WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Bar Association has clarified that comments submitted during consultations on the proposed Kingdom Extradition Act for Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten should not be interpreted as an official position of the organization.
In a statement, the Bar Association said an incorrect impression had emerged that it had formally taken a position on the constitutional role of the Governor within the extradition process.
According to the organization, its involvement was limited to collecting and forwarding comments from attorneys who participated in the consultation process surrounding the draft legislation.
The Bar Association explained that governments and other institutions frequently seek its input on proposed laws. In some cases, the organization adopts an official position, while in others it serves as a platform through which legal professionals can share their expertise and practical experience.
The consultation on the proposed Kingdom Extradition Act fell into the latter category, the association said.
“The comments submitted during the consultation originated from individual criminal defense attorneys and did not constitute an institutional position of the Curaçao Bar Association,” the organization stated.
The clarification comes after reports suggested that the Bar Association had criticized aspects of the Governor’s role in the proposed legislation.
The draft Kingdom Extradition Act is intended to modernize and harmonize extradition procedures for Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. The proposal remains under consideration.