Police in St Maarten have launched a full-scale island-wide manhunt for Keswick Rennis Daley, 24, a Jamaican robbery suspect who was captured on Christmas Eve, but escaped police custody within hours thanks to the actions of a lax police officer.

Daley, wanted in connection with ongoing investigations into several armed robberies being committed on the tiny Dutch colony in the Eastern Caribbean, was captured following an extensive stake-out operation conducted by detectives. He was considered one of the main suspects.

Wave of robberies

After he was taken into custody, Daley was being held in a cell on the ground floor of the Police Headquarters in Philipsburg, the capital of St Maarten. He was to be taken to another holding area on the second floor where he was expected to be staying while the police completed their investigations into a wave of robberies that have rocked the island in recent months.

However, just prior to the police moving him, Daley asked for and was granted permission to use the toilet. He was escorted there by an officer who allowed him to use the toilet unattended. Unconfirmed reports said the officer was on the phone and forgot about Daley, who slipped undetected out a back door.

It is not clear what, if any, action will be taken against the officer, who police have described as being negligent. They issued a statement saying that the matter of the officer's negligence would be dealt with internally.

Armed and dangerous

Daley, whose passport describes him as being a security officer from Westmoreland in Jamaica, has been categorised by police as being armed and dangerous.

The police have urged citizens of St Maarten to be careful and to furnish them with any information that may lead to his recapture. They also warned those who might be sheltering him that they will be prosecuted if found culpable.

Jamaicans have been developing a bad reputation in St Maarten in recent times as police suspect several Jamaican nationals of being among the main perpetrators of armed robberies there. Several suspects have been held in recent months and deported back to Jamaica.

Island's reputation

Residents of the island, fearful of the damage being done to their island's reputation as one of the safest tourist destinations, have also even urged their government to impose strict sanctions against Jamaicans who they feel are making St Maarten unsafe for residents and visitors alike.