WILLEMSTAD – Integrity professionals and representatives of public institutions from all six Caribbean islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including Curaçao, are gathering in Sint Maarten this week for the fourth annual Dutch Caribbean Integrity Summit. The event focuses on strengthening integrity, transparency, and accountability within public institutions across the region.
The summit, taking place in Maho, Sint Maarten, continues through Friday, November 6, and brings together representatives of 23 organizations. This year's gathering is hosted by the Integrity Chamber of Sint Maarten, with support from the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK).
The annual event is organized through cooperation among the integrity institutions of the Caribbean islands within the Kingdom. Its primary objective is to promote knowledge sharing, strengthen regional cooperation, and develop more effective mechanisms for preventing misconduct and safeguarding integrity in public administration.
The theme of this year's summit, "Building Stronger Organisations," emphasizes the importance of establishing effective integrity systems within government institutions.
These systems include internal regulations, administrative procedures, supervision, and accountability mechanisms designed to ensure that public officials and institutions operate responsibly and transparently.
Leadership Plays Central Role in Promoting Integrity
The summit officially opened on Monday with addresses by Rik Bergman, chairman of the Integrity Chamber of Sint Maarten, Prime Minister Luc Mercelina, and Governor Ajamu Baly.
Following the opening ceremony, Charna Pompier, director of the Integrity Chamber, delivered a presentation on the ongoing evaluation of Sint Maarten's national integrity system.
The evaluation examines the mechanisms and institutions responsible for promoting integrity and preventing misconduct within the country's public administration.
One of the main speakers was Anande Tropman-Joseph, representing the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies, a regional organization that promotes cooperation among integrity and anti-corruption institutions in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Tropman-Joseph emphasized that effective integrity systems depend heavily on strong leadership.
She encouraged institutional leaders to maintain continuous dialogue, exchange professional experiences, and cooperate in strengthening oversight mechanisms.
Her message highlighted the importance of leadership in creating an organizational culture in which ethical conduct, accountability, and transparency become established practices rather than merely formal requirements.
Legal Experts and Academics Contribute to Discussions
Throughout the week, participants are attending presentations and discussions involving legal professionals, academics, and specialists in public administration.
Among the scheduled speakers are attorney Mirto Murray and Brenda Martinez-Hammer, an administrative judge and examining magistrate at the Court of First Instance of Sint Maarten.
Other contributors include Jonathan Soeharno, professor of judicial administration and legal philosophy at the University of Amsterdam, and public prosecutor Danny Hazejager.
Their participation provides opportunities to examine integrity from different professional perspectives, including legal accountability, judicial oversight, institutional governance, and the responsibilities of public officials.
The discussions focus on strengthening the infrastructure that supports integrity within public institutions, including rules, procedures, and independent supervision.
Regional Cooperation Important for Curaçao
Curaçao's participation comes as the country continues discussions about strengthening integrity safeguards and accountability within its own public administration.
The exchange of knowledge with other Caribbean jurisdictions provides an opportunity to examine approaches to preventing conflicts of interest, improving institutional oversight, and promoting responsible government conduct.
Although the six islands operate under different constitutional and administrative arrangements, they share several challenges related to public-sector governance, institutional capacity, and the need for effective integrity mechanisms.
The summit offers participating organizations an opportunity to learn from one another's experiences and identify practices that could strengthen their respective institutions.
The organizers emphasize that cooperation between the islands is essential for building stronger public organizations capable of maintaining public confidence.
By bringing together professionals from different jurisdictions, the annual summit seeks to encourage continued collaboration beyond the event itself.
The gathering concludes on Friday, November 6, with the broader objective of supporting stronger, more transparent, and more accountable public institutions throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.