WILLEMSTAD – Governor of Curaçao Mauritsz de Kort received a delegation of senior judicial representatives from across the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Suriname at the Governor’s Palace, ahead of the formal installation of Sigmar Carmelia as President of the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
The meeting focused on strengthening ties among judicial institutions and promoting closer cooperation, both within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and beyond.
The delegation included representatives of several prominent judicial institutions, including the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, the Council of State, the Council for the Judiciary, the Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal, the Dutch Courts of Appeal, the Court of Justice of Suriname, and the Joint Court of Justice.
During the discussions, participants emphasized the shared principles underpinning the rule of law and the importance of maintaining strong relationships among judicial institutions. Particular attention was given to the exchange of legal expertise, institutional cooperation, and the continued development of an independent and accessible judiciary.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of cooperation between judicial institutions operating under different legal systems but sharing common historical and legal traditions.
A special moment during the visit was the presentation of the second edition of the Handbook of Caribbean Procedural Law (Handboek Caribisch Procesrecht) by its author, Joop Drop. Copies of the publication were presented to Governor De Kort and the incoming President of the Joint Court of Justice, Sigmar Carmelia.
The handbook addresses procedural law in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom and serves as a reference for legal professionals working within the region’s judicial systems.
The visit took place in connection with Carmelia’s formal installation as President of the Joint Court of Justice, an institution responsible for administering justice across the Caribbean countries and special municipalities within the Kingdom.
According to the Governor’s Office, the meeting reaffirmed the importance of maintaining lasting relationships between judicial institutions in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Suriname.
Such cooperation is considered essential to safeguarding judicial independence, strengthening the rule of law, and ensuring that justice remains accessible to the communities served by these institutions.