that would make cock fighting legal. She brought to the Court’s attention that higher punishments are imposed for crimes committed against tourists and criticized an article legalizing prostitution which, according to the Ombudsman’s opinion, would just give third parties permission to exploit women legally.
Sint Maarten is the only country within the Dutch Kingdom that has a Constitutional Court and the Ombudsman is the sole person authorized by the Constitution to bring a case to the Court.
