WILLEMSTAD – The Legislation and Legal Affairs Directorate (WJZ) has published a new circular explaining the legislative process in Curaçao. The document provides insight into how laws are created, the government policies that precede them, and where regulations can be found. The goal is to make legislation more accessible and transparent for citizens.
The circular outlines the procedures behind law-making, including the collaboration between ministries and the WJZ. It explains that legislation originates from government policy, international obligations, and societal developments. In addition to government proposals, parliamentary initiatives from the Staten (Parliament) can also lead to new laws.
The publication includes an overview of Curaçao’s constitutional framework, covering the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Constitution, and the State Regulation. This circular is not the first guideline on legislation; earlier publications, such as the ‘Regulatory Guidelines’ and the ‘Model Initial Memorandum’, were previously issued and are currently under review.
Since 2019, all laws and regulations have been published on a dedicated government website. This online platform allows citizens to not only access current laws but also stay informed about new directives and policy plans. The database is continuously updated to ensure that the entire legislative process is publicly available online.