Community wants answers in Rudy Benjamin Investigation

Dear Editor,

There is still a cloud of anger, suspicion, rumors, unanswered questions and grief that hangs over the community of St. Peters and the entire island of St. Martin surrounding the fatal shooting of Mr. Rudy Benjamin on the evening of February 13th, 2026. It is over eight months, and people need to know the FACTS, and truth to build back trust. This investigation is also being followed at the international level.

The last article I read was that the Police involved in the St. Peters shooting, that the investigation is to be handled by the Prosecutor's Office Curacao but to date there has been no update to the community about the camera evidence, autopsy results. Community relations need to be rebuilt with the Police in order to build back trust. The Founding Members of the St. Peters Community Council took time to build trust over the years between the Police and Community.

Just in February this year the Police Force invested in the training and professional development of its officers, some officers in specialized training to provide lifesaving instruction, emergency response training and community engagement.

As a Community Spirited Leader, the family and the people have the right to know the FACTS of what went wrong that fatal night. There should be camera evidence on the public light pole on St. Peters main Road where the shooting happened. The public has a right to know if the police followed the right protocols instead of using deadly force unjustly. Did the officers apply any of those lifesaving/CPR training that fatal night?

This is the first time in history something like this happened in St. Peters with a resident that was no threat to his community and society. I truly don't understand why the Community Police Officer or other officers who know the community weren't called to de-escalate the situation instead of using deadly force.  

The family and the Community of St. Peters need to know the truth, see the public camera evidence for transparency and someone should be held accountable for the fatal shooting of the late Mr. Rudy Benjamin who is well known and liked within the community of St. Peters and St. Martin.

Let's continue to pray to God for the family, Police and a transparent investigation by showing the public the camera evidence based on integrity. The community of St. Peters are looking forward to the investigation being concluded as soon as possible.

Maurice Lake

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