WILLEMSTAD – Outgoing Vice-President of the Council of State of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Thom de Graaf, paid a farewell visit to Governor of Curaçao Mauritsz de Kort on Wednesday, marking the end of his tenure as one of the Kingdom’s highest constitutional advisers.
The farewell meeting took place on April 29 and formed part of De Graaf’s departure from office after serving since 2018 as Vice-President of the Council of State, the Kingdom’s oldest and highest advisory body to government and parliament.
De Graaf was accompanied during the visit by Charlotte Duijf, Paul Comenencia and Ron van der Veer.
During the meeting, Governor De Kort expressed his deep appreciation for De Graaf’s years of dedicated service and his contribution to strengthening relations between the countries of the Kingdom.
Special recognition was given to De Graaf’s role in fostering dialogue and cooperation between the Caribbean countries and the Netherlands, particularly during periods of constitutional and political discussion.
According to the Governor’s office, De Kort praised De Graaf for his respectful and unifying approach, noting his ability to navigate differences between the countries of the Kingdom with understanding and balance.
The Council of State plays a crucial role within the Kingdom by advising on legislation, governance matters and constitutional issues, often serving as a key institution in safeguarding legal quality and institutional stability.
During his tenure, De Graaf was closely involved in several important Kingdom matters, including advisory processes surrounding the 70th anniversary of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and discussions on the constitutional positions of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom.
As a gesture of appreciation, Governor De Kort presented De Graaf with a traditional Bubu as a farewell gift.
According to the Governor’s office, the Bubu symbolizes the “big brother” and serves as a reference to the Council of State’s status as the Kingdom government’s oldest advisory institution.
De Graaf’s departure marks the end of an important chapter in Kingdom governance.
He will be succeeded by Sybrand Buma, who is expected to continue the Council’s advisory role in legal and constitutional affairs.
Curaçao’s government and constitutional institutions have repeatedly acknowledged De Graaf’s contribution to maintaining constructive Kingdom relations, particularly during periods of reform and institutional dialogue.