Judicial cooperation consultation between the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten successful

WILLEMSTAD - Particularly in times of crisis, it is very important to continue to work well and constructively within the Kingdom. Today, the Ministers of Justice Grapperhaus (the Netherlands including the Caribbean Netherlands), Bikker (Aruba), Girigorie (Curaçao) and Richardson (Sint Maarten) met about judicial cooperation. This time, Undersecretary of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Knops also joined.

Data protection and information exchange

In tackling crime, it is important that countries can exchange information with each other quickly, with strong data protection. That is why the ministers have made agreements to ensure that the protection of data is unambiguously arranged. It was also discussed how the information hubs of the islands can be further developed.

Exchange of knowledge and expertise

The quality of the public ministries is also high on the agenda of the countries. Today agreements have been made so that local prosecutors (of the islands) are trained annually. In addition, agreements have been made about the study programs in law in the countries, so that graduates of the universities of Aruba and Curaçao have equal access to the selection and training for the professions of lawyer, judge and public prosecutor in the Netherlands. These agreements promote the exchange of these professionals between the countries and contribute to the quality and diversity of the toga professions.

Uniform criminal procedure law

Criminal procedure law contains the rules for the way in which the police and the Public Prosecution Service can detect violations and for the way in which judges must decide on this. The modernization of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the three countries and the Caribbean Netherlands makes criminal proceedings more efficient and gives more rights to victims. The same rules apply to the investigation of criminal offenses throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom for the police and the public prosecution service. The courts can also apply the same rules for the adjudication of those cases. That is why agreements have been made so that these codes have the same content and come into effect at the same time.

Strengthen the rule of law

Also discussed was the 'strengthening the rule of law' part of the country packages. The four countries have made an energetic start with the implementation of these measures. The Netherlands is structurally making an amount of up to 45 million euros available to strengthen the rule of law of the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom.

The aim of the six-monthly consultation is to coordinate a common, coordinated approach to the countries' common judicial affairs. Grapperhaus also represents the interests of the Caribbean Netherlands during the consultation; Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. Due to the corona crisis, the Judicial Four Party Consultation (JVO) once again took place virtually, under the chairmanship of Aruba.




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