Spies strives for more involvement with Justice

March 07, 2012 4:10 PM

THE HAGUE — Minister Liesbeth Spies of the Interior and Kingdom Relations wants to improve the manner in which human rights and legal security on the former Antilles and Aruba are safeguarded.

It regards an analysis of the efforts from judges and officers of Justice and an evaluation of the Criminal Collaboration Team (RST). Spies concludes this after an analysis of the policy in the period 2007 up to October 2010, the reign of the Balkenende IV cabinet. The reason for the evaluation is the Ministry of Finance’s endeavor to periodically examine the effectiveness of each ministry. The evaluation performed by employees from the ministry, exclusively regards the functioning of the Coastguard, the RST, the Communal Court, the Public Prosecutor and the prison. The main conclusion is that it’s difficult to measure the effectiveness.

By definition, it’s difficult to find a link between policy efforts, the causal connection with the booked results and the resulting social effects. In practice, it appears there’s relatively little research available on effects regarding the possibilities where a connection can be found”, according to the report. However, it is probable that the support has effect. The Coastguard and the RST wouldn’t exist without financial help from The Netherlands, according to the Ministry. “In essence, this can be considered a positive effect of the efforts of BZK without this mentioning anything about the effectiveness of the authorities in question.” The dispatched judges and officers see that more criminal cases can be tried, especially more complex cases.

Nevertheless, one must up the measuring of the effectiveness. The ministry mentions a larger involvement of the minister with decisions on the availability of capacity and means from the RST. “RST’s last evaluation took place in 2006. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a closer look at the RST, focusing on the results, the directing, the organization and the future of the RST.” For that matter, the intention to replace this organization eventually by a Communal Police Service is not mentioned.

The efforts from judges and officers of Justice should also be evaluated. “It’s remarkable that despite the wish to train more local people as a judge or officer the number of dispatched people for the system justice has remained almost the same for many years.” Each year there are several moments to adjust the policy of the Coastguard considering the ministry is represented in the Coastguard presidium.

“For the future it’s important that BZK maintain and/or consolidate their position at the table. Because the instruments used in most cases comes within the compass of the responsibility of another minister, this position is not always present as a matter of course”, the ministry concludes on their own functioning. In an accompanying letter to the Lower Chamber, Minister Spies wrote she endorses the conclusions and will include these in her policy.

(Amigoe)

6 March 2012