WILLEMSTAD - During the Judicial Four-Party Consultation in June, it was decided that Curaçao would be permitted to submit a proposal in January for the Caribbeanization of the Netherlands Supreme Court. This initiative aims to allow for a member of the Supreme Court to be drawn from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, such as Curaçao, Aruba, or Sint Maarten. The goal is to better reflect the Caribbean context in the rulings of the highest court in the Netherlands.
The concept of Caribbeanization is based on Article 23 of the Statute for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This article allows Caribbean countries to request the addition of their own member or an advisory member to the Supreme Court. Justice Minister Shalton Hato advocates for utilizing this provision, aiming to ensure that the unique social and societal conditions in the Caribbean region are more adequately considered in legal rulings.
The importance of Caribbeanization lies in the fact that judges, when assessing legislation and making rulings, must take into account the specific context and realities of Caribbean societies. This could promote a more balanced judiciary that better meets the needs of the islands. Additionally, it strengthens the representation of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom.
The Judicial Four-Party Consultation has responded positively to Curaçao's initiative, allowing a proposal outlining the framework for this Caribbeanization to be presented in January 2025. The plan will be further developed to create a more inclusive and regionally engaged legal system within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.