WILLEMSTAD – Personnel expenses at the Joint Court of Justice increased by 2.3 million Caribbean guilders in 2025, reaching a total of 35.8 million guilders, according to the Court’s annual financial statements.
The increase contributed to total expenditures of 54.5 million Caribbean guilders for the year, nearly one million guilders above the approved budget.
According to the Court, the higher personnel costs were primarily driven by salary indexations, annual salary increments, and the temporary hiring of staff to fill vacant positions within the organization.
The Court’s workforce also expanded during the year. In 2025, the institution employed an average of 229 full-time staff members, compared to 224 in 2024.
The Joint Court of Justice serves Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands and is funded by the governments of Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands. Its annual budget is determined by the justice ministers of the four countries during the Judicial Four-Party Consultation.
Despite the increase in personnel spending, the Court reported lower operational costs. These expenses declined by 118,000 guilders to nearly 9.7 million Caribbean guilders.
The Court attributed the reduction in operational expenditures to stricter cost controls and greater attention to spending throughout the organization.
The financial results highlight the growing importance of personnel-related expenses within the judicial system, while also reflecting efforts by the Court to manage other operating costs amid increasing demands on the administration of justice across the Kingdom’s Caribbean jurisdictions.