WILLEMSTAD - The countries within the Kingdom aim to establish a platform for collaboration among the immigration services of Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and the BES islands. This was discussed during the Four-Country Justice Consultation (JVO) held on Wednesday.
Aruba's Minister of Justice, Rocco Tjon (MEP), proposed the establishment of such a platform, which received support, leading to the formation of a working group. Concrete steps are already being taken to facilitate cooperation between police forces, a development also presented during the JVO.
The JVO, hosted by Curaçao, also focused on innovation. Efforts are underway to modernize e-gates and the migration process. Many people travel between the islands using a 'sedula,' but the e-gates do not yet accept this identity card.
Additionally, work is being done to expand the Coast Guard. More personnel, including local recruits, are being hired. Regarding the refugee influx from Venezuela, Minister of Legal Protection Franc Weerwind (D66) emphasized the need for continued and increased dialogue.
The continuation of the TBS (terbeschikkingstelling) trajectory, a form of criminal sentence involving mandatory treatment, was also addressed. According to Weerwind, a working group is developing a business case to assess the feasibility of establishing such a clinic. A special conference will delve further into this matter, addressing not only legal frameworks but also staffing concerns.