THE HAGUE - The Dutch government has revised and expanded its efforts to strengthen the rule of law in Curaçao, as well as in Aruba and Sint Maarten. This adjustment follows a recent review indicating that the current approach, which focuses mainly on law enforcement, has not been sufficient to ensure a well-functioning legal system in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. The new strategy emphasizes not only law enforcement but also good governance, integrity, and the strengthening of civil society.
The Caribbean islands within the Kingdom face significant challenges related to crime and governance, partly due to their geographical location and small scale. Strengthening the rule of law on these islands is seen as a priority for both the islands themselves and the Netherlands. As the Kingdom is viewed internationally as a unified entity, problems in one country can have negative repercussions for the entire Kingdom, including the Netherlands.
New Measures
Several new initiatives have been introduced to reinforce the rule of law. The Dutch government will increase investments in projects that promote good governance and ensure integrity. For example, in November 2024, the second Integrity Summit Dutch Caribbean will take place on Sint Eustatius. This event will bring together integrity officials from all six islands to establish policies and share knowledge. A new integrity platform has also been created to foster long-term collaboration between the islands.
The imbalance in the law enforcement chain will also be addressed. A working group, composed of representatives from the four justice ministries within the Kingdom, is tasked with finding solutions to staffing shortages and discrepancies in investments between local and Dutch services. The focus will be on improving coordination and cooperation to enhance the effectiveness of both Dutch and local law enforcement agencies.
The imbalance in the law enforcement chain is primarily due to differences in resources and priorities between the Netherlands and the islands. Local services struggle with staff shortages and insufficient funding, while Dutch investments are mainly directed toward Kingdom-wide services like the Coast Guard and the Detective Cooperation Team (RST). According to the State Secretary, this has led to an unequal system where local services are not sufficiently strengthened, and collaboration suffers as a result.
While there have been successes in fighting crime, local agencies often face difficulties in following up due to capacity issues. To address this imbalance, a Joint Judicial Consultation (JVO) working group has been established to focus on concrete solutions, such as improving regional cooperation and better coordination between the involved ministries and services.