WILLEMSTAD – The Joint Court of Justice is undergoing a sweeping organizational reform under the banner “Hof 2.0,” aimed at reshaping the judiciary to better meet the needs of today’s Caribbean society. The initiative, which spans Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands, is detailed in the Court’s 2024 annual report and includes a stronger focus on Caribbean identity, improved staff involvement, and a more efficient and connected court system.
The new model seeks to streamline core judicial processes, enhance human resources policies, advance digitalization, and strengthen the Court’s ties with the communities it serves. A pilot project to test revamped workflows has already launched at the Court’s Aruba location.
Staff Council Calls for Zero Measurement and Caribbean Integration
The Staff Council, which resumed activity in 2023 after a three-year pause, plays a key role in the reorganization. Court employees are calling for more say in decision-making and are urging leadership to address long-standing issues such as high workload, lack of recognition, and limited career advancement opportunities.
To better evaluate the impact and support for the reorganization, the Staff Council has proposed an employee satisfaction survey. This would also assess how staff perceive efforts toward Caribbean integration and the implementation of integrity standards.
New Salary System and Evaluation Framework
Alongside the Hof 2.0 program, the Court is also developing a new salary structure and a modern performance review system to make promotions more transparent. This move aims to retain young legal professionals, who often leave for better-paying opportunities in other sectors.
A recent study found that the Court’s employment conditions are less competitive than those offered by other organizations in the region.
In collaboration with the Court’s leadership, a new Staff Council regulation has also been drafted to formalize employee representation and clarify the relationship between staff, management, and the supervisory board. The regulation is expected to be finalized in early 2025, pending staff consultation.
Caribbeanization a Central Priority
A cornerstone of Hof 2.0 is the commitment to making the judiciary more reflective of Caribbean identity, particularly in terms of language, culture, and context across the six islands. The Staff Council has emphasized the need for a baseline study to determine how far the Court has come in this so-called “Caribbeanization” process.
This includes not only recruiting more Caribbean judges, but also improving the use of local languages like Papiamentu in hearings, offering cultural sensitivity training, and fostering intercultural collaboration.
According to the annual report, the Court's long-term goal is to become an organization that is locally rooted, regionally cohesive, and internationally connected. However, the timeline for achieving this vision will depend on budget availability, personnel capacity, and the willingness of the four constituent countries to invest in the transformation.
