THE HAGUE - Dutch Member of Parliament Songül Mutluer (GroenLinks-PvdA) has described last week’s working visit to Curaçao and Bonaire with the Committee for Justice and Security as "one of the most insightful" experiences during her tenure.
In a LinkedIn post, Mutluer said the visit provided "plenty of food for thought" and armed her with "enough material" for the upcoming committee debate on the Caribbean part of the Kingdom's justice system, scheduled for the end of September. She also promised to present concrete improvement proposals during the session.
"Impressive and Intense" Experience
During the final weeks of the summer recess, Mutluer, along with seven other MPs from the Committee for Justice and Security, visited Curaçao and Bonaire. She admitted that before the visit, she had not fully grasped the challenges these islands face, including issues like migration, organized crime, and the severely limited resources of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar), police, fire services, and coast guard.
Additionally, Mutluer highlighted the outdated legislation affecting the islands, while noting that decisions impacting the Kingdom are made in the Netherlands.
"The visit to SDKK, Curaçao's prison, was both impressive and intense," Mutluer shared. She also noted a hopeful conversation with Jong Bonaire, an organization offering after-school activities to children. However, she expressed concern about the rise in intimate partner violence and the urgent need to ratify the Istanbul Convention, a move that has been long delayed.
"The Kingdom Has Stolen My Heart"
Mutluer concluded her reflections by saying, "The Kingdom has stolen my heart!" She reserved special praise for the "powerful women" who keep the islands running, adding that they had made a lasting impression on her.
With the upcoming debate in mind, Mutluer emphasized her commitment to proposing concrete measures to enhance safety across the islands, stating, "They deserve it."