Ministers of Justice sign for deployment of Military Police and ICT

January 23, 2012 11:02 AM

Yesterday, Ministers of Justice Elmer Wilsoe (Curaçao) and Ivo Opstelten (The Netherlands) signed for the flexible deployment of the Royal Military Police on the islands and for a provision in application of law in the field of ICT, with the focus on exchanging information.

It is the intention that Minister Roland Duncan of St. Maarten also signs later on.

Minister Duncan had not attended the consultation of four countries owing to ill health, but earlier on he had indicated his displeasure on the manner of conduct in particular The Netherlands who would not listen to the wishes of St. Maarten. However, Minister Ivo Opstelten and Wilsoe expressed their wish that the interest of collaboration will prevail and they look on the bright side. Secretary general Lygia Stella, who represented Duncan, supported them.

Wilsoe subsequently emphasized that the deployment of the Military Police does not detract from the autonomous status of Curaçao and St. Maarten. “It’s a form of collaboration, which is also written on the statute of the Charter: relying on one’s own strength, but with the will to support each other.”

The ICT-provision is important to tackle the cross boarder organized crime, namely exchanging important information. The suspects of a robbery on a bank on Aruba, who were tracked and arrested on Curaçao, could have been tracked earlier with this ICT-database.

The deployment of the Coastguard was also discussed during the consultation. The subject was referred back to the committees concerned and final suggestions are to be submitted to the ministers. The consensus Statute Law Police was also discussed, namely arrange training, armament, equipment and ICT. A committee is still looking into the matter of armament. They’ve come up with a weapon but the input of St. Maarten and Aruba is also required. It was therefore agreed to put this decision on the agenda for the next consultation Ministers of Justice in June.

The accessibility of the legislation via internet was also discussed. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations was approached to make use of their possibilities, considering the basis for the legislation in The Netherlands and the islands is the same. The uniformity in the penal legislation was also discussed. The Curaçao parliament had already approved the law Special Tracking Authorities (BOB), such as monitoring suspects. St. Maarten and Aruba will discuss the law during the coming weeks.

 20 January 2012